Helping Students Graduate: Credit Recovery or Summer School?

Posted by Laura Amendola on September 3, 2025

Many schools and guidance counselors commonly refer students who are short on credits to summer school. While this can be an effective solution, it’s not the only one. Credit recovery can work just as well, if not better, for many students. This guide explains what credit recovery is and when, why, and how guidance counselors can direct their students to it.

What is credit recovery and how does it work?

Credit recovery is a way for learners to earn missed or previously failed credits in a convenient way for them. This can be done through online programs, after-school programs, or summer sessions. This educational strategy is a great way for students who are falling behind to stay on track for graduation.

The limitations of traditional summer school for high schools

Summer school often entails being in a classroom for a designated amount of time multiple days a week during the summer. This may be fine for many students, but doesn’t work well for learners who have summer jobs, activities, or are otherwise unable to commit to a regular classroom schedule. With credit recovery, this is often not an issue. Students using an online program have the ability to complete their credit recovery at home (or on the road if they have a planned summer vacation) on their own time.

Why online or blended credit recovery is gaining ground

Learners had no choice but to experience online learning in 2020 when the pandemic forced a worldwide quarantine. Some students were happy to go back to a traditional, in-person model when quarantine was over, but others found that they thrived better with an online format, which contributes to the increase of online learning. Other reasons why students, or their parents, choose online learning platforms include avoiding bullying, safety concerns, and a self-paced structure.

For those who opt for a blended learning format, like online credit recovery, convenience can be a big driving force behind this decision. As guidance counselors, you should carry this option in your back pocket for students who find themselves in a situation where online credit recovery could be the thing standing between them graduating on time or not.

How effective is credit recovery?

There’s not much data on how effective credit recovery is. In fact, the American Institutes for Research claims its growing popularity outpaces research. The institute studied online credit recovery and found no significant difference for students who obtained previously failed credits with online credit recovery vs traditional in-classroom teaching. While just one study, these results imply the same level of effectiveness as summer school.

Pros and cons: a side-by-side comparison

There are pros and cons of both traditional summer school and online credit recovery options.

Approach	Pros	Cons / Risks
Summer School (In-Class)	Structured instruction with teacher support Better content retention Prevents summer learning loss	Lower participation rates Limited to summer term scheduling Requires physical attendance Can lead to student burnout
Online Credit Recovery	Flexible pacing for students Accessible beyond school calendar Supports higher graduation rates Scalable and cost-effective for districts	Lower academic rigor in some programs Variable content quality May yield lower subject mastery if unsupported Requires strong implementation and oversight

How to ensure high‑quality online credit recovery

As guidance counselors, you want the best for your students. When it comes to suggesting credit recovery, it’s best to research and partner with legitimate options so learners don’t run into problems. To judge legitimacy, look into if the school or program is accredited or not.

Ways you and your school can collaborate with credit recovery programs to work for your students include:

Embedding teacher or mentor support
Setting quality controls
Monitoring student usage and outcomes
Putting on a focus on equity

Help struggling students graduate with a trusted credit recovery program

A partnership with an online credit recovery program like Penn Foster can allow your school to give students short on credits the support they need. Penn Foster High School is regionally and nationally accredited, making it a trusted option you can rely on for your students. To learn how to partner with Penn Foster, request information or reach out to our training experts.