Complete List of 100+ Free Online High Schools

Online high schools can be a way for students to take high school classes and graduate at their own pace, without having to adhere to strict schedules and the distractions of a traditional school. So if you feel that an in-person school isn't right for you for whatever reason, an online school might be the perfect fit.

In this article, we'll give you a list of all the (tuition free!) online high schools available in each U.S. state. We'll also explain how online high schools work and why an online high school could be right for you.

So let's get started!

 

What Is an Online High School?

An online high school is any school that teaches and takes place virtually, rather than in-person. Some online high schools are hybrid programs where students must spend a portion of their time in a physical location, but a fully online high school program takes place completely virtually.

Students in completely online programs do not go to a physical building to learn each day, but instead are allowed to learn in any place with an internet connection, taking courses online and typically interacting with their teachers via virtual classrooms, through email, and/or over the phone.

A typical school day for students enrolled in online high schools is much like a typical day for other public school students, with about five to six hours spent learning and engaging in classwork, and additional time spent on homework. So, although students can generally set their own schedules with an online school, the amount of time required for coursework and studies remains the same whether the school takes place online or in person.

In addition to the standard coursework, many online high school programs offer school activities, trips, contests, and virtual clubs to help students interact and get to know one another. So online students can often reap many of the same benefits they could get from an in-person school, with all the additional perks of attending school online.

 

 

Different Types of Online High Schools

Just like physical schools, online high schools can be divided into two broad categories of public and private schools. And just like physical schools, the differences between the two types can be broken down like so:

Online public high schools (which can also be charter schools) use state-licensed and certified teachers, charge NO tuition, follow state education standards, and award you with a legal high school diploma upon completion of the required credits and courses. These schools are government funded, just like physical public schools.

Online private high schools follow their own education requirements and standards (rather than state standards), charge tuition, and will ultimately award you with a high school diploma once you have completed the program. These schools are privately funded, just like with physical private schools.

Whether private or public, many online schools require their students to be a resident of the state or a particular school district, while other schools accept students who live in any state or school district (or students who have no fixed address). Other online schools accept out-of-state students, but charge them tuition that in-state students do not have to pay. Ultimately, it's up to the applicant to double-check whether the school of their choice has any restrictions based on a student's address.

Not every state has an online public school, so students who live in one of these states (or students who have no fixed address) and want to attend high school online must either enroll in an online school that accepts out of state students or in a private online high school.

However, many states now offer the option to take at least some free virtual classes through your local school district. So if you don’t see a school you like on this list, but like the idea of taking classes online, check your school district website for possible alternatives!

 

If money is your main concern, then public school is definitely the way to go.

 

List of All Free Online High Schools in the US

Because we're focusing on only the free online high schools in this article, we're only listing online public high schools in the U.S.

After the list of the online public schools in the States, we'll give a breakdown of the benefits of attending an online high school and whether or not it could be the right fit for you.

To navigate more quickly to your state of choice, click on one of the states below:

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, MinnesotaMissouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

[Note: if your state is not listed, it does not currently have a free online high school. The following states however have programs in development through Connections Academy: Connecticut, Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, Montana, Nebraska, New York, North Dakota, Vermont, Washington D.C.]

Click here to skip the list and go straight to reading about reasons to attend an online high school.

 

Alabama

Alabama Connections Academy

Alabama Destinations Career Academy

Alabama Virtual Academy

Conecuh County Virtual School/Genesis Innovative School

 

Alaska

Alaska Digital Academy

CyberLynx

KPBSD Connections

Frontier Charter School

iGrad Alaska

 

Arizona

Arizona Connections Academy

Arizona Virtual Academy

ASU Prep Digital (Arizona State)

Catalina Online Learning Experience

Hope High School Online

Humanities and Sciences/International Commerce High School

Insight Academy of Arizona

Pathways in Education

Pinnacle Online High School

Primavera Online High School

Sequoia Choice Distance Learning

Southern Arizona Community Academy

 

Arkansas

Arkansas Connections Academy

Arkansas Virtual Academy

 

California

Compass Charter Schools (Available for students living in: Contra Costa, Fresno, Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Lake, Los Angeles, Madera, Marin, Mendocino, Merced, Mono, Monterey, Napa, Orange, Riverside, San Benito, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Solano, Sonoma, Tulare and Ventura counties)

California Connections Academy (available for students living in: Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Inyo, Kern, and Imperial counties) 

California Virtual Academies

Clovis Online School (Available for students living in: Fresno, Inyo, Kings, Madera, Merced, Mono, Monterey, San Benito, and Tulare counties)

Delta Charter Online

Insight Schools of California

iQ Academy of California, Los Angeles (Available for students living in: Los Angeles, Kern, Orange, San Bernardino and Ventura counties)

Keith McCarthy Academy (Available for students living in the Lake Elsinore School District)

Method Schools (Available for students living in: Orange, Riverside, San Diego, Imperial, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Ventura, and Kern counties)

Moreno Valley Online Academy (Available for students living in the Moreno Valley Unified School District)

Riverside Virtual School

 

Colorado

70 Online (Available for students living in the Pueblo County School District 70)

Colorado Connections Academy

Colorado Preparatory Academy

Colorado Virtual Academy

Destinations Career Academy of Colorado

Grand River Academy

Peak Virtual Academy (Available for students living in the Montrose School District)

Pikes Peak Online School

PSD Global Academy

Springs Studio for Academic Excellence

World Academy (available for students living in Eagle County)

 

Florida

Bay Virtual Instruction Program (Available for students living in Bay County)

Calhoun Virtual Instruction Program (Available for students living in Calhoun County)

Clay Virtual Academy (Available for students living in Clay County)

Coastal Connections Academy

Collier Virtual School (Available for students living in Collier County)

Florida Connections Academy

Florida Cyber Charter Academy (Available for students living in Clay, Duval, Hillsborough, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, and Osceola Counties)

Florida Virtual School

Franklin Virtual Instruction Program (Available for students living in Franklin County)

Glades Virtual Instruction Program (Available for students living in Glades County)

Indian River Virtual Instruction Program (Available for students living in Indian River County)

Jackson County Virtual Instruction Program (Available for students living in Jackson County)

Madison County Virtual School (Available for students living in Madison County)

Miami-Dade Online Academy (Available for students living in Miami-Dade County)

Mosaic Digital Academy (Available for students living in Martin, Okeechobee, and St. Lucie counties)

MyDistrict Virtual School (Available for students living in: Baker, Bradford, Columbia, Dixie, Flagler, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Lafayette, Levy, Monroe, Nassau, Okeechobee, Putnam, and Union counties)

Nassau County Virtual School (Available for students living in Nassau County)

Osceola Virtual School (Available for students living in Osceola County)

Polk County Virtual School (Available for students living in Polk County)

Santa Rosa Online (Available for students living in Santa Rosa County)

Sarasota Virtual School (Available for students living in Sarasota County)

St. Johns County Virtual School (Available for students living in St. Johns County)

Volusia Virtual School (Available for students living in Volusia County)

 

Hawaii

Hawaii Technology Academy

 

Idaho

Gem Prep Online (available to students living in southeast Idaho)

Icon: Idaho Connects Online School

Idaho Connections Academy

Idaho Technical Career Academy

Idaho Virtual Academy

iSucceed Virtual High School

 

Illinois

Cambridge Academy at Cambridge Lakes Charter School

 

Indiana

Achieve Virtual High School

Hoosier Academies

Indiana Connections Academy

Indiana Connections Career Academy

 

Iowa Virtual Academy

 

Kansas

Basehor-Linwood Virtual School

Destinations Career Academy at ISKS

Haven Virtual Academy

Insight School of Kansas

Insight School of Kansas Adult

Kansas Connections Academy

Kansas Virtual Academy

Lawrence Virtual School

 

Louisiana

Lincoln Preparatory School

Louisiana Virtual Charter Academy

Magnolia School of Excellence

Mentorship Academy

Southern University Laboratory Virtual School

 

Maine Virtual Academy

 

Massachusetts

Greater Commonwealth Virtual School

TEC Connections Academy Commonwealth Virtual School

 

Michigan

Insight School of Michigan

Jenison International Academy (Available to students who live in Ottawa, Kent, Muskegon, Newaygo, Montcalm, Ionia, Barry, and Allegan counties)

Lighthouse Connections Academy

Michigan Connections Academy

Michigan Great Lakes Virtual Academy

Michigan Virtual Charter Academy

Westwood Cyber High School

 

Minnesota

Bluesky Charter School

Insight School of Minnesota

iQ Academy Minnesota

LinK¹² Lakeville

Minnesota Connections Academy

Minnesota Virtual Academy

Minnesota Virtual Schools

MN Online High School

VIBE Academy

Wolf Creek Online Charter School

 

Missouri

Missouri Connections Academy

Missouri Virtual Academy

Missouri Virtual Academy–Career Academy

 

Nevada

Beacon Academy of Nevada

Nevada Connections Academy

Nevada Learning Academy

North Star Online School

Odyssey Charter School

 

New Hampshire

Virtual Learning Academy Charter School

 

New Jersey

People’s Prep Charter School (Available to students residing within the city of Newark)

 

New Mexico

Destinations Career Academy of New Mexico

eCADEMY Magnet High School

New Mexico Connections Academy

Pecos Cyber Academy

 


North Carolina

North Carolina Cyber Academy

North Carolina Virtual Academy

North Carolina Virtual School

Virtual Districts–Students from 52 school districts in North Carolina now have fully-virtual class options. A downloadable list is available at this link.

 

Ohio

Cincinnati Digital Academy

Ohio Connections Academy

Ohio Digital Learning School

Ohio Distance and Electronic Learning Academy

Ohio Virtual Academy

Great River Connections Academy

TRECA Digital Academy

 

Oklahoma

Epic Charter Schools

E-School Virtual Charter Academy

Insight School of Oklahoma

Oklahoma Connections Academy

Oklahoma Virtual Charter Academy

 

Oregon

Albany Online!

Bend-La Pine Schools Online (Available to students in grades K–12 residing in the Bend-La Pine district and surrounding areas.)

Cascade Virtual Academy

Crater Lake Charter Academy (Available to students residing in Jackson County School District and neighboring districts)

Evergreen Virtual Academy

Frontier Charter Academy

Hermiston Online Program (Students from Hermiston district preferred, but will accept out of district students)

Insight School of Oregon—Painted Hills

MEWA Online School

North Wasco Virtual Academy

Oregon Connections Academy

Oregon Charter Academy

Wilamette Connections Academy

 

Pennsylvania

21st Century Cyber Charter School

Achievement House Cyber Charter School

Agora Cyber Charter School

Bald Eagle Area Cyber Academy (Available to students who reside within district)

Bangor Area School District Cyber School (Available to students who reside in Bangor, East Bangor, Portland, and Roseto, Lower Mount Bethel, Upper Mount Bethel, and Washington.)

Berks Online Learning (Available to students residing in Berks County.)

Brandywine Heights Area School District

Carlisle Area School District

Central PA Digital Learning Foundation

Conestoga Valley Virtual Academy (Available to students residing in Conestoga Valley School District)

Ephrata Virtual Academy (Available to students residing in the Ephrata Area School District)

Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School

Pennsylvania Leadership Charter School

Pennsylvania Virtual Charter School

Pennwood Cyber Charter School

Tulpehocken Virtual Academy (Available to students in Tulpehocken Area School District.)

 

South Carolina

Cyber Academy of South Carolina

Lowcountry Connections Academy

Odyssey Online Learning

SC Whitmore School

South Carolina Connections Academy

South Carolina Preparatory Academy

South Carolina Virtual Charter School

 

South Dakota

Black Hills Online Learning Community

Chester Area Cyber School

Northwestern Cyber High School

Oglala Lakota County Virtual High School

South Dakota Virtual School

Wessington Springs High School Cyber School

 

Tennessee

Tennessee Connections Academy

Tennessee Online Public School

Tennessee Virtual Academy

 

Texas

eSchool Prep

iSchool Virtual Academy

iUniversity Prep Magnet School

Premier High School Online

Texas Connections Academy @ Houston

Texas Online Preparatory School

Texas Virtual Academy

Texas Virtual School Network

University of Texas High School

 

Utah

Lumen Scholar Institute

Mountain Heights Academy

Statewide Online Education Program

Utah Connections Academy

Utah Online School

Utah Virtual Academy

 

Virginia

DoDEA Virtual High School

Virginia Connections Academy

Virginia Virtual Academy

 

Washington

Insight School of Washington

Internet Academy

Mid Columbia Partnership

North Franklin Virtual Academy (Available to students residing within North Franklin District)

Washington Connections Academy

Washington Virtual Academies

 

West Virginia

West Virginia Virtual School

 

Wisconsin

Destinations Career Academy of Wisconsin

eAchieve Academy

iForward Online Charter School

Insight Wisconsin

Mighty River Virtual Academy

Sparta Area School District

Wisconsin Connections Academy

Wisconsin Rapids Virtual School Program (Available to students residing in Wisconsin Rapids School District)

Wisconsin Virtual Academy

Wisconsin Virtual Learning

 

Wyoming

Cowboy State Virtual Academy (This school is only free to some students, so check their website for eligibility requirements)

Washakie #1 Online (Available for students living in Washakie #1 County school district)

Wyoming Connections Academy

Wyoming Virtual Academy

 

 

 

Reasons to Attend an Online High School

Attending high school online isn't right for everyone, but for some, it can be the best way to earn a high school diploma. If you're thinking about enrolling in an online public school, you may want to think about whether these reasons apply to you and your circumstances.

 

Schedule and Study Flexibility

Taking courses online, rather than in person, allows students to set their own study schedules. As long as you engage in the school program for the necessary number of hours per week and complete your assignments, most programs allow you to study when and where you want.

So if you're someone who has an outside interest that takes considerable time nonnegotiable commitments--dedicated athletes, artists, people working full time, or anyone else who has to commit hours outside of school every week--attending high school online can give you the necessary flexibility to balance school with your other activities.

 

Set Your Own Learning Pace

Online high schools allow students to learn at their own pace, whether that pace is faster or slower than that of a typical physical public school. Because the courses in an online program are self-directed, this allows students to set their own learning speed, rather than feeling frustrated that a class is going too fast or too slow based on the needs of a whole group of students.

So if you are an academic achiever who wants to get ahead of your grade/age level, or are someone who is falling behind academically and need to slow down from your grade/age level, an online high school experience might be the right fit for you.

 

Study From Home or on the Move

There are endless reasons why taking classes and studying from home may be preferable to taking classes at a physical school. For these people, taking classes online is the perfect way to stay in school without being beholden to attending school physically.

Perhaps you have a family that frequently moves and so cannot stay in one place for long enough to attend a physical school. Perhaps you are someone who doesn't have easy access to a physical school or feels that nearby schools are unsuitable for whatever reason. Or perhaps you are someone with a chronic medical condition or someone who needs to be otherwise home bound.

In these life situations and many others, online high schools can provide the accommodation and adaptability that so many students need to complete their studies.

 

Option for People Who Never Finished High School

On average, people who receive a high school diploma earn more than those who receive a GED. If you're someone who never attended or completed high school for any reason, you might think about earning an official diploma rather than testing out for your GED.

An online high school program could be the right fit for you if you never completed high school, but still want the full high school experience and an accredited diploma to show for it.

 

What's Next?

Want to learn more about online high school programs? Check out what it means for a high school to be accredited and how to avoid non-accredited online schools .

Still undecided whether or not an online high school is right for you? Learn more about the pros and cons of attending an online high school .

Thinking about different kinds of alternative schools (other than online)? Check out our guide to alternative schools and how they might be the right fit for you.

 

 



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About the Author
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Courtney Montgomery

Courtney scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT in high school and went on to graduate from Stanford University with a degree in Cultural and Social Anthropology. She is passionate about bringing education and the tools to succeed to students from all backgrounds and walks of life, as she believes open education is one of the great societal equalizers. She has years of tutoring experience and writes creative works in her free time.



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