Whether due to lifestyle, health concerns, or other reasons, many parents are looking for a learning environment that isn’t in-person. If online learning or K-12 online school is your top choice for the 2024-2025 school year, this page is for you!

Online schools are different than emergency remote learning, or doing classes on Zoom, as your family may have experienced over the last several years. Many online schools have been around for more than a decade, and they have systems in place to make it easy for families to make the switch. 

Most online schools in America are public schools, which means they are tuition-free! If you’re wondering whether your state has an option allowing you to choose a full-time online school for free, keep reading.

You may hear a lot of terms like online school, remote learning, and homeschooling thrown around interchangeably, but they’re actually quite different school choices! Read our explainer on the differences.

Why do families choose free online schooling? Internet access has transformed our shopping and social life, and it is transforming schooling as well. Importantly, online learning programs offer students the ability to work from home (or anywhere with internet). That flexibility makes for a good fit for many families.

What do you need to know about online school choice?

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Making the Switch

If you’re just getting started, here are steps you can take to switch to a free online school:

1. Review state guidelines 

First, find your state in our list below to review your state’s guidelines for online schools. Did you know that 36 states offer full-time public online schools for free? In other states, private online programs are available at a cost.

2. Connect 

Second, reach out to the online school that interests you and get more details. Some may allow enrollment at any time, while others may have deadlines. 

Online public schools must accept all students, regardless of their academic performance or needs. Moreover, students are not required to take special entrance tests for enrollment in online public schools. However, some states place caps on attendance or funding, so make sure there is availability at the school you choose.

When you reach out to the online school, you can also ask about the school’s expectations and what resources you’ll need at home. For instance, you can ask: Will the school provide a computer for my student? Does my child need a web camera? What’s a typical day like? How many hours will my child be online each day? How much parental supervision is required?

3. Officially withdraw (if applicable) 

In some cases, if you’re currently enrolled in a public or private school and are switching to a full-time online school that isn’t district-run, you’ll need to send a withdrawal letter to your school district. It’s a good idea to keep a copy of the letter, in case any questions arise. Also, you may want to use this opportunity to request your child’s transcripts from the school.

Of course, your state’s guidelines come first. Please note that in some states, like Missouri, West Virginia, and Rhode Island, students only have access to free online schools through their resident district. In these cases, since the district is responsible for paying for access, families should remain enrolled in the district as they switch to online school.

4. Enroll and get started

Now, enroll in your online school of choice. Partner with your child to decide what your new learning routine will look like. For example, what time will your student start school in the morning? How often will exercise and outside activities be worked into the week? Does the online school have an in-person component you’ll be using, or no?

Expect a learning curve

If online school is something you and your student decide to try, even just temporarily, it is important to realize that there’ll be a learning curve. Don’t let that get you down!

“You just have to be open minded,” said Bryan Klochack, principal of an online school in Michigan. “We often refer to it as drinking out of a fire hydrant at the start because it is so different.”

While online school is not for every student and every family, it can make a world of a difference for some. As Klochack said, “Having that option for families to put their kids where they’re going to find great success: that’s what we’re all about.”

Common Questions about Online Learning

While there are some private online schools that charge tuition, the majority of online schools are public schools and 100% tuition-free. Some of these free online schools are public charter schools, while some are public district schools. In many cases, online schools even provide loaner computers and internet reimbursements to students.

In the U.S., approximately 375,000 K-12 students attended a free, statewide online school full-time in 2019-2020, a number that jumped to over 921,000 for the 2022-2023 school year.

Online school students usually work from home and follow a set curriculum, submitting assignments through an online portal. Moreover, students receive feedback and grades from accredited teachers who may communicate through email, web conference, or phone calls. 

While parents aren’t asked to be teachers, online school programs usually ask parents to be involved in their child’s education. Parents act as learning coaches, helping their student stay on track.

Two of the biggest K-12 online school programs in the U.S. are Connections Academy and Stride K12. Connections Academy supported schools are tuition-free online public schools that are currently available in about 30 states. They are operated by Pearson Online & Blended Learning K-12. Similarly, Stride K12 offers tuition-free public schools in many states, as well as fee-based independent courses and career classes.  

While some virtual schools are fully online, others are “blended schools.” So, what are blended schools? Blended schools are online schools that offer on-site locations that students attend from time to time. GOAL Academy in Colorado, for instance, has “drop-in centers” where students can receive tutoring, participate in activities, or simply spend time with peers.

Besides blended learning, more and more variations of online schooling are developing; in some states, students can even create a “playlist” of classes between their neighborhood school and an online school. This is why some online leaders say the real power of online learning is personalization. Curriculum can be differentiated to meet student needs, and students can pace coursework and test out of material they have mastered.

Online Learning in the United States

To see what options you have for online learning, check out your state’s school choice guide or scroll below to learn whether your state offers online school for free.

In 36 states and D.C., online public schools have been established by state authorities, school districts, or charter schools, meaning students can attend these schools full-time, tuition-free for all grades K-12. In Vermont, free, full-time online public school is available for grades K-8. In addition, more than 30 states offer part-time online public schooling through course access, which allows students to use online coursework to supplement their education with specific classes. In many states, this is accessible and sometimes even free for private school or homeschooled students.

While not every state offers online school for free, paid online school programs are available in all 50 states. For instance, paid options such as Virtual Learning Academy Charter School (which is free to New Hampshire residents), The Keystone School, and Laurel Springs School are available to families in any state. You can learn more about public online schools and resources at the National Coalition for Public School Options and the Digital Learning Collaborative. 

Map showing a breakdown of online school choice in the United States. Individual state details can be found below

Online Learning in Your State

Ready to explore your local school options? Use our free “Schools Near Me” tool to search through more than 131,000 public, charter, magnet, and private schools.

Our tool enhances the information we offer on school choice options in your state. With this tool, you can access information on more than 132,000 public, charter, magnet, and private schools across the United States. You’ll be able to view essential information about each school, such as its address, phone number, and website.

Use The Tool

The information in this guide to online school is designed to help families who are considering online schooling in their decision-making process. Our mission is to provide families with the information they need about all the school options available – traditional public, public charter, public magnet, private, online, and at home – so they can choose the right fit for their child. Read more guides about choosing other types of schools.