The first and most important circumstance for understanding my situation is regarding high school.
I attend an art charter school (CASA) one county away from my home that has offered many opportunities but some important drawbacks. In terms of drawbacks, my high school experience is more difficult than others because I have to commute two hours per day to get to and from school. CASA is also a relatively new charter school with a small student body so it has not been as established as other high schools that have been around for nearly a century, student council is currently the only available club (though I am working with the principal to create a book club) and the school is still establishing its academic structure. While almost all English and humanities courses are live-taught, there is only one live taught science class (previously there were no labs for it, but I worked with the teacher to get a grant for biology labs!) and there isn't any advanced placement yet for mathematics or sciences. Beyond biology, all sciences are taught through CAOLA, an online schooling service.
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The student body is much smaller compared to a normal high school and handpicked as proficient artists, creating tightknit and talented classes with students who all share a common belief in the arts. CASA also provides a large degree of academic freedom. Taking CAOLA classes has allowed me to put extra time into my classes outside of school to advance to higher classes quicker. Upperclassmen in good standing are also allowed to take classes at a local community college which allowed me the opportunity to pursue higher levels of mathematics not available at CASA. My high school has given me enough freedom to attend some advanced STEM classes but I have not had the same opportunities as someone might in a traditional high