Is Online School Worth It? Home Depot VP Says It’s the Best Choice for Her Son

For many American families, “school” still means a physical building, a traditional bell schedule, and all the familiar trappings of homecoming, football games, and cafeteria lunches. However, for Kimberly Scardino, Senior Vice President of Finance, Chief Accounting Officer and Controller at The Home Depot, the path to the right education for her son Nick looked very different.

Living just outside Atlanta, Georgia, Kimberly never expected to enrol her child in a fully online private school.

We really never thought we would have a child… who didn’t go to traditional school, a brick-and-mortar school throughout their 12 years.

Yet after years in traditional private schooling, the limitations became impossible to ignore.

“We started to really think about the curriculum that school offered – specifically AP classes… we started to feel restricted by the [traditional] school’s curriculum.”

Nick, now 17, attended a well-regarded private high school for his freshman and sophomore years. But as his interest in engineering grew, so did the need for a curriculum that could match his ambition.

Like many families who relocate, the Scardinos faced challenges with course placement.

Because we moved around… he would be on the same level math… it was sort of difficult for him going to new schools to really get into the more advanced math classes.

Kimberly wanted him to be able to take summer courses, advanced classes, and the calculus he’d need to be competitive for top engineering programs, and she wanted this without artificial roadblocks like age-based prerequisites.

At CGA, he was able to load up… with as many classes as he needed. What was important to me is… the Da Vinci program… I could get him extra one-on-one… teacher [support] to really help him through… when I knew some of the courses would be challenging.

Exceeding Expectations Outside of Academics

Kimberly describes the school’s academic advising and pastoral support as one of the biggest surprises.

Between first working with CGA to decide his curriculum, then the teachers he received, and now his… college counsellor… everyone… has really seek to understand where Nick is.

This wasn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. She admires CGA for their personalized approach to Nick's learning.

The questions that you ask… trying to understand what the student’s aspirations are… how the colleges will view them… really coming to an agreement on what Nick wants and how he wants his junior and senior year to be.

Parent-teacher meetings, AP exam prep suggestions, and feedback tailored to Nick’s strengths and challenges have helped him thrive.

They’re continuously trying to understand how to bring the virtual class to life… making sure that we’re all working together to make him as successful as possible.

Rethinking What a “Great Education” Means

Initially, Kimberly and her husband were sceptical.

“When Nick actually introduced the idea of… online school… we were not very… open to it… right away.”

But she found that CGA offered something her family hadn’t experienced in brick-and-mortar schools: consistent, high-quality teaching.

The diversity that it offers… the students in his class… live all over the world… it’s really opened our minds to what a great education can look like.

From an American teacher based in Japan to classmates from different continents, CGA’s environment has broadened Nick’s horizons — and given him an edge in preparing for university.

Advice for Parents Considering the Leap?

Kimberly encourages research, networking, and a willingness to challenge assumptions.

One thing… is just talking to other parents who might have had experiences with non-traditional schools… understanding their experiences… really helped us quite a bit.

The Scardinos’ story reflects a growing trend in the US: parents turning to online high schools to give their children flexibility, advanced academic options, and access to teachers and peers beyond their ZIP code.

If you’re a US parent weighing whether to stick with a traditional school or explore the best online private school options, Kimberly’s experience is a reminder that sometimes the leap into something new is exactly what your child needs.

Speak to our academic advisors today to learn more.