SHNS Academic Programs

  • The mission of Susan H. Nelson School is for our diverse learners to graduate as critical thinkers who are technologically confident and life-long, collaborative, and positive contributors to a global society. We accomplish this through a collaborative partnership among all stakeholders in a multimodal environment in which individualized student learning goals are made relevant and meaningful through a blended learning model.

  • WHAT IS “INDEPENDENT STUDY”?

     
     As explained by the California Department of Education:

    Independent study is a different way of learning. In independent study, a student is guided by a teacher but usually does not take classes with other students every day. The student works independently.  Students and parents choose this type of study on their own. Independent study programs are designed to help students who have health problems, are parents, are gifted, are working, or who find that regular classroom settings do not meet their needs. 
     
    COMMON TO BOTH TRADITIONAL AND VIRTUAL INDEPENDENT STUDY
    • Traditional and Virtual Independent study programs have a graduation requirement of 220 credits, Algebra and documented 40 hours of community service.
    • Graduates of SHNS have the choice to pursue a four-year university, community college, or trade school education. 
    • Students do the majority of their coursework at home.
    • Students meet with their assigned teacher at least once a week.
    • Students take tests and participate in language/science labs at school.
    • Students must be committed to working in their courses six hours daily, five days per week.

    TRADITIONAL INDEPENDENT STUDY AT NELSON (9th-12th)

     
     The Susan Nelson School Traditional Independent Study program provides an educational alternative for secondary students who have the ability, study skills, motivation, and self-discipline to learn independently under the supervision and support of a credentialed secondary education teacher who assigns and evaluates all coursework. 

     Independent Study (IS) students may desire an accelerated learning program, a flexible schedule to pursue a career goal, or may simply learn better in an independent program with one-to-one interactions with a single teacher. 

     The traditional Independent Study setting works well for students with little access to technology/ regular internet service in the home setting. This program is also beneficial to students who work best when they are able to interact with materials in a tactile manner (paper and textbooks).

    Our courses are offered on a semester basis. Students take two to three courses at a time, which keeps them on track for graduation.

     Enrollment in IS is considered on an individual basis. This program is considered an Independent Study option within the Temecula Valley Unified School District and it is a “program of choice”.

    TEMECULA ADVANTAGE VIRTUAL SCHOOL (TAVS) AT SUSAN NELSON  (9th-12th)

     
     Susan Nelson School’s Temecula Advantage Virtual School (TAVS) is a program considered “hybrid” in nature, meaning students work within one or more of our three adopted systems (APEX, Canvas and Odysseyware) to complete required coursework.

     Just as in traditional IS, this program is for students who have the ability, study skills, motivation, and self-discipline to learn independently under the supervision and support of a credentialed secondary education teacher who assigns and evaluates all coursework. 

     Our courses are offered on a quarterly basis. Students take three courses every quarter, totaling six courses each semester. Just as with our traditional secondary settings throughout TVUSD, courses are reported as semester courses on student transcripts because the coursework is comparable to that of the other districtwide semester courses. 

    TAVS offers AP courses as well as NCAA-approved courses.

     Enrollment at TAVS is considered on an individual basis. This program is considered an Independent Study option within the Temecula Valley Unified School District and it is a “program of choice”.