The tide has turned in the last couple of years. For a very long time, I wrote many articles about online high schools, but few were free. That has most definitely changed and for the better. We now have Connections Academies, Insight Schools, Advanced Academics, and more that are available in many states. The Best Online High Schools website lists almost a hundred such schools.
However, just because it is free does not mean it is the perfect choice for you. Oh, and by the way, they are not really free because our tax dollars are paying for them. That being said, homeschoolers have unique needs, interests, and desires in terms of curriculum.
I encourage you to look at the following:
1. Does it offer a diploma? Free can be entire diploma programs and free can be one course. You need to determine which is being discussed. While both can be helpful, most of us would be looking for diploma programs.
2. Is it accredited? The ideal here is that the school has accreditation recognized by CHEA.org and/or the U.S. Department of Education. However, what is almost as good are online high school programs recognized by state departments of education. Both will get you into college.
3. How long has it been in business? Because online high schools are relatively new, it's unlikely that you will find one that has been operating for a decade. Claims otherwise are from schools that were correspondence efforts and then moved that online. Certainly that is acceptable. At the very least, it would be reasonable if the school has been in business for at least a couple of years and/or using curriculum that other established schools have used. One other possibility would be if the administration has significant online high school experience.
4. Is it homeschool friendly? While some schools actively seek homeschoolers, others have shown little interest in this group. Obviously, if you are a homeschooling family, this is important. Programs that reach out to homeschoolers understand that this is a way of life for you and not just about bad local schools.
5. Is it available to you? The free version of online high schools are very geographic-specific. In all cases, you need to live in a specific state, region, or school district. By the way, if you don't have one available to you know, I would contact one of the homeschool chains listed above and see when they are coming to location near you.
6. Does the curriculum reflect your beliefs? Even though these free online high schools are, by and large, public schools, some are certainly more friendly to faith-based students than others. Make sure you ask the right questions before you begin the program.
While homeschoolers need to do their due diligence, it is becoming increasingly possible to find a free online high school that meets their unique needs. Do your homework first, though, and choose wisely. While there are now many free schools, you may discover it is better to pay and have a school that works for you.
Author Info:
Thomas Nixon is the author of Complete Guide to Online High Schools. In it, he details how to earn a high school diploma online. The companion website, BestOnlineHighSchools.com, is the premier source of information on online high schools. Tom regularly writes about free online high schools.
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