Penn Foster High School

Penn Foster High School is a U.S. for-profit high school for distance learning. The school was founded in 1890, and is now one of the largest high schools in the United States with over 50,000 students currently enrolled across all 50 states. The school is regionally and nationally accredited. It is headquartered in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

Penn Foster High School
Address
925 Oak Street

Scranton
,
Pennsylvania
18515

United States
Information
TypePrivate High School
Established1890
FounderThomas J. Foster
StatusOpen
PresidentFrank F. Britt
Grades9-12
EnrollmentApprox. 50,000
Color(s)Blue and White    
AccreditationRegional: Middle States Commission on Secondary Schools
National: DEAC AdvancED: AdvancED
WebsiteOfficial Site

It offers a high school diploma program and also offers several high school concentration programs including an early college program for students looking to get a head start on their college education, as well as vocational concentrations in carpentry, plumbing, electrical, health care, or information technology.

History

In 1890, a newspaper editor named Thomas J. Foster founded the International Correspondence Schools (ICS) to provide coal miners with the education they needed to advance in their careers and increase worker safety. One out of every 27 adults in the US had taken an ICS course. ICS later became Penn Foster High School, Penn Foster Career School, and Penn Foster College.

In December 2009, Penn Foster was purchased by test preparation and educational support company The Princeton Review from its previous owner, the Wicks Group, a private equity firm that had bought the high school from Thomson Corporation in 2007. On May 18, 2012, the Princeton Review brand name and operations were bought for $33 million by Charlesbank Capital Partners, a private-equity firm. The parent company was renamed Education Holdings 1, Inc.[1] In 2013, Education Holdings 1 filed for bankruptcy; it exited two months later.[2][3]

Bain Capital purchased Penn Foster in 2018.[4]

Academics

Penn Foster High School allows students to earn their high school diploma, regardless of their education background. All students take a core curriculum of classes, as well as five elective courses. Students may use these elective courses to focus on specific industries, such as Health Care, Information Technology, and Building Technology, or may take approved college level courses.[5] Penn Foster High School has an open enrollment policy, students can start at any time. Students and graduates can access Penn Foster Career Services, which helps students find a job through resume and cover letter preparation, job search assistance, and interview tips.

Accreditation

Penn Foster High School is regionally accredited for grades 9-12 by the Commission on Secondary Schools of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.[6] and nationally accredited by the DEAC.[7] Penn Foster High School is also accredited by AdvancED [8]

Penn Foster High School is licensed by the Pennsylvania Department Of Education,[9] registered with the NCAA Eligibility Center, [10] and is an accredited business by the Better Business Bureau.[11]

Awards
  • 2016 Tyton Growth50[12]
  • 2016 Military Friendly® School Designation[13]
  • 2015 Bronze Brandon Hall Excellence in Learning Award[14]
  • 2014 USDLA International Distance Learning Award[15]
  • 2014 IMCI Global Contact Center[16]
  • 2013 Voice of the Future[17]

Notable partners[18]

Social groups and clubs[19]
  • Photography Club
  • Friends of Hope
  • 20's Club
  • DIY Club
  • Cooking Club
  • Night Owls
  • Stand Strong
  • Book Club
  • Environmental Club
  • Student Council
  • Science Club
  • Quote Club
  • Words of Faith
  • Penn Foster Pet Club
  • Writers and Poetry Club

See also

References
  1. "Princeton Review to sell test prep business name". Associated Press. 27 March 2012. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
  2. Penn Foster parent seeks bankruptcy protection
  3. Ex-Princeton Review Owner Wins OK For Ch. 11 Exit Plan
  4. "Bain Capital to Buy Penn Foster, a Workforce-Skills Provider That Dates Back to Late 1800s"
  5. http://www.pennfoster.edu/diploma/
  6. Penn Foster High School Middle States Accreditation
  7. "Penn Foster High School DEAC Accreditation". Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2015-06-14.
  8. Penn Foster High School AdvancED Accreditation
  9. PA Dept of Education Institution Program Search
  10. NCAA High School Administration
  11. "BBB Business Review: Penn Foster Career School". BBB serving Metro Washington DC & Eastern Pennsylvania. Better Business Bureau. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  12. https://www.pennfoster.edu/why-penn-foster/news/press-releases/2016/09/2016-tyton-growth50-list
  13. https://www.pennfoster.edu/why-penn-foster/news/press-releases/2015/12/penn-foster-awarded-2016-military-friendly-school-designation
  14. https://www.pennfoster.edu/why-penn-foster/news/press-releases/2015/12/2015-bronze-brandon-hall-excellence-in-learning-award
  15. https://www.pennfoster.edu/why-penn-foster/news/press-releases/2014/05/usdla-awards-dr-james-hurrell-of-penn-foster
  16. https://www.icmi.com/Resources/Contact-Center-Awards/Finalists-Winners
  17. https://www.pennfoster.edu/why-penn-foster/news/press-releases/2013/12/social-media-leadership-voice-of-the-future-award
  18. https://partners.pennfoster.edu/about-us/partnerships
  19. http://community.pennfoster.edu/community/social-forums/social-groups-and-clubs

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