Some NARHS students (who want to enlist in the US military) fall into two general categories. Transfer students and homeschoolers. Students who have been official, legal homechoolers will have very few issues enlisting. There is a specific process for homeschoolers applying for enlistment.

Transfer students (those who have all or nearly all of their high school credits), WILL encounter resistance with enlistment -- the military wants stability, seat time, and commited students who do what's expected of them when assigned. Students who transfer to NARHS after they are ready to graduate present special problems for the military evaluation process.

To properly prepare for enlistment, please speak to your NARHS-assigned advisor. We have access to the current information on enlistment options.

NOTE: simply HAVING a high school diploma does NOT guarantee enlistment..there are many other criteria. Good scores on the military's ASVAB test, positive results from your interview with the recruiter, your academic history, and many other factors play a part in enlistment.

A high school diploma is the minimum requirement for many jobs.

A 21-year-old homeschooled woman came to a NARHS workshop in Massachusetts in 2004 and announced she was a junior at the University of Massachusetts. She had a 3.5 GPA, but could not get a job as a bank teller because their banking regulations REQUIRE a high school diploma. Her two years of excellent college work was NOT an acceptable substitute, she needed a diploma.

Fair? No. But it is the rule. When the banking regulators made the rules about the minimum qualifications, they gave no consideration to exceptions or to homeschoolers. So, either you get your diploma, or you will not be considered for some jobs. Simple as that.

We are flattered by the recent press coverage. Rarely does a small private school receive so much attention. As you might imagine, as news travels, the issues tend to get clouded. So please let me set the perspective.

Five things you should know:

1. The North Atlantic Regional High School has been a state-authorized, state-recognized private school for 15 years. The school is fully accredited by the National Private Schools Association.

2. We are a truly private school because we receive NO public funds. As a truly private school, our standards are adopted by our team of certified teachers and administrators.

3. Last fall, the Haitian Refugee Center in Miami approached the school and asked if we could help their high school students. These students had earned all of the necessary graduation credits from their local public high school; but they could not pass one reading portion of the mandatory Florida EXIT EXAMS (FCAT). They had been in America for 2 to 4 years.

Use YOUR materials in YOUR way and still earn high school credits towards a real high school diploma.

Students who have earned the necessary 17-1/2 high school credits (from whatever sources), are eligible to graduate from a real Maine high school with a real high school diploma! No residency required. NO EXIT EXAMS required in Maine.

NARS brings all academic pieces together -- wherever they were earned -- making them all count towards your high school diploma from our state-authorized, state-recognized, fully accredited private school.

HOMESCHOOLERS: If previous high school course work was completed through a homeschool program, AND IF the family still has the work to prove that the subjects were successfully completed, then those courses, too, can be converted to high school credits. They can then be applied to the graduation requirements. And, you still did it YOUR way.

__ Students who are capable may earn high school credits at any age, and you may earn as many as you like to build your high school transcript.

For 19 years NARHS has been a state-authorized private school, recognized by the Department of Education. As of November 2003, we reached "nationally accredited" status. And on April 17, 2004, we became a "fully accredited" high school. North Atlantic Regional Schools provided 490 pages of documentation, curriculum, credentials, and other support materials over the past year to the National Private Schools Association. Based on that information, and their site visit to the Maine school campus, we have earned full accreditation.

Their cover letter states, “...demonstrates your commitment to the educational process and assures public confidence in your well deserved reputation.” The letter goes on to say, “North Atlantic Regional School is an outstanding academic institution whose quality educational program deserves recognition.” And, we have renewed our accreditation each year since, providing updated information each time.

"Grandfathering" GOOD NEWS:
NARS keeps all students on the same tuition schedule for all the years of their continuous, uninterrupted registration in our program. THEREFORE, to AVOID the tuition increases, it is wise to keep your student's registration uninterrupted.

Grandfathering means once a student is in and stays in, that student's rate is "grandfathered" for their entire high school career -- their rate never changes.

CURRENT TUITION SCHEDULE: as of July 1, 2007, the tuition is:

• A. For the UNDERGRADUATE years: $425.00 per year.
• B. For the GRADUATION year: $525.00
• C. For additional consultations: $40.00 per hour (not often used, but sometimes requested).
  

NOTE: There is no fee for including high school credits earned in other institutions, only for credits earned during previous homeschooling. Read how: