Academics at Ironwood

“Learning is a key component of meaning and positive productivity at all stages of life. This is especially true during challenging and trying times.”

Ironwood has embraced this attitude and teamed with Oak Meadow School, an outstanding academic program and curriculum, to insure that your child is provided the opportunity for academic growth and progress while at Ironwood. Through Oak Meadow School, a fully accredited K-12 distance learning school, students continue to progress academically toward their educational goals and work toward a high school diploma while in residence at Ironwood.

Proven Oak Meadow principles of learning have helped thousands of students around the world learn successfully since 1975, and this tradition of excellence has been recognized by major accrediting associations. Oak Meadow School is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and the Commission on International and Trans-Regional Accreditation, assuring that student work at Oak Meadow School will be accepted by colleges and schools worldwide. Oak Meadow maintains official transcripts of enrolled students, which may be sent to potential colleges upon request. Most Oak Meadow graduates go on to college, and they have attended and succeeded at a wide variety of colleges and universities. Oak Meadow School is also registered with the NCAA Clearinghouse, and our courses are approved for student athletes who wish to meet NCAA collegiate eligibility standards for Division I and II.

Oak Meadow School provides a challenging, self-paced, flexible, and engaging curriculum – a nice fit with residential life at Ironwood. Our philosophy is that learning takes place in a multitude of settings, but personal growth unfolds naturally in kind, challenging, nurturing, but disciplined surroundings. Oak Meadow academics, in concert with Ironwood, provides this personal growth environment to cultivate the development of the inherent goodness, responsibility, and positive direction in your child. At Ironwood, a living learning laboratory is ever present within the beautiful 500-acre setting. Through experiential educational programs and core academic offerings, Oak Meadow School and Ironwood team to provide a unique and meaningful learning experience. Through these programs and in this setting, students are exposed to subjects outside their normal realm of experience, including animal therapy, horticulture, culinary, life skills, NOAA meteorological programs, and possibilities yet to be discovered. After completing programs at Ironwood, students may continue with Oak Meadow to earn additional credits and a high school diploma.

Academics at Ironwood are monitored on a daily basis by a certified and professional, on-site educational coordinator. Student work is supervised and sent weekly to Oak Meadow teachers, who evaluate and assess assignments and send reviewed work back to the students with comments and guidance. Academic program evaluation and direction is provided by Dr. Helene B. Jones, director of Oak Meadow School. Helene has 25 years of teaching experience, 12 years of educational administration experience, and has worked with distance education programs since 1985 and specialty schools and treatment programs since 2001.

Cost of the Oak Meadow Program

"Considering debts and lessons... to hire good private teachers and to accept the resulting cost as money well spent."

Costs for Oak Meadow are in addition to the monthly fees for the Ironwood program. Oak Meadow costs are on a per course (credit) basis, rather than monthly, and are paid by families directly to Oak Meadow School. The cost per academic course (two semesters or one credit) is $600. (A one-semester course costs $425). The $600 or $425 cost includes enrollment in our accredited academic high school, course materials, and teacher fees that provide for weekly review of student work by Oak Meadow teachers. A full academic course load consists of four (4) courses, resulting in a total cost of $2,400. Pro-rated over ten (10) months, the average timeframe to complete two semesters of a high school course, the cost for a full academic load averages out to $240 per month; an excellent value. Note, however, that students at Ironwood may work at an accelerated pace, completing courses and earning credits more rapidly.

Sallie Mae K-12 educational loans are available to borrow a minimum of $1,000 up to the total cost of your child’s education. Your education loan can pay for enrollment, curriculum, computers or any other education related expense. (See Page 5 of Oak Meadow Catalog at www.oakmeadow.com)

Ironwood will begin offering six-, eight-, and ten-week tenure programs. Due to the nature of the Oak Meadow curriculum and flexibility of delivery, students can successfully complete a semester or two during these abbreviated durations at Ironwood.

Enrollment in the Oak Meadow Program

Once your child is at Ironwood and is ready to enroll in Oak Meadow School, Dr. Helene Jones will be given your (parent) contact information and will call you. She will have been sent a copy of your child’s transcripts (provided by parents to Ironwood). During the phone consultation, Helene will discuss with you your child’s past and current academic attitudes and achievements, motivation, learning styles, and educational goals. Together, Helene and parents will determine appropriate courses with an eye toward graduation and staying “on-track” educationally. At this time, parents will also be asked to provide credit card information, so students can be officially enrolled in Oak Meadow School, educational materials sent, teachers assigned, and their academic program initiated.

To learn more about Oak Meadow School, please visit our web site at www.oakmeadow.com. We are excited and proud to be teaming with Ironwood, and look forward to partnering with you and your child to enhance your child’s academic progress and love of learning.