Kimberly Carrabotta used to wake up every morning, jump in the shower and head to school — which was a walk to her kitchen table.

“It’s a challenge,” said the 17-year-old. “It’s not for the average kid, not just any kid could pick it up.”

Carrabotta joined a growing list of students going to school online through the Lake Havasu Unified School District — but this year that enrollment figure will dramatically drop.

The district started its Web-based curriculum in 2004 with what equaled 15 full-time students; enrollment jumped to 203 the following year.

District officials expect its final 2009-2010 enrollment from the state in September, but estimate between 400 and 500 students enrolled. Students from around the state were logging onto the district’s program and the district received state funding for their online hours, according to Barbara Goodwin, district assistant superintendent of personnel and technology.

But now the district will directly oversee HavasuOnline for the upcoming school year after contracting its management to companies for the past two years.

The local control limits the district’s online enrollment, Goodwin said, adding that educating students outside of Lake Havasu City online is “very labor intensive.” Staff has to proctor state exams mandatory for students, for example.

So as of the middle of July, 30 students had committed to the program, which teaches seventh through 12th grades.

“It’s really important that parents understand that it’s not the easy way out,” said Nautilus Elementary School Principal Mari Jo Mulligan. “Students who struggle in a brick and mortar (classroom), we have not found them to be successful. It’s very challenging for them.”

Mulligan added that parent support is “crucial” even when students are good.

Mulligan’s staff will provide counselors and assistants to help parents and students chose classes and navigate the online program. Goodwin and Mulligan said returning students should not see a difference in the program.

Goodwin said the district operated the online school for its first four years, but turned to a company two years ago to develop a more interactive program.

“There was lots of reading,” Goodwin said of the original school. “It wasn’t our vision.”

Mulligan said if parents and students are considering the online option, the first step is to talk to a school counselor to help determine if it could be a good fit.

School officials added that the program is available to students who want to excel their academics by taking courses – such as language classes — not offered in the school district.

Carrabotta said she was a “trouble maker” when she was younger and bouncing from school to school. She started the online program four years ago.

“There were certain classes that were challenging. You would just read and read and then do your assignments,” she said. “It definitely was a different transition, but its just something that you have to give time.”

Carrabotta said she would e-mail a teacher if she had a question during her class day and usually received quick responses and was able to answer all of her questions via e-mail.

Carrabotta’s mother, Tasha, said she would make her daughter get up in the morning, shower, get dressed and eat breakfast just as if she was going to a physical school. She said her daughter would sit at the kitchen table and there was no access to social Internet distractions. Carrabotta would break for lunch, and her parents would peek over her shoulder every now and then to make sure she was on track.

Tasha Carabotta said it took 30 to 45 minutes a couple of times a week to hold her daughter accountable. But more recently, her daughter has learned her own self-discipline, she said.

“My parents made sure it was still a regular day at school for me,” she said. “I still had that structure.”

You may contact the reporter at jleatherman@havasunews.com