Online class, online curriculum, or online school?
- Online class: one subject, one term or year, usually with a teacher (live or asynchronous) who grades. You remain the homeschool; the class is a supplement. Outschool, Wilson Hill, Well-Trained Mind Academy, PA Homeschoolers.
- Online curriculum: a self-paced program covering several subjects with automatic grading and no teacher. You remain the homeschool. Time4Learning, Power Homeschool, Miacademy, Khan Academy.
- Online private school: an accredited school delivered online with teachers, transcripts and a diploma. You are enrolled; the school is the school. Bridgeway, Oak Meadow's school, Laurel Springs, Texas Tech K-12.
- Online public school: a free public school delivered online (K12/Stride, Connections Academy, state virtual academies). Free, teacher-led, state testing, public enrollment. Not homeschooling, whatever the marketing says.
Live classes with a teacher
| Provider | Ages | Style | Approx. cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outschool | 3–18 | Live small-group classes on almost any topic, from one-off sessions to semester courses | $10–$25 per class hour | Huge marketplace; quality varies by teacher. Read reviews; the best teachers book out. Secular platform. |
| Wilson Hill Academy | Grades 6–12 | Live classical courses: Latin, great books, math, science, logic | $600–$1,000 per course | Rigorous, Christian, strong for high school transcripts. |
| Well-Trained Mind Academy | Grades 5–12 | Live classes in the Well-Trained Mind classical model | $600–$1,200 per course | Secular-friendly classical; excellent writing and history. |
| Blue Tent Online | Grades 7–12 | Live or async honors and AP courses | $500–$900 per course | Small, well-reviewed, secular. |
| PA Homeschoolers AP Online | Grades 9–12 | Async AP courses with experienced teachers | $600–$900 per course | The oldest homeschool AP provider; strong pass rates. |
| Athena's Advanced Academy | Ages 8–18 | Live courses for gifted learners | $300–$700 per course | Secular; literature, science, logic. |
| Homeschool Spanish Academy | Ages 5–adult | One-to-one live Spanish | $60–$150/month | The most-used language provider. |
| Memoria Press Online Academy, Veritas Scholars, Kolbe Academy | Grades 3–12 | Live classical Christian or Catholic courses | $500–$1,000 per course | Choose by tradition. |
Self-paced courses and curricula
| Provider | Ages | What | Approx. cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Khan Academy | K–12+ | Math, science, humanities, test prep with mastery tracking | Free | The best free option; needs a self-directed student or a present parent. |
| Time4Learning | Pre-K–12 | Core subjects with animated lessons and automatic grading | $25–$35/month | The most-used online homeschool curriculum. |
| Power Homeschool (Acellus) | K–12 | Video-led courses, wide electives | $25/month | Low prep; lecture-then-quiz. |
| Miacademy / MiaPrep | K–12 | Gamified secular core subjects | $20–$30/month | Motivating for reluctant learners. |
| Derek Owens, Mr. D Math | Grades 6–12 | Video-taught math and physics with graded homework | $60–$100/month or $200/year | A real teacher grading; transcript-ready. |
| Art of Problem Solving Online | Grades 5–12 | Rigorous math classes, live and self-paced | $300–$600 per course | For strong math students. |
| Coursera, edX, Codecademy, Brilliant | Teens | College-level and skills courses | Free to $40/month | Good electives and high-school credits with documentation. |
Classes that earn college credit
- Dual enrollment at a community college (in person or online): the cheapest real credit, often free or discounted for high schoolers in many states, and a real transcript. The first choice for lab sciences and upper math.
- AP courses online (PA Homeschoolers, Blue Tent, Johns Hopkins CTY) plus the AP exam (about $100) at a local school; register with the school in the autumn.
- CLEP exams: self-study or a course, then a $95 exam; widely accepted for general-education credit.
- Accredited online schools issue credits and a diploma directly, at $2,000–$5,000 a year.
How to choose
- Outsource the subject you dread, not the one you enjoy. A parent who loves history should teach history and buy chemistry.
- Match the format to the child: live classes for a student who needs accountability, self-paced for one who works well alone.
- Ask about grading and records. A class that gives a grade and a course description is worth more on a transcript than one that does not.
- Try one class before committing to a year. Outschool's one-off sessions are a cheap test of whether online learning suits your child.
- Keep the total screen hours sane: two online classes and a self-paced math program is a lot of screen for a ten-year-old.