The following are the most frequently asked questions we receive. You can also use the magnifying glass in the upper right hand corner of this page to search our entire site for the information you seek.
General
How much does it cost to attend Mountain Heights Academy?
TUITION-FREE. Mountain Heights Academy is a tuition-free charter school, so aside from nominal fees charged at the beginning of the year there is no cost associated with attendance. As a public charter school, Mountain Heights Academy is funded at about the same rate as district schools through taxpayer dollars.
Is Mountain Heights Academy accredited?
FULLY ACCREDITED. Mountain Heights Academy is accredited through Cognia just like all public high schools in Utah. In May 2018, the school received its most recent accreditation certification. Mountain Heights Academy accepts credits from all other Cognia accredited schools and vice versa. Students who graduate from Mountain Heights Academy receive a high school diploma just like they would from their neighborhood school.
Where are the school boundaries?
UTAH RESIDENTS. If you meet the Utah residency requirements governed by the Utah State Board of Education, you are eligible to attend Mountain Heights Academy. Proof of residency is required during registration.
What type of teacher teaches at Mountain Heights Academy?
AWARD-WINNING FACULTY. Our teachers are highly qualified, certified, and licensed in the state of Utah. Mountain Heights Academy employs teachers with a long list of accolades, from Charter Educator of the Year, multiple International USDLA Award winners, a Top Five Online Teachers in the nation recipient, a Presidential Award Winner, a recipient of the Governor’s Medal of Excellence in STEM Award, a UCET Young Educator of the Year, and a UCET Educator of the Year, among others.
What type of student attends Mountain Heights Academy?
MANY TYPES. Mountain Heights Academy is able to provide an engaging learning opportunity for many types of learners. All types of students are welcome and able to find success at Mountain Heights Academy. Here is a sample of some of the types of students who attend:
- Athletes who travel and compete nationally and globally
- Students who benefit from one-on-one tutoring and individualized instruction
- Professional actors and dancers
- Students with chronic conditions, such as migraines, ADD, ADHD
- Advanced learners interested in earning college credit in high school
- Students who are parent caretakers or who need to work during the day
- Previously home-schooled students looking to earn a diploma
- Students who need a quiet, distraction-free environment to focus on their studies
- Students whose families travel extensively
- Students looking for a safe location to learn
What does the typical student day look like?
FLEXIBILITY TO DETERMINE DAILY SCHEDULE. Based on the data collected on student engagement, Mountain Heights students who spend about an hour per day, per core class, are the most successful and earn As and Bs. There is a direct correlation between the amount of time spent and student grades. Students who spend less than an hour a day per core course earn lower grades. The important thing to remember is that students are able to do school at times that work best for them and their family’s schedule. All work for each week is due by 6:00pm each Friday. Students are encouraged to work ahead, not behind.
How do students contact their teachers? How often do teachers work with students?
MULTIPLE MODES OF CONTACT, HIGH ACCESSIBILITY. Mountain Heights Academy implements a very rigorous multi-step hiring process that filters out teachers who are not interested in working hard to meet the needs of their students. Teachers hold daily office hours during which students can ask questions, receive tutoring, or attend an optional live session with their peers. Students can chat with the teacher through the secure platform, video conference, or even share a whiteboard so students can see the teachers working math problems. Teachers are also available for phone calls or real-time collaboration on writing samples by using Google Docs.
Where does the Mountain Heights Academy curriculum come from?
OPEN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE (OER) CONTENT IS CREATED BY EXPERT TEACHERS. Mountain Heights Academy builds its own curriculum from existing open source content and from teacher-created materials aligned to core standards. Mountain Heights Academy does not use third-party vendor curriculum, with the exception of a few classes.
Are there Honors and Concurrent Enrollment options available?
HONORS AND CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT OPTIONS AVAILABLE. Honors classes are available 7th-12th grade in various subjects. Mountain Heights Academy has established a cutting-edge Early College partnership with Utah Tech University where eligible students can earn college and high-school credit concurrently either online or in-person. We also have partnerships with SLCC and Snow College. For a full list of available classes, please see our Course Catalog.
Are there remedial options available?
CUSTOMIZED CONTENT TO MEET STUDENT NEEDS. One of the many benefits of digital curriculum is the ability to tailor it to the specific needs of each group of students. For qualifying students, there are remedial sections of courses available.
What sets Mountain Heights Academy apart from other online programs?
There are a variety of differences between Mountain Heights Academy and other online programs.
LAPTOPS ARE PROVIDED. Mountain Heights Academy provides a laptop computer to each full-time student who would like one. See requirements below.
TEACHERS BUILD CONTENT AND ARE EMPOWERED TO USE DATA TO ADJUST COURSES. At Mountain Heights Academy, our teachers create the curriculum. This empowers teachers to have the ability to adjust courses based on data. If students miss an important concept, teachers can track that and add additional practice to ensure students have every opportunity to master key concepts. In short, Mountain Heights Academy has granular local control whereas the great majority of other online schools and programs purchase curriculum from national providers or are national corporations themselves. Their content is developed out of state and distributed across the country without the simple ability to personalize to fit the needs of each state or school.
HIGHER TEST SCORES AND COMPLETION RATES. Mountain Heights Academy has a consistent completion rate of 77% – 82%. You can review our Annual Reports for supporting data. Even our part-time Statewide Online students historically perform significantly better than students in other online schools. Additional information can be found in the USOE Audit of Online and Distance Education Programs. Mountain Heights graduation rates and statewide test scores are the highest among the online schools in Utah.
HIGHER RETURN AND RETENTION RATES, LOWER TRANSFER RATES. Mountain Heights Academy has historically had lower transfer rates and higher retention rates than most online schools or programs in the state. Transfer and retention rates indicate how many students leave a school during the school year and how many return to the same school the next year. Fewer students leave Mountain Heights Academy throughout the school year and a higher number return year after year.
How do Mountain Heights Academy’s test scores and completion rates compare to other online programs?
HIGHER TEST SCORES AND COMPLETION RATES. Mountain Heights Academy has a consistent completion rate of 77% – 82%. Review or Annual Reports for supporting data. Even our part-time Statewide Online students historically perform significantly better than students in other online schools. Additional information can be found in the USOE Audit of Online and Distance Education Programs. Mountain Heights graduation rates and statewide test scores are the highest among the online schools in Utah.
Can a student accelerate and work ahead or slow down the pace?
YES, WITHIN CERTAIN PARAMETERS. The content is organized in weekly folders. Students always have access to all of the material in each quarter to allow them to work ahead. All work for each week is due Friday at 6:00pm.
TIERED CURRICULUM. Students wishing to accelerate can take advantage of our more rigorous content; concurrent enrollment and honors courses. Starting in 9th grade, students can also work with their counselor to create an early graduation plan. Students meet annually with their school counselor to plan out their high school career and course path which can include a wide variety of options such as technical colleges, internships, and more. Students on IEPs and some 504s may also have access to standards-aligned basic courses that streamline key concepts.
For Parents
Do students have to be online at a certain time?
FLEXIBILITY TO WORK ON COURSES ON YOUR OWN SCHEDULE. Classes are accessible 24 hours a day. Students don’t have to do math at 9am and science at 10am, for example. Instead, they can log in and work anywhere, anytime. If they need teacher assistance, they can schedule their school time to match the four hours per day the teachers are available to help students during office hours, or they can make an appointment outside of the posted office hours, if needed.
What is the typical response time from teachers?
CARING TEACHERS AVAILABLE SEVERAL HOURS PER DAY. Full-time teachers are online and available for four hours each day during their office hours. Those hours are posted in the course each week so students know when they can get an immediate response from the teacher via chat, email, video conference, or over the phone. At Mountain Heights Academy, there is also a 24-business hour response policy for communications that occur outside of office hours. If a student emails a teacher in the afternoon when office hours are over, he can expect a response the next day, at the very latest. Most communications are much quicker than that and Mountain Heights Academy is well-known for the level of direct engagement the students and parents have with the teachers—and vice versa.
How many classes is a student required to take?
FULL-TIME PROGRAM. Full-time high school students in grades 9-12 need to be enrolled for at least seven (7.0) credits for the school year in our full-service high school program. If the student’s district allows optional split enrollment, or if the student is participating in a mandatory split enrollment at another school, she must be enrolled for five and a half (5.5) credits at Mountain Heights in order to receive a laptop from the school.
Full-time 7-8 grade students will be enrolled in six (6.0) credits. If the student’s district allows optional split enrollment, or if the student is participating in a mandatory split enrollment at another school, the student must be enrolled for four (4.0) credits at Mountain Heights Academy in order to receive a laptop. Students who are home-schooled and wishing to enroll just part-time in 7th-8th grades must take at minimum two (2.0) credits and will not receive a laptop to use throughout the year unless they are taking at least four (4.0) credits. A student in 7th-8th grades may participate in the Statewide Online Education Program (SOEP) under certain circumstances. Contact a Mountain Heights Academy school counselor for more information.
STATEWIDE ONLINE EDUCATION PROGRAM. Students in grades 9-12 who attend a district or private school or are home schooled full-time may work with their school counselor during their CCR (College and Career Readiness) meeting to select up to 4.0 Mountain Heights Academy credits to take through the Statewide Online Education Program (SOEP). Part-time students are not eligible to receive a Mountain Heights Academy laptop.
Can students take classes at other schools?
MOST DISTRICTS DO NOT ALLOW OPTIONAL SPLIT ENROLLMENT. It depends. Please work with your counselor well in advance of school starting to customize your learning experience between schools.
Full-time 9-12 grade students need to be enrolled in a minimum of 7.0 credits at Mountain Heights Academy. The majority of Mountain Heights Academy students are full-time. However, if a student wishes to take a course from their boundary school that is not offered at Mountain Heights Academy, they can work with their MHA school counselor to complete the necessary forms for optional or mandatory split enrollment. Students may take up to 2.0 credits elsewhere under certain circumstances outlined in the Split Enrollment forms, but must maintain 5.5 credits at Mountain Heights Academy. By default, students will be enrolled in seven credits until the appropriate forms are submitted by the deadline. Even though Mountain Heights Academy is willing, MOST DISTRICTS DO NOT ALLOW STUDENTS TO OPTIONAL SPLIT ENROLL. If your district does not allow optional split enrollment, Mountain Heights Academy cannot intervene.
Can students take seminary at their neighborhood schools?
ABSOLUTELY. Students can take seminary at their local seminary buildings. Please note that seminary courses are released-time and do not factor into the number of credits a student needs for graduation.
Does my student have to be self-motivated to be successful at Mountain Heights Academy?
WE WORK WITH STUDENTS WHO HAVE VARYING LEVELS OF SELF-MOTIVATION. It would be fabulous if every teenager were completely self-motivated. Those who are, find success at whichever school they attend. However, the majority of teens are not 100% self-motivated. This is why Mountain Heights Academy hires dedicated teachers who devote time to working with each student to help them succeed. Because the content is available online, teacher time is spent working with students in small groups or individually instead of repeating lessons to various groups of students. Additionally, parents are kept well-informed of each student’s progress via a weekly email update that gives parents access to grades, time spent in class, pacing and student progress.
How much time are parents required to spend working with their students?
SCHOOL IS A PARTNERSHIP. THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT FOR PARENTS TO BE LEARNING COACHES. We enjoy partnering with parents, who know their children better than anyone, to empower students to succeed. Parents are invited and welcome to work with their students if they would like. However, Mountain Heights Academy has a lower teacher/student ratio and leverages technology so that teachers are available to work with and help individual students be successful. School is a partnership between the parent, student and Mountain Heights Academy. The parent is responsible for reading and responding to school communications, keeping track of progress, and providing a quiet environment conducive to learning. The student is responsible for logging in each day, reaching out to teachers with questions, and making progress in each class. The school provides caring, professional teachers with dedicated time to helping students, along with adaptable curriculum to meet student needs.
How can I get more involved?
PARENT SUPPORT & PARENT ORGANIZATION. Join the Parent Teacher Organization Facebook group for opportunities to be more involved. Also, look for parent-focused meetings during student activities to learn how to support our school and your students.
When can I enroll my child?
APPLY EARLY FOR BEST CHANCES OF ACCEPTANCE. You may complete an enrollment application at any time, although it is better to apply early. All students who have submitted an application by the end of an enrollment period will have an equal chance to be accepted in a random lottery for that period. The first lottery is conducted in February with additional lotteries run weekly as necessary. Once all slots have been filled, any additional lotteries will be held to determine priority on the waiting list.
When will I find out if my child is accepted?
WITHIN ONE WEEK OF APPLICATION. Mountain Heights Academy will contact you within one week of the lottery period during which you applied. Please check your email at the address provided for an acceptance letter. Those who are not selected will be placed on a waiting list in order of their lottery result and will be notified accordingly.
How do I register my child for classes?
FORMS AND FEES. You will receive instructions on how to complete all the necessary paperwork, where to send a copy of your student’s birth certificate, immunization record, and current transcript. A payment link will be provided to pay the fees online.
REGISTRATION INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE SENT VIA EMAIL. You will receive an email with instructions to complete your registration online.
What if my child has an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or 504?
WE WORK WITH ALL IEP and 504 STUDENTS. Please alert us on the enrollment form and we will have a case manager contact you regarding IEPs and a counselor contact you about 504s.
What if my child is accepted, then we change our minds?
LET US KNOW ASAP. Please let Mountain Heights Academy know as soon as possible so that we can accept students from the waiting list.
How do I transfer my child in or out of Mountain Heights Academy?
STUDENTS CAN TRANSFER IN QUARTERLY. If there are available openings, new students may be considered for acceptance for the next term (quarter). Quarters begin in August, October, January and March. Seniors are only accepted for full-time status in August, and juniors are only accepted in August and January. Part-time options might be available depending on your circumstances.
STUDENTS MAY TRANSFER OUT AT ANY TIME. Best practices suggest transferring at the end of a quarter is the simplest because you will have a transcript with earned grades to take with you. Please notify your school counselor and call the front desk at 801.721.6329 if you have decided to transfer out.
NEW SCHOOL MUST REQUEST RECORDS. Should you choose to transfer from Mountain Heights Academy, you will need to have your new school fax a request for records to us at 1.888.671.0032 to begin the process. Mountain Heights Academy will work with you and your new school to ensure a smooth transition.
For Students
What type of computer do we need to have?
STUDENT LAPTOPS AVAILABLE FOR USE DURING SCHOOL YEAR. Each student who is participating in the full-time program can check out a Mountain Heights Academy Chromebook to use (for school purposes only) throughout the school year. The laptop computer will be returned at the end of the school year and then reissued in August. This is the recommended option, however, a student may use a personal home computer as long as all of the Computer Requirements are met. Mountain Heights Academy cannot troubleshoot IT problems on home computers or internet service provider (ISP) issues.
How often are we required to attend in-person meetings throughout the school year?
FIVE TO SIX TIMES PER YEAR. Mountain Heights Academy hosts an orientation at the beginning of the year where students learn about school culture, receive a laptop, learn how to access courses, check email, and connect with teachers. We hold orientations in Southern Utah, Vernal, and West Jordan each August, with additional orientations quarterly for those who join us during the school year.
State testing takes place each spring with testing locations in Layton, West Jordan, Southern Utah, and Vernal. There are typically four tests given, which students can take over one to three days depending on their preference. For juniors, the ACT is offered free of charge in March.
At the end of the year, Mountain Heights Academy schedules a Gala in the Salt Lake Valley to celebrate the school year and to present academic and service learning awards. Laptop computers must be turned in at the end of the year and are accepted up to a week after school ends without charges accruing, including during the Gala for your convenience. The Gala is scheduled close to our graduation date for convenience.
What is the typical schedule for a student at Mountain Heights Academy?
CUSTOMIZED SCHEDULE. A typical schedule at Mountain Heights Academy is built to cater to each student and their individual needs. The framework consists of roughly an hour per day per course for the core classes, and a bit less than that for elective courses.
All assignments for each week should be completed during the week they are due so that students can stay on track in each class. Each course has a sample daily schedule posted so students have an example to follow. Some students choose to follow a more traditional schedule, working daily, completing roughly an hour of work for each core class. Others spend more time on school four days per week, and take an extra day off once they are finished. The flexibility of how to schedule their time helps our students learn important time management skills and learn personal responsibility. Additionally, our Student Services mentors are available to assist students in setting up a personalized schedule that will work best for them.
Can I take summer school through Mountain Heights Academy?
CURRENT STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO SUMMER SCHOOL. Current Mountain Heights Academy students and students who have completed the fall enrollment process who need to recover credit can participate in our core credit recovery program over the summer. Mountain Heights also offers some courses for original credit for $90 per 0.5 credit course. Taking original credit over the summer allows for a more flexible schedule during the school year.
Does Mountain Heights Academy offer credit recovery options?
CREDIT RECOVERY OPTIONS AVAILABLE QUARTERLY. Mountain Heights offers four credit recovery sessions during the school year. Each session lasts six weeks. Students can sign up for credit recovery during the school year provided that they are currently passing their regular classes.
What type of extracurricular programs do you offer?
A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE FOR LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE. In addition to a rigorous academic program, students can also apply to be a peer mentor and to join National Honor and Junior Honor Societies. They can also run for Student Advisory Board and Class Officer positions. Mountain Heights Academy hosts a variety of clubs, such as Chess & Gaming Club, STEM & Robotics Program, Creative Writing & Reading Book Club, and FCCLA (Family, Career & Community Leaders of America).
Mountain Heights Academy also encourages each student to participate in service-learning projects, such as making earthquake kits for elementary school children, sending treats to troops, volunteering at the Food Bank, reading to elementary school children, and much more. Any student who completes 25 hours of service per semester, will be eligible for a service award at the Gala at the end of the school year.
What type of social activities are there at Mountain Heights Academy?
SOCIAL AND SERVICE ACTIVITIES AVAILABLE. The Parent Organization, Student Advisory Board, clubs, teachers, grade levels, and service learning programs provide students with roughly one opportunity per week to get together in person for activities. Past activities include Game Nights, Pizza Parties, Book Drive, Food Drive, field-trip to the Animal Shelter, tour of Welfare Square, volunteering at the Utah Food Bank, attending the Utah Opera, ice-skating, Classic Skating, Zoo field trip, Thanksgiving Point field trip, Timpanogos Caves field trip, Capitol Reef field trip, and our traditional Gala at the end of the school year.
Additionally, there is constant collaboration online as students are working on assignments in clubs and in classes. Within our secure system, students can communicate with other students via email, video conference, or chat. Students also contribute to class discussions and work on group projects through the use of 21st century collaborative technology tools.
When does the quarter start and end?
CHECK THE CALENDAR. All important dates can be found on the school calendar. You can access it here.
Can I use the school-provided computer for personal use?
NO. The computers given to each student at the beginning of the year are for school use only. The laptops are heavily filtered and students are only allowed to access school-approved sites. This means that all social media, gaming, shopping, music, and other non-school specific sites are blocked.
Where can I get technical support?
OUR HELP DESK PAGE. Check out this page for all of your technical support needs.
How can I request a transcript and how much does it cost?
FILL OUT OUR TRANSCRIPT REQUEST FORM. If you need an official copy of your transcript for college applications or to send to another school, please visit this page. Transcripts are free to current students and $5 for Alumni. If you need an unofficial transcript, contact the counseling office.
Can I take time off of school for a vacation?
YES, ESPECIALLY IF YOU WORK AHEAD. While being a student at Mountain Heights Academy gives you incredible flexibility, coursework is due on a weekly basis. That being said, you can work ahead in a course. At the beginning of each quarter, you will receive all materials necessary to complete each course. However, regular school attendance is required by law. If you do not log in and complete work for ten consecutive days, you will be marked truant, and you may be suspended or expelled from the school.
What happens if I get behind in coursework?
CONTACT YOUR COUNSELOR. In the event of severe illness or inability to complete schoolwork for valid reasons, contact your school counselor in advance for approval. It is important to schedule your time so that you can remain up to date on your coursework. If for any reason you do get behind, it is important to contact your counselors and notify them of your circumstances.