Best Online High Schools – 2025

November 21, 2024

best online high schools

Although virtual high schools gained more exposure during the COVID-19 pandemic, many have been around for decades, delivering highly structured, meaningful, and engaging instruction in a remote capacity. Whether you are looking for an alternative schooling arrangement that can accommodate intensive athletics, performing arts, or travel, a more rigorous environment than what your current school has to offer, a cost-effective alternative to expensive brick-and-mortar private schools, or are someone who simply learns best via remote instruction, an online high school could be the perfect fit. In today鈥檚 blog, we鈥檒l review what qualities to look for in an online high school as well as the best online high schools for students and families looking to invest in a remote education.

How We Chose the Best Online High Schools

The best online high schools have several qualities in common. Firstly, they are all regionally accredited and grant high school diplomas. While many organizations or schools offer individual online high school courses, you鈥檒l want to ensure that your online high school of choice has a diploma program if it is where you will be taking the majority of your courses. Moreover, most colleges will only accept a high school diploma from an accredited school.

Secondly, they offer rigorous curriculums (think: AP, honors, and/or college-level courses) taught by experienced teachers. In our list below, we鈥檝e noted the types of higher-level courses that are available at each school as well as the percentage of students who pass their AP exams, if available.

Thirdly, they have solid post-secondary outcomes. If you plan to attend college, it’s important to confirm that your high school has the curriculum structure and resources to prepare you for that goal. Every college on our list has a strong track record of sending students to top colleges, which we鈥檝e detailed in greater depth within the 鈥淐ollege Admissions Highlights鈥 section for each school. Most also offer personalized college counseling.

Finally, the best online high schools have been operational for at least fifteen years. Many schools on our list have been instructing students for much longer than that. Delivering remote instruction requires a specialized skill set. Accordingly, the best online high schools have been in existence long enough to fine-tune their processes, to have worked with hundreds of students, and to have ample experience providing a supportive virtual experience to myriad learning styles.

What are the differences between virtual high schools?

There are three main types of online high schools: private, charter, or university-sponsored.

Private online high schools operate similarly to private brick-and-mortar schools. Students pay tuition, have access to a wide variety of activities, and often benefit from lower student-to-faculty ratios. Examples include Laurel Springs School, Alpha High School, and the .

Online charter and public high schools, like the , are funded by the state. These programs are often free for in-state students and fee-based for out-of-state students.

Finally, university-sponsored programs are hosted by higher education institutions. Admission to such programs is typically quite selective, and students often have increased access to higher-level resources and faculty. Private university-sponsored programs, like , are often more expensive than other options. Alternatively, certain public university-sponsored programs, like , offer a discounted rate for in-state students.

In addition, when choosing an online high school, it’s important to take the school鈥檚 virtual “environment” and student body into account. Some online high schools cater more heavily to non-traditional learners while others are Christian-affiliated. Some offer both part-time and full-time programs. Others offer dedicated advisors, college counseling, or virtual student clubs. Even though you won’t be sitting in a traditional classroom, it’s still important to thoroughly research what type of experience you can expect to have as an online student.

The Best Online High Schools

Without further ado, let鈥檚 dive into our list of the Best Online High Schools in the United States. Along with their physical location, 2024 tuition rate, median SAT/ACT scores, and enrollment, we鈥檝e also provided a brief summary of each school’s academic offerings and college admissions highlights.

Laurel Springs School

Laurel Springs School

  • Ojai, CA

Learn more about Laurel Springs 

College Admissions Highlights: Four year university matriculations from Laurel Springs graduates: BC, BU, Brown, Bucknell, Caltech, Carnegie Mellon, Case Western, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Duke, Emory, Georgetown, Georgia Tech, Harvard, Hofstra, Johns Hopkins, MIT, NYU, Northeastern, Northwestern, Pepperdine, Princeton, Rice, Stanford, Tufts, UC Berkeley, U Chicago, U Miami, Penn, USC, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest, William & Mary, and Yale.

Academic Highlights: Offering a flexible schedule and a personalized learning plan, Laurel Springs’ education model emphasizes critical thinking, time management, and independent scholarship. Students can choose from more than 200 college prep courses, including over 20 AP and dual enrollment options and 100+ electives. 86% of students scored a “3” or higher on their AP exams. 24/7 academic support is available as well as over 30 online clubs and a secure social network to collaborate with peers.

 

    • Tuition (9-12): $16,600
    • Enrollment (seniors): 600
    • Median SAT: 1220
    • Median ACT: 25.8



Christa McAuliffe School of Arts and Sciences

Christa McAuliffe School of Arts and Sciences

  • Lake Oswego, OR

Learn more about CMASAS 

College Admissions Highlights: CMASAS graduates attend college at a diverse array of institutions across the globe, including Boston College, Brown, Cornell, University of St Andrews, NYU, Northeastern, University of Michigan, Notre Dame, UT Austin, the University of Washington, Purdue, Williams, Santa Clara, King’s College London, University of Toronto, Oxford University, Baylor, Agnes Scott College, San Diego State, University of Glasgow, Syracuse, and UC San Diego.

Academic Highlights: At CMASAS, courses are asynchronous and mastery-based, meaning that students take a small course load but must earn a minimum of 80% in each class. All students are assigned a Personalized Education Coach and a subject-specific Course Instructor who provide support and guidance. 27 dual enrollment courses, 15 APs, 26 STEAM courses, and over 30 student clubs are offered. On average, faculty members have worked 15 years in education; 50% have post-graduate degrees.

 

    • Tuition (9-12): $2,750-11,750 per year, depending on level of service
    • Enrollment (seniors): ~75
    • Median SAT: N/A
    • Median ACT: N/A


Stanford University Online High School

Stanford University Online High School

  • Redwood City, CA

College Admissions Highlights: Stanford OHS has a dedicated college counseling program to help students plan their higher education trajectories. Over the past three years, grads have matriculated to elite institutions like Amherst, Boston College, Brown, Caltech, Carnegie Mellon, Columbia, Cornell, Emory, Georgetown, Georgia Tech, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, MIT, Middlebury, Northeastern, Northwestern, Princeton, Rice, Stanford, UNC Chapel Hill, Tufts, Berkeley, UCLA, UChicago, Penn, Vanderbilt, WPI, and Yale.

Academic Highlights: At Stanford OHS, the average class size is just 12 students. 65% of teachers hold PhDs in their field, and there are 82 courses offered; most follow a college-style schedule and meet synchronously twice a week. Although the school has phased out AP courses, they offer 30+ rigorous post-AP and university-level options. Moreover, all students take a Core Sequence that covers human nature, science, science history, political theory, and philosophy. There are over 40 student-run clubs and organizations that meet online and in person.

 

    • Tuition (7-12): $29,850
    • Enrollment (7-12): 986
    • Mid-50% SAT: 1480-1540
    • Mid-50% ACT: 34-36


Davidson Academy Online

Davidson Academy Online

  • Reno, NV

College Admissions Highlights: Since 2020, Davidson students have been accepted at many prestigious institutions, including Baylor, BC, BU, Bucknell, Caltech, Carnegie Mellon, Case Western, Columbia, Cornell, Duke, Ga Tech, Hamilton, Harvard, Howard, MIT, Northwestern, Penn State, Princeton, Rice, RPI, Stevens Institute of Tech, Swarthmore, Texas A&M, UC Berkeley, UGA, UMass, UMichigan, Chapel Hill, Notre Dame, UVA, Vanderbilt, Washington U, and WPI.

Academic Highlights: Davidson Academy Online is a dynamic, flexible option for profoundly gifted students living anywhere in the US or Canada. Students are grouped by ability, not age. All courses include frequent live sessions and peer collaboration. Moreover, 85% of students attend the school full-time, and there are 20 student-run clubs including music ensembles, debate, poetry, and robotics. Although APs are not offered, many students self-study鈥67% received a score of 5, and 19% received a 4.

 

    • Tuition (9-12): $0 (NV residents); $16,250 (Non-NV residents)
    • Enrollment (seniors): 12
    • Median SAT: 1518
    • Median ACT: 33


University of Texas High School

University of Texas High School

  • Austin, TX

College Admissions Highlights: UTHS students head directly into careers, the military, or college. Those attending college landed at a diverse array of prestigious institutions, including UT Austin, NYU, Rice, UCLA, MIT, Berkeley, UNC Chapel Hill, Pepperdine, Drexel, Fordham, and Juilliard. They also headed to TX schools such as Southern Methodist, Baylor, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Texas State, and Texas Christian.

Academic Highlights: UTHS offers over 75 on-level, honors, and AP courses in an asynchronous format. Students stay on track using pacing guides, and are taught by Texas-certified educators. All core courses are NCAA-approved. 12 AP courses are offered, and all are approved by the College Board. The student body is diverse and includes a wide range of students, including those who are pursuing professional careers, homeschooled, military-connected, and gifted & talented.

 

    • Tuition (9-12): $0 (TX residents); $3,640 (Non-TX residents)
    • Enrollment (9-12): 6,000+
    • Median SAT: N/A
    • Median ACT: N/A


George Washington University Online High School

George Washington University Online High School

  • Ashburn, VA

College Admissions Highlights: All students receive individualized college counseling and planning early in their high school careers. Since 2014, GWUOHS students have been accepted at hundreds of colleges that include Babson, Berklee, Boston University, Claremont McKenna, Colorado College, Columbia, Cornell, Drexel, Emory, Fordham, Georgia Tech, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Macalester, NYU, Pepperdine, Rice, Santa Clara, Syracuse, Tufts, the UCs, University of Michigan, UNC Chapel Hill, USC, UT Austin, and Virginia Tech.

Academic Highlights: GWUOHS offers an innovative, rigorous college prep curriculum that prioritizes individualized learning. A solid slate of honors, AP, dual enrollment, and elective courses are offered. Moreover, juniors and seniors can declare a concentration in one of the following: science and technology, entrepreneurship, liberal arts, or their own design. All students undertake the four-year-long Journeys Symposium that culminates in a capstone project. The average GPA is a 3.5, and 100% of students pass their AP exams with a 3 or better.

 

    • Tuition (9-12): $12,000
    • Enrollment: 590
    • Median SAT: 1250.9
    • Median ACT: 26.7


Indiana University High School

Indiana University High School

  • Bloomington, IN

College Admissions Highlights: If students need assistance with their college application journey, IU advisors are available. Students head to a wide range of postsecondary destinations, including the workforce, vocational training, the military, and college. Graduates have gone on to Indiana University as well as Ivy League schools like Harvard and Columbia.

Academic Highlights: As one of the oldest online learning institutions, IUHS is a leader in distance education and constantly refining its curriculum. Diploma students choose from one of three tracks: General Education, College Prep, or Academic Honors. The General Education Track is for students who do not plan to attend college while the College Prep & Academic Honors tracks were designed for college-bound students. IUHS offers dozens of course options, both Cooperative (synchronous) and Independent (asynchronous), including 5 APs.

 

    • Tuition: $231/course
    • Median SAT: N/A
    • Median ACT: N/A
    • Enrollment: N/A


University of Nebraska High School

University of Nebraska High School

  • Lincoln, NE

College Admissions Highlights: UNHS students have gone on to attend nearly 600 different colleges and universities, including prestigious institutions like Berklee, BC, BU, Brown, Colgate, Holy Cross, Colorado College, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Dickinson, Drexel, Emory, Ga Tech, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Kenyon, Macalester, NYU, Northeastern, Penn State, Santa Clara, Stanford, UT Austin, Georgia, Michigan, USC, Vanderbilt, Wesleyan, and Yale.

Academic Highlights: University of Nebraska offers a diploma option as well as part-time options. Over 100 courses are available, including core, elective, AP, dual enrollment, and NCAA-approved options. 9 APs and 4 dual enrollment classes are offered. All courses are self-paced, can be completed in between 5-52 weeks, and are taught by certified teachers. The student-to-faculty ratio is 11:1. Moreover, there are no restrictions on age or grade level for any course.

    • Tuition: $400 per full-year course (NE residents); $500 per full-year course (non-NE residents)
    • Enrollment (seniors): 267
    • Median SAT: N/A
    • Median ACT: N/A


Oak Meadow School

Oak Meadow School

  • Putney, VT

College Admissions Highlights: High school tuition includes personalized college counseling, and graduates go on to attend a wide range of excellent institutions like American University, Berklee, Cal Tech, Case Western, Clark, Cooper Union, Dickinson, Eastman School of Music, Fordham, George Washington, Georgetown, Harvard, Juilliard, NYU, Northwestern, Oberlin, Penn State, Rice, RIT, Santa Clara, Sarah Lawrence, Skidmore, Tulane, U Mass, UC Berkeley, UCLA, U Michigan, USC, UVA, Vassar, WPI, and Yale.

Academic Highlights: Oak Meadows students enjoy a “book-based curriculum and project-based, interest-led learning.” With the help of parents, students work through their curriculum on their own schedule over the course of the year. They submit assignments to their assigned teacher and receive consistent support via phone, email, and video conferencing. A number of college-prep courses are available across grade levels in every major subject. In addition, students can connect via online workshops, forums, blogs, and book clubs.

 

    • Tuition (9-12): Up to $2,019 per course
    • Enrollment: 200
    • Median SAT: N/A
    • Median ACT: N/A


Mizzou Academy

Mizzou Academy

  • Columbia, MO

College Admissions Highlights: According to Mizzou Academy, “Graduates enjoy collegiate opportunities the world over and are assured an accredited, academic experience, all under a research-intensive university.” Notable alumni include athletes Gracie Gold and Lindsey Vonn as well as Eugenie Carys de Silva, the youngest person ever to graduate from Harvard.

Academic Highlights: Mizzou Academy is housed within the nationally ranked University of Missouri College of Education and Human Development, and researchers, professionals, and faculty within the College frequently contribute to course development and teaching. Over 200 self-paced core, elective, honors, and NCAA-approved courses are offered. In addition, 16 AP classes are currently available in a semester-based, collaborative format. Accelerated courses are also available for gifted, talented, and advanced students. The mean AP score is a 4.

 

    • Tuition (9-12): $300 per course (MO residents); $500 per course (non-MO)
    • Enrollment (seniors): 20
    • Median SAT: N/A
    • Median ACT: 25


Best Online High Schools 鈥 Final Thoughts

If you’re planning to attend an online high school, you have a wealth of fantastic options at your fingertips that will prepare you for any postsecondary outcome you desire. Happy researching!

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