vbyoda
- Reviewed on Tuesday, September 6, 2011
- Grades Used: 6th - 12th
- Dates used: 2005-2011
Our daughter just graduated from NARHS, and we have used their program since starting home schooling at 6th grade. NARHS is an excellent program for what it is intended to do which is provide structure to your home school curriculum and help you deliver a verifiable home school curriculum and transcript.
The tools, forms, logbook, etc. are excellent and basically can take the novice home parent and get you up and running in a excellent system.
Our daughter was accepted this year at the University of Missouri, UCLA, and Hillsdale College all of which were provided her NARHS transcript as the only evidence of her high school career.
I highly recommend NARHS to all home school families.
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shosty
- Reviewed on Saturday, September 25, 2010
- Grades Used: 12th
- Dates used: 2010
We have been very, very disappointed by NARHS. We paid the $525 for senior year of high school, and have received few services in return. (Our child had a GED but wanted a diploma)
We received no evaluation of our child's transcript or what she had left to do. When I requested this, I was told "we don't usually do that." We had expected NARHS to handle communications with colleges, but were told it was more "appropriate" that our child's former high school do that. The advisor was unfriendly and passive. Finally, we received different opinions in two different years about credit for an extracurricular activity that has been the focus of our child's life. She pretty much already has credits that meet their graduation requirement, except for a few hours of one subject.
I began to feel that we had just paid to purchase a piece of paper, which I could have created myself.
I wrote the school and asked if it was possible to withdraw, basically because there were things we had misunderstood, and that NARHS felt pointless in many ways. I said that we felt unethical simply buying a diploma, as if we were doing a "scam". At that point, NARHS had not done any work on her behalf, so I thought it might still be possible to withdraw.
I understand that they have a no refund policy. I did not know that at the time I asked. But I would certainly understand and acquiesce. I was not making demands or complaints, only asking. A courteous, professional response such as "We're sorry, but we do not do refunds, and we hope that we can improve our services so that your family can be happy with our program," would have been great.
Instead, I received absolutely incredible, ranting e-mails from the director. Probably the longest e-mails I have ever received, with a tone that was beyond angry, and, I felt, downright scary. To say these were unprofessional would be a gross understatement.
I am sorry if NAHS has had problems with fraudulent parents, or with authorities looking into the school's legitimacy, or whatever, but none of that is our fault.
We will not get a refund, which is fine, if that is their policy. I was just asking. But I will not communicate directly with the school myself, because it is too upsetting, and we are considering not even getting the diploma for the money, just because the interactions are too disturbing.
It is not enough to do research. Talk to them and get the vibe. Pin them down first about services they will be providing, and get it in writing. Better yet, compile your own portfolio, print out your own diploma, and use traditional community college courses, online courses, or other easily documentable alternatives, instead.
Stay away from NARHS.
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florida1985
- Reviewed on Tuesday, August 24, 2010
- Grades Used: 9th - 11th
- Dates used: 2008 - 2010
Make sure you check with your state colleges BEFORE you enroll in this program. The NARHS material states they have graduates in many colleges, but there is at least one college in our state that specifically stated a transcript from NARHS is one they will not accept. Now, we are scrambling to put together an acceptable portfolio. We would not have enrolled in this high school program if we had done our homework first. We would have been better off spending the money on co-op classes (hint: try to find ones in accredited schools) for science and higher level math instead of spending money on the NARHS tuition. Do your own research before signing on the dotted line.
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Sewlinda
- Reviewed on Monday, June 15, 2009
- Grades Used: 7th - 12th
- Dates used: 2005-Present
NARHS is an outstanding organization, and I have found their Florida branch to be efficient and helpful. Like many others, I questioned their credentials, but now that we are nearing the end of our homschool journey, I can see that using them was the right decision. They have always kept things on track, been very timely, and have been able to answer my questions. I cannot agree with an earlier review that stated that their transcripts are not professional. Perhaps that has changed over the years as NARHS has learned what colleges expect.
My son could have graduated early, but based on our advisor's advice, he kept his high school status and did dual enrollment at the local community college. It has worked out great, and he will be nearly done his AA by the time he graduates - all for FREE!
Until this year, my children visited the Florida office for evaluations, and really enjoyed them. My younger (non-HS) child used a different evaluator this year, and is begging to go back to a NARHS teacher next year. She felt that the NARHS teacher really looked at her work and made it feel official to her.
All the NARHS staff we've encountered have been excellent. My only criticism is that they have a lot of turnover. My son has never had the same advisor for more than 2 years. It would be great to have the same advisor for your entire HS career.
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