REVIEW OF Royal Ontario Academy BY student, Arielle Wallace

(5) Student Experience

I have been attending the Royal Ontario Academy since the fall of 2025, and so far it has been a very positive experience! What I love the most is how flexible the lessons and courses are; it allows me to do my other day-to-day activities and do school later in the day. In fact, you can do your lessons whenever you want. I also love how supportive and responsive the staff are. Whenever I have an inquiry or question regarding anything, the response is always prompt. As an international student, this school has made it so easy for me to earn my OSSD virtually, and I feel well supported. I definitely recommend this school to anyone looking for asynchronous classes and a way to earn an OSSD online.

The Best Part

The best part about this school is the asynchronous courses. It is very flexible and allows you to do other activities throughout the day that would not be possible at a traditional brick-and-mortar school.

Suggested Improvements

Nothing in particular, I feel that all my needs and expectations are met at the Royal Ontario Academy. The only thing I would note is that the assignments are marked strictly based on the rubric, which is very intimidating at first, but it is not necessarily a bad thing because it pushes you to work harder and improve the quality of your submissions.

Hidden Details

Some courses have portfolios in addition to learning logs, so be prepared to write those up; they get really tedious if you let them pile up, so do them as soon as you receive them.

(5) School Leadership

The school leaders have been very helpful and supportive throughout my time at this school. They are very hands-on and easy to communicate with. They provide a lot of support and answer any questions you may have. When I first started, the principal was so helpful and kind to my parents and me, which we truly appreciated. In fact, this is part of the reason why we decided to continue with ROA, because they answered all that we needed to know, unlike other prospective schools.

(5) Teaching

The teaching is pretty good at ROA. I definitely recommend it as it is challenging enough so you are academically stimulated, but also not too hard to the point where you are left completely confused. Since the lessons are asynchronous, you have to pace yourself and decide when to do what, which can be difficult, especially when you don't understand something, but luckily, all you have to do is email the teachers, and they will help within the same day or the following day. I definitely think they communicate what they expect of students well, as there is always a rubric that they use to mark assignments on every submission portal. This helps a lot, as you know what they are looking for in the assignment, so I definitely suggest following it to a T.

(5) Academics

I personally think the work is just right, it is of the academic rigour I was used to at my previous traditional schools. I like how the courses are set up, where you complete lessons, then discussions, and then quizzes or graded assignments. The lessons are asynchronous, you have to pace yourself and decide when to do what, which can be difficult at times, so this forces you to be conscious of your time management skills as there are no set due dates (besides midterms and end of semester). The portfolios do become tedious at times but they are not too difficult, so it is doable as long as you lock in and focus on the activites due. This school has caused me to be more responsible which prepares us for university as you have to learn how to manage your time.

(5) Extracurriculars

Since the school is asynchronous and online, there are no extracurricular activities. You simply log on and do your lessons, assignments, and culminating tasks. There is no social aspect necessarily; the only people you communicate with are the staff and school leaders. Although you are free to do other activities or hobbies outside of school, the scheduling is extremely flexible, so this does not hinder your ability to go out and do other things. For example, I go to golf occasionally in the morning with no issues, and I sign in to school later in the day. It is perfect for student athletes or those who travel a lot.

(4) Students

This is an online school, so there is little to no interaction with other students. You will only interact with your peers when doing discussions for lessons, as you have to read and reply to their posts. Outside of that, the only interaction is with the school leaders or teachers. I personally do not mind, though, as the school is very peaceful and I enjoy not having to socialize too much, so this is ideal for those with anxiety or who are socially awkward, as they do not have to interact as much as in a traditional school. If your child needs a social life and friends, then a different school would be better, as stated previously, it is asynchronous and online, so keep that in mind.

(4) School Life

It is an asynchronous and online school, so there is no physical campus where students are. This is something to keep in mind, but it is very ideal as you can log on from anywhere in the world or from home, and there will be no issues. If a group of visitors were to ask, though, I would definitely say that the best part of this school is its flexibility and its supportive staff. I believe that the school definitely prepares you for the academic part of university, as you cannot procrastinate or the work will overwhelm you, which I personally like, as it helps me stay on top of things. They are also very big on academic integrity, which makes the school's grading and academics even more trustworthy and a good option for students.

(5) Community

I definitely feel included, and I am sure the other students do as well. The school staff are very supportive and provide assistance every step of the way, which fosters a good community within ROA. As stated previously, this is an online school, so there is little to no interaction with other students. You will only interact with your peers when doing discussions for lessons, as you have to read and reply to their posts. Outside of that, the only interaction is with the school leaders or teachers. Regardless of that, it is still a very welcoming and comfortable experience, and they provide all the information and key details you need to succeed. I also have to say that they assist in applying to university, so if you are a senior or thinking of finishing high school online, they 100% support you and have the resources available!

(5) School Location

Since ROA is an online school, we do not go to a campus; it is all virtual. Regardless of that, you are free to do as you wish before and after starting your lessons or coursework due to the school's flexibility. You have the freedom to choose when to eat, when to rest, when to do your exams, and when to do assignments.

(5) Admissions

The admissions process is pretty simple. My mother emailed them based on what she saw on their official website, then we began the process of registering me. I liked that they did not have different fees for international students, which was a main part of our decision. When registering, they asked for your transcripts from previous schools, as well as a valid ID. Then, after they processed my information, they advised what courses I needed to receive an OSSD. Once the courses were decided on, we paid, and it took like a week for everything to be finalized. I was enrolled in the school, and I could start immediately afterwards.