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Ignite Christian Academy is the K-12 online school of Alpha Omega Publications. With multiple start dates each month, your family can decide when to begin enjoying the assurance of an accredited private school. Ignite Christian Academy also includes incredible teacher support and individualized learning plans, as well as dual credit for college and graduation ceremony opportunities. Choose from full-time enrollment or individual course enrollment.
Website: Ignite Christian Academy (formerly Alpha Omega Academy)
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(144 Reviews)
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Contributor Reviews
Reviews are solely the opinions of the contributor.
Cons: I agree with all the other reviewers.... I can't stand that there is no Christmas or winter break and no break in the spring. So unless you do the work ahead of time, or opt to fall behind and try to catch up, this is a big hassle. We start our school year right around the time a traditional school would start and right before the Christmas break there are all these projects and reports due. So not only are we behind, but until the reports and projects are completed you can't do your other lessons. As a mom, right before the holidays is probably our busiest time of year and hardest time to sit down and devote a few hours to the various projects and reports do at that time. If they gave a traditional winter and spring break and made the projects or report extra credit instead of mandatory I would love their curriculum. This way if you want extra credit or if you have a low grade level you can use them to raise your grade and in the meantime, they don't cause you to fall behind I'm not super in love with their math. We switched back to teaching textbooks. I liked having a teacher and the accountability of their scheduled work gave us a push, but not worth the aggravation. All of my children learned more from Teaching Textbooks who may introduce some concepts later, but it all gets covered in the end and does a much better job of explaining.
Grades Used: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10th
They need to add holidays where work is not scheduled, for at the very least, Christmas and a couple of days during the Spring or Easter. Projects and reports are cumbersome and given right around the same time for all the subjects and scheduled right before the holidays. Really? Students won't have access to other lessons until reports and projects are done. Overall, even though I find these issues very annoying, I still like the curriculum and continue to use it, because the good outweighs the bad, but if they made a couple of small changes, their curriculum could be the best or one of the best around. Liberty Online is very similar, but slightly more expensive every time I have compared them in the past, but I liked their online academy better when we used it because they gave the holidays off. They had some website issues with the being able to quickly access if your student was on track when we used it, but I've heard they now have a "snapshot" similar to AOA where you can see all the subjects, grades and if a student is on track, all on one page. Overall Alpha Omega Academy is a solid, Christian Curriculum and I appreciate how they keep us on track and usually allows my children to work independently. In previous years, prior to using an online academy and working independently, we would be so much more behind, but I do wish they would add the holidays and make the projects and reports extra credit for students who need, or want to do them, and not prevent students from being able to access their other work until the projects are completed.
Cons: No Spring Break, Very Short Christmas Break
Grades Used: 9 and 10
We chose Alpha Omega Academy after taking my daughter out of public school. She worked at a faster pace than her classmates and bullying was a huge problem. AOA offers the Christian based curriculum that we were looking for and my daughter is able to work ahead if she wants. She is very shy and her teachers have worked with her to help overcome her debilitating shyness. We have been very happy with her progress.
I am not certain why there isn’t a break in the spring. While all other schools private and online are getting a much needed break, AOA students are required to work ahead if they need to travel. It has been hard for us this year because of an illness in the family that required travel often. While your friends are off school for a week, she is unable to participate in some activities due to her school work.
All in all, we have been pleased with AOA and I would recommend to anyone with a self motivated child.
Cons: Math and English are nighmares, projects require a lot of time and material, no scheduled breaks, is down a lot.
Grades Used: Ninth
The math part is very vague and the teacher does not explain well. The english part is very vague as well. There are too many projects happening at a time and they require a lot of time and you have to buy a lot for them. There are no breaks so when you want to have fall or spring break you either do extra work before or be behind after. I’ve been doing this for 3 monthes and the website has been down 3 times. For this price, I recommend you go somewhere else. The website looks extremely outdated anyways.
Cons: There aren't any cons.
Grades Used: 9th
My husband and I are very pleased with Alpha Omega Academy. Their team has a heart for serving and is very supportive. My son's counselors and advisors are caring and willing to extensively work with him to achieve realistic goals and help him stay on task. They regularly check on him and are always courteous and professional when we speak. It is evident they truly want to see him succeed. Our experience has been very positive. I wish we would have used them sooner.
Grades Used: 3, 5
This is our 3rd year enrolling our children in Alpha Omega Academy. The teachers and staff are so caring and knowledgeable. When one of our children has a question about missing a problem, the teachers go out of their way to give a detailed explanation of the correct information. Our children love the curriculum. They are challenged but it is not overwhelming. We are so thankful that it has a Christian worldview. We do not have to worry about what is going to be taught because it is truth-filled and thorough. We travel quite bit and our teachers have been so flexible with working with us and our timelines. They have been readily available and very supportive. We receive phone calls very often from the staff reaching out to ensure we have all of the resources we need. Everyone has been pleasant, caring and professional. I would highly recommend AOA.
Grades Used: 7-12
Over the last 5+ years, our family has been directly connected with AOA and utilized their resources. We have been exceptionally appreciative of the biblical-worldview impact on the overall curriculum. The administration, staff, classroom, and interactive technology, have all been excellent in preparing our children for post high school education within an environment which reflects and shares servant hearts. We strongly recommend AOA for any family recognizing the significance of a biblical-based education in all the fundamentally necessary and beneficial core courses as well as available electives. Our family continues to be blessed by AOA's greatest resource, the people who make AOA possible, as loving, caring, and compassionate administrators and teachers whose passion for teaching and the learning of students is their priority. Our children have received a top-notch education all within a Christian worldview.
Grades Used: 8
My son is in 8th grade and this is our first year with Alpha Omega Academy. My husband and I have been very pleased. It is so easy to navigate and I really like the curriculum. I am also very pleased with weekly and bi- weekly emails from all the teachers.
Cons: Finding/buying supplies for science experiments. It was also tricky at first getting used to the systems and processes. I recommend rewatching the orientation videos again after a week or two of work once you're immersed in the coursework.
Grades Used: 9
This is our first semester doing online high school through Alpha Omega. My son was in private school K-8, and has made the transition well. The program is pretty rigorous, but definitely engaging. He spends about 4 to 5 hours a day on schoolwork, and has mostly A's and a few B's. The teachers are attentive and try to connect with him regularly. They are quick to answer questions or provide help whenever it is needed. We have been pleased with our experience so far.
Cons: sometimes more information is needed for math
Grades Used: 8,8/9, 6
We just completed our first semester at AOA. Grades 8,8 and 6. This has been a very well paced and self explanatory program for my boys. I have appreciated their prompt responses and easy to use programs.
Mona V.
Grades Used: 9th
We just started with AOA this year and so far we are very pleased with this program. My homeschooled daughter is doing well and keeping pace with the assignments. Occasionally she lands several quizzes on the same day but otherwise the pacing seems to be perfect. We like that she can work ahead when necessary to accommodate our personal schedules.
Teachers have been friendly and helpful.
This program was easy to start and easy to follow,
Cons: Inability to review subjects and grades in the portal after completion
Grades Used: 10, 11, 12
I have been homeschooling my children since 1999. I have used multiple programs for the 3 of them. I am homeschooling my last child now. She is a senior and will graduate Spring 2019. We began using Alpha Omega Ignitia in her sophomore year. I was hesitant at first but I am so glad that we made the switch. Our daughter has done amazingly well. She is a dancer so there are times when she does school work in the evening and at night. I was surprised that some of her teachers actually answered emails and graded work in the evening, a few times as late as 11pm EST. In the 3 years that we have been using the Ignitia program, we have only had one somewhat negative experience. However when it was bought to the attention of our educational coordinator, it was quickly corrected. My daughter and I have totally enjoyed the homeschool experience with AOA Ignitia. I only wish that I had discovered this program sooner.
Alpha Omega Academy is a true blessing! Everyone who works for the academy is very nice and helpful all the time. My son is in the 4th grade and loves his online school. I have always homeschooled my son and this is the first year of trying online school. He loves it and is doing great! We will definitely be using Alpha Omega Academy for my other kids as they get older and my 4th grader will also continue! I recommend this online academy to everyone I know!
Cons: Projects
Grades Used: %
Alpha Omega has far surpassed my expectations with home schooling. I am a mother of 3. My oldest graduated from public school. I was never overly pleased with the education but knew nothing else. After she graduated, my family made the decision to travel with my husband for work. This meant my 2 younger children would bounce from public school to school. Or we tske the plunge and attempt online school. I received so much criticism for this decision, but AOA has such a wonderful program I can confidently tell my critics they are WRONG!
Because I was a new homeschooling mom, I knew I needed a lot of support. I was nervous, but AOA made me feel very supported, and confident in what we were doing. We receive pleanty of phone calls from all areas checking in to ensure we have no questions or concerns. When the children need help, the teachers are responsive. There are whiteboard hours for necessary classes, and teachers send weekly letters out with any pertinent info. The teacher-student communication is top notch! My students have almost daily messages with comments from teachers on the current assignments. Whether it is a good job! Or asking the child to expand their thought process. This is something I really like, rather than them getting something half correct, they help to make sure the question is fully grasped.
The only thing I find difficult is the projects. There are many and sometimes it is hard to juggle but that is more of a change in routine and we will surely get it down.
AOA has definitely changed my feelings for school, and I now feel confident in my childrens education
Cons: Nothing
Grades Used: 5th
AOA has been nothing short of a miracle for my 11yo son. Last year in private school he struggled to stay on task with everything. He had C,D,F's pretty much all year. He is dyslexic, has ADHD, and some auditory processing issues. With AOA he has maintained A's and B's all year, has an easier time comprehending the material as it can all be read to him. He completes his work in a few hours a day vs school were he was going in at 8am and then still doing homework some nights at 10pm. I feel like his additude has changed drastically towards school and every day life in general. His teacher is great and calls periodically to check in as well as his education coordinator. The system is easy to navigate, we have had no technical difficulties and the course load is easily manageable. The Semester dates are flexiable to a point so you can adjust for vacations and such. The cost is at least 1/2 of what I was paying for private school. All in all it's a great program and we have no complaints this far. Thank you AOA!
Cons: None
Grades Used: 9-12
We used AOA for our daughter from 9-12th grade. She is in college now and completing a degree in Graphic Design. Our son is currently in the 11th grade and is doing well. The AOA teachers are helpful and engaged. We use a combination of Ignitia courses and LifePacs and are very happy with the quality of instruction. Our daughter took Spanish I and II and had such a great experience. It was one of the reasons that she had the desire and confidence to go on a month long college missions trip to Uruguay last year. My son has really enjoyed his interactions this year with all his teachers and especially his English and Chemistry teachers have been very encouraging. They grade his work quickly and are very responsive. Our Ed Coordinator, Kristy May is the best! We highly recommend AOA!
Cons: None so far.
Grades Used: 8th grade
This is our first year with AOA. We are amazed at how hands on the teachers are. We are very impressed with the resources available. We truly feel as if our teen is in a classroom.
Grades Used: 7 - 11
I attended a brick and mortar school for my elementary years, but then my family and I moved to a town where there were no Christ-centered schools around. We looked for options online and found Alpha Omega. It's an excellent school for academics, and it's a simple, easy way of learning. Going through my classes at my own pace is awesome, as I can work ahead if the next couple of days are busy. All of the teachers I have spoken to/had have been exceedingly friendly and helpful. The classes are also challenging, but in a good way.
Cons: None to mention
Grades Used: 3,6,7,8,9,10,11,12 and ongoing
Alpha Omega Academy had been great over the last 3 years with my 2 girls. Both girls have been enrolled in AOA fulltime for the last 3 years. It's cheaper than a private school and the curriculum is challenging and up to par with college prep courses. My oldest, a senior this year, is often ahead of what her friends in public high school are doing.
The teachers are on top of the grading for the most part and if you have a problem, you can call Academic Support or Tech Support. The teachers communicate via email and phone on occasion. Your academic counselor calls to check in quarterly.
We love that the semester's are so flexible. We vacation and take days off when we want or need. If my girls need extra time to figure something out that is possible as well. We do not participate in the teachers online hours, but it's great that it's an available tool.
We love that AOA holds 3 graduation ceremonies so the graduates can have an opportunity to walk the stage for their diploma. They also offer dual enrollment.
I cannot say enough positive things about this school. Kristy May, our counselor, is awesome! She's knowledgable and organized. And if you have a problem or question, she will assist you quickly.
I have no cons. However, sometimes you do have computer issues which can make some days frustrating. This is not any fault of AOA. Also, we are not religious, and sometimes the Christain content can be a little much in all the various classes. But I think it's also important whether you are religious or not, to learn about God and the Christain beliefs.
We are very happy with AOA and have 4 more years with this great school.
Cons: None to mention
Grades Used: 1 - 9 (ongoing)
Outstanding Institution.
Our son is Autistic and Alpha Omega has gone above and beyond to assist us and help us find the best and most productive way to keep our son engaged and learning. The teachers are without question, the best I have ever worked with. Instructions are clear and concise. Lesson plans are easy to follow and understand. We utilize the Lifepac series and have enjoyed our years at Alpha Omega. The entire staff is wonderful to work with. I highly recommend Alpha Omega.
Cons: expensive for our budget but worth the adjustments we ve made to make it possible
Grades Used: 9th
AOA is working so well for our daughter and our family.We are new to Alpha and Omega Online this school year. We had concerns about our 9th grade daughters English proficiency since English is her second language and want to start now in helping her be ready for furthering her Education later. My husband and I work both full time and though I am at home I am challenged about keeping up with my daughters workload, grading, planning. Our daughter loves having automatic grading, automatic planning that alerts her about staying on track, allows her to work ahead or get caught up even at a pace that works for her and our lifestyle. She enjoys reading the well illustrated information with the interesting links that keep her engaged. AOA assigns us a counselor who has always been very readily available to assist us in any questions or concerns we have. We are truly enjoying homeschooling this year so much more with AOA. Highly recommend.
Cons: Sometimes the system is glitchy or down
Grades Used: 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
This is our sixth year with AOA. Our experience has been challenging and rewarding. Our three children have learned so much academically but have also been stretched as a person. Between keeping up with deadlines, learning to communicate with their teachers, and realizing there are no shortcuts has strengthened their character and allowed them to be responsible for their own education. Having one that has graduated and gone on to college with ease and making great grades. AOA has paved the way for confidence, perseverance, and knowledge as our kids go into the world and be whatever The Lord has called them to be.
I enrolled my daughters in AOA for their 8th grade year due to traveling for work. It was an amazing experience. They did the online classes and did so well. When they needed help they would ask and almost immediately get a response. They called to check in on my girls to see if they were needed anything. I did put them back in public school cause of sports. But I would recommend AOA for anyone looking for a homeschool program.
Cons: N/A
Grades Used: 10/11
Alapa Omega academy is an awesome program for kids that's having difficulty in regular school it's challenging I like that a lot it keeps the kids on there toes her teacher responds back to her quickiy Im always getting updates on her progressive overall it's a wonderful program
Cons: With any online program (elementary to college) the student needs to be disciplined to "go to school". Since this is online - it is easy to be tempted to reach for the remote. =)
Grades Used: 9
Our son has been attending AOA since elementary. He is now in 9th grade. AOA has been wonderful for him. Like any other parent, at first, I worried about the Homeschooling structure. What about friends, teacher interaction, accreditation, electives, and educational opportunities? However, after being with AOA for over 9 years, we see the advantages and it has been good for our soon. First, the school offers top technologies where the students can interact with each other and their teacher via an online whiteboard and messaging/communication system. This means, with a computer and headset, my son is a part of a classroom just the same as a traditional school environment however and importantly, he is without distractions. Next, the school offers a "hotline" where students can call and speak to an available skilled teacher/Subject Matter Expert (SME). Our son gets a 1-on-1 opportunity to speak to a teacher. Furthermore, the curriculum is the same or better than what is offered in public/private school. There is a strict grading system and the teachers/counselors do an excellent job at sending progress reports and reaching out to parents if there are any concerns. Our son exceeds in his studies and knowledge compared to his friends who attend public school (at least in our area). The school work is challenging for the student. There are still projects, writing essays, reading books/novels, etc. just the same as traditional schools. There are many electives to chose from (far more than a public school). AOA has structured their processes to offer students the best support. We are blessed to have the opportunity to have our son attend AOA.
Cons: Sometimes, teacher support has been lacking in explaining assignments or projects
Grades Used: High School & Middle School
Alpha Omega Academy has been such a blessing to our family! We enrolled our children in the High School/Middle School years. The course work and content have been Biblically based and always highlight a Christian Worldview. Our boys find the work challenging and fun. They enjoy the immediate feedback on grades and like the pacing and scheduling. Academic Advisors and Teachers have been great to work with. We also like the academy's approach to teaching writing and language skills. Thank you AOA!