View source for Myron B. Thompson Academy

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{{Infobox school
 | name                    = Myron B. Thompson Academy
 | native_name             = 
 | image                   = 
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 | logo                    = Thompson-logo.png
 | logo_size               = 180px
 | motto                   = Praestantia Et Aeqvvs (Excellence and Equity [in Education])
 | established             = 1999, chartered in 2000
 | closed                  = 
 | type                    = New Century Public Charter, Online
 | status                  = 
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 | rector                  = 
 | principal               = Diana Oshiro
 | asst principal          = 
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 | headmaster              = 
 | head_name               = Second Master
 | head                    = 
 | head_name2              = Assistant Headmaster
 | head2                   = 
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 | faculty                 = 
 | teaching_staff          = 20.00 (FTE)<ref name=NCES/>
 | ratio                   = 26.15<ref name=NCES/>
 | enrollment              = 523 (2022–23)<ref name=NCES>{{cite web|url=https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=1500030&SchoolPageNum=14&ID=150003000274|title=Myron B. Thompson Academy - A New Century PCS|publisher=National Center for Education Statistics|accessdate=May 29, 2024}}</ref>
 | grades_label            = 
 | grades                  = K&ndash;12 (K&ndash;6 Home, 7&ndash;12 Online)
 | streetaddress           = 
 | city                    = Honolulu
 | state                   = Hawai{{okina}}i
 | province                = 
 | country                 = USA
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 | district                = Hawai{{okina}}i Department of Education, Honolulu District/Charter Schools
 | oversight               = 
 | accreditation           = Western Association of Schools and Colleges
 | campus                  = Urban, Online
 | colors                  = {{Color box|black|border=darkgray}}{{Color box|silver|border=darkgray}} Black and Silver
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 | nickname                = 
 | mascot                  = Sharks
 | free_label              = [[Emblem]]
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 | website                 = [http://ethompson.org ethompson.org]
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}}

'''Myron B. Thompson Academy''', commonly referred to as '''Thompson Academy''' or '''MBTA''', is an [[e-learning]] institution operating as a "New Century Public Charter School" under the [[Hawaii State Department of Education|Hawai{{okina}}i Department of Education]]. Thompson Academy is the result of a [[white paper]] study developed by the school's principal, Diana Oshiro, detailing the feasibility of a school delivered over the [[internet]]. Established in 1999 as Hawaii e-Charter, Thompson Academy is available to students across the state of [[Hawaii|Hawai{{okina}}i]] exclusively through the internet, as an alternative-of-choice to local schools. The school is currently accredited by the [[Western Association of Schools and Colleges]].

==Early beginnings==
The concept for Thompson Academy predates the inception of Hawai{{okina}}i's  E-School system. In 1994, state Assistant Superintendent Diana Oshiro began writing a [[white paper]] discussing the use of the internet as a medium to deliver courses. This white paper later went on to win a five-year grant from the [[US Department of Education]] and became what is now known as the Hawai{{okina}}i E-School system, the collaboration between the Hawai{{okina}}i Department of Education and US Department of Education to create, test, and provide supplemental courses over the internet.

Five years later, as the federal grant was concluding, those responsible for E-Schools began investigating the viability and sustainability of a [[Virtuality|virtual]] [[charter school]], based on lessons learned from the project. From this investigation, the charter school started developing, with a statewide Hawai{{okina}}i e-Charter being brought to fruition in 1999 and being granted a charter by the Hawai{{okina}}i Department of Education in 2000.

In 2002, Hawai{{okina}}i e-Charter renamed itself Myron B. Thompson Academy, paying homage to Hawai{{okina}}i educator and former trustee of [[Kamehameha Schools]], Myron "Pinky" B. Thompson. In that same year, the school began offering elementary education, for students entering kindergarten through grade six.

==Thompson's rise in Hawai{{okina}}i==
===K&ndash;12 education===
Thompson Academy provides two {{citation needed|date=February 2014}} schools of education, a [[homeschooling|home school]] based [[Primary school|elementary program]] and an [[online]] [[Secondary school|secondary program]] (high school).

====Elementary education====
:Thompson Academy's K&ndash;6 division is a supported home school program. Families are provided a [[stipend]] for educational supplies and curriculum and are provided guidance in the education of their children.

====Secondary education====
:Students in grades 7&ndash;12 are enrolled in the school's online, secondary education program. With course-content available exclusively over the internet, students progress their studies with a school provided [[laptop]] computer. Teachers located at the school's principal operating base in [[Honolulu]] administer courses, provide content guidance and other assistance to students, and track their continual progress in courses. The vast majority of students enrolled in the school are in this secondary education program. For dual-credit courses, they are taken face-to-face through the University of Hawaii's Community College program.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Myron B. Thompson Academy |url=https://mbta.me/course |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240810002124/https://mbta.me/course |archive-date=2024-08-10 |access-date=2025-03-12 |website=mbta.me |language=en}}</ref>

===Campuses===
Although Thompson Academy is principally located in Honolulu ([[Oahu|O{{okina}}ahu]]), the school has several satellite campuses where students can receive additional help and tutoring from site teachers and socialize with other students. Satellite campuses are located on the neighboring islands of [[Maui]], [[Hawaii Island]] and [[Kauai|Kaua{{okina}}i]].

===Extracurricular activities===
Thompson Academy provides a small number of extracurricular student activities, including:

* [[Student Government]]
* [[Sport|Athletics]], including [[Basketball]]

==Notable students==
* [[Bethany Hamilton]], female professional surfer and shark attack survivor

==References==
<references />
*[http://doe.k12.hi.us/reports/accreditation.htm Hawai{{okina}}i Department of Education, Accreditation] (accessed March 21, 2006)
*[http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2004/Sep/17/ln/ln13a.html  Honolulu Advertiser, ''"Charter school popularity up"''] (accessed March 21, 2006)
* [http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2004/Jan/06/sp/sp08a.html Honolulu Advertiser, ''"E-school learning hoops the hard way"''] (accessed March 21, 2006)

==External links==
* [http://ethompson.org Myron B. Thompson Academy]
* [http://doe.k12.hi.us Hawai{{okina}}i Department of Education]

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[[Category:Educational institutions established in 1999]]
[[Category:Public K–12 schools in Hawaii]]
[[Category:Charter schools in Hawaii]]
[[Category:1999 establishments in Hawaii]]