Contents
Curious about how to devise a curriculum for homeschooling your child? Wondering how to track your child’s performance and get some extra credits from accredited schools?
If you are new to homeschooling your child and are looking for resources to assist you in this journey, we have got you covered.
In this blog, we have compiled a comprehensive list of the best online homeschool programs in 2024 to help you kickstart your homeschooling journey effectively.
What is homeschooling?
Homeschooling is an educational approach where the child is taught at home, rather than in a traditional school setting. Homeschooling allows parents the flexibility to tailor their child’s education to meet individual needs.
“I think schools don’t teach kids to think, most schools teach kids to memorize.” – Elon Musk
Parents who are dissatisfied with the structure of the conventional education system often opt for homeschooling.
Homeschooling empowers parents to have greater control over their child’s day-to-day activities. They can closely monitor what their child is learning, make changes to the curriculum, and track their daily progress.
Historically, homeschooling has deep roots, with many notable figures such as Thomas Edison, Agatha Christie, and Albert Einstein being homeschooled.
In the past few years, homeschooling has risen in popularity due to educational institutions lacking emphasis on teaching moral and ethical behavior. In the US the number of homeschooled students has increased 51% over the past 6 years.
To know more about What is Homeschooling, check out our blog!
Looking for private tutors for homeschooling? Book a Free Trial Lesson with Wiingy today and match with expert tutors to achieve your academic goals!
Best online homeschooling programs in 2024
Homeschooling has gained immense popularity in the recent times. However, many parents are not prepared to jump into it and need additional guidance. If you are a parent who is considering switching to homeschooling or has switched already, here is a comprehensive list of the Best Online Homeschool Programs that can help you make your homeschooling journey easier!
#1 K12
K12 is an online homeschool that develops the curriculum for the child. The school features a curriculum devised by certified teachers.
Parents can choose from tuition-free or tuition-based online school options, both of which meet the requirements of traditional schools. Students engage in learning through a combination of live online instructions, offline activities, self-paced assignments, videos, quizzes, and games.
Throughout the year, K12 provides kids with the opportunity to spend time with classmates virtually and in person through field trips, and school-based clubs, connecting them to their peers across the nation.
Students can compete nationwide in esports, and inculcate communication skills. More than 2 million students have chosen K12 as an alternative to traditional schooling.
For children not enrolled in a homeschool program, K12 offers an online store where parents can purchase individual online courses for homeschooling.
Key Specs:
Pricing: $260-$450 per class ($900 if teacher-led)
Accreditation: Cognia
#2 Connections Academy
Connection Academy provides virtual school education aligned with the state educational standards at no tuition cost.
Discover your state’s online elementary, middle, and high schools near you through Connections Academy.
Connection Academy’s online programs start in kindergarten and go through high school, tailored to each student’s interests, goals, and abilities. The student’s education is paid for with the state tax.
Families are responsible for covering the costs of school supplies and optional field trips organized throughout the year to foster social and emotional skill development.
To ensure the education meets the state’s eligibility requirements, parents should choose elementary schools, middle schools, or high schools near them.
Key Specs:
Pricing: No cost to families
Accreditation: Cognia
#3 Bridgeway Academy
Bridgeway Academy offers a variety of curriculum kits suited to meet your child’s learning needs and style.
Bridgeway’s Grade Level Kits provide a full year of core courses and electives that come with detailed guides. With day-to-day instructor guides, you can easily follow the program and partner with your child in the education.
Bridgeway Academy’s online classes are taught by highly skilled, certified teachers. With classes that meet once or twice each week, parents can maintain their flexible schedules.
Bridgeway Academy honors your role as a parent and works with you to ensure that you can seamlessly integrate your curriculum into your child’s learning journey while enjoying the one-to-one support, accreditation, and expertise needed.
Key Specs:
Pricing: $700-$900 per year; $350+ for individual courses
Accreditation: Cognia; NCAA Approved
#4 Forest Trail Academy
Forest Trail Academy is a leading accredited online K-12 school in the US that offers a learner-focused alternative to traditional education.
Forest Trail Academy is committed to providing quality education from Kindergarten through High School. The academy provides a well-rounded education accessible to all students, even those in non-traditional circumstances.
Forest Trail Academy offers two diploma options to cater to students’ academic needs- the College Prep Diploma or the General Ed Diploma.
Key Specs:
Pricing: $900 per year offline, $1,800-$3,200 for online
Accreditation: Cognia; Middle States Association – Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools (MSA CESS); Accreditation International (Ai); and more
#5 Acellus Academy
Acellus Academy is a K-12 online private school owned and operated by the International Academy of Science, a non-profit organization. It is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
Acellus Academy course offerings span grades K-12. The curriculum is taught by highly qualified teachers from all over the country.
Acellus Academy provides instruction online through professionally filmed video lessons to spark the interest of students.
The school’s program is flexible yet rigorous and serves a diverse population of students based throughout the United States.
Key Specs:
Pricing:$249 per month, $2,000 per year
Accreditation: Western Association of Schools & Colleges; College Board; NCAA Approved
#6 Time4Learning
Time4Learning provides a standard-based grade-appropriate curriculum. You can cutsomise your child’s education based on their strengths and challenges.
To keep the child engaged, Time4Learning uses short animated lessons for younger students and a lecture format for older students. Within each subject, there are activities, quizzes, and assessments that can be completed in order.
Parents have their own login where they can monitor their child’s progress. Automated grading and detailed reporting make tracking progress easy for busy parents. As a Time4Learning member, parents can connect with an active community of like-minded parents.
Key Specs:
Pricing: PreK-8: $19.95 per month,
Grade 9-12: $30/m
Accreditation: Since Time4Learning is a curriculum and not a school, accreditation does not apply.
#7 Mia Academy
Mia Academy covers hundreds of lessons in math, language arts, science, and social studies, covering K-8. The Academy is built with all learners in mind, children can take tests without the pressure of timers, and work at their own pace.
Mia Academy gives parents access to select courses that range from basic to challenging and define the passing grade for their child.
Students design art, clothing, and furniture and gain real-life experience by selling them to other students. Students can express themselves by writing for the Miacademy Weekly- a student-run site newspaper.
Mia Academy encourages kids to participate in fun and educational games and competitions to earn medals. Mia Academy provides a separate parent account for parents to monitor their child’s progress.
Key Specs:
Pricing: $29.99 to $40.00 per month
Accreditation: Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
#8 The Keystone School
Keystone offers full-time programs for elementary, middle, and high school students.
Students can learn from anywhere there’s an internet connection, at their own pace. The curriculum provided by the school is a great fit for students who need flexibility in their learning.
Keystone’s licensed and certified teachers work along with students to set educational goals and monitor their progress. Middle and High School students are assisted by student success advisors to help with course selection, and goal setting for college.
Keystone’s Homeschool curriculum stacks up courses across commonly required subjects, independent study learning models, career electives, languages, and foundational courses.
Key Specs:
Pricing: $1,800-$2,800 per year, $230+ per individual class
Accreditation: Cognia; Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools (MSA-CESS).
#9 Oak Meadow
Oak Meadow provides a secular, book-based, developmentally appropriate curriculum for preschool through high school. They offer 36-weekly lesson plans, with a variety of assignments, activities, and readings.
They provide the home teacher with an assignment checklist, planner, material lists, and learning assessment rubrics to track the student’s progress.
Parents often use Oak Meadows material as their children’s academic foundation and supplement them with other educational resources.
If a parent is homeschooling on their own, they are free to purchase Oak Meadow’s PreK-12 curriculum. However, if a child is enrolled in Oak Meadow School, the curriculum material will be included with the price of tuition.
Key Specs:
Pricing: $745 for full curriculum, $120 for single courses
Accreditation: New England Association for Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
#10 Calvert Academy
Calvert Academy provides both monthly and per-course payment options. Students create an individualized learning plan based on their goals, current academic standing, and style of learning.
An academic team of teachers, counselors, and advisors provides personalized academic support to the student. Teachers frequently communicate with parents to inform them of their child’s progress.
Calvert’s Dual Credit program allows juniors and seniors to earn high school and college credit at the same time while jump-starting their college careers to save both time and money.
Key Specs:
Pricing: K-2: $160-$380 per year,
Grade 3-12: $320 per year
Accreditation: NCA CASI and SACS CASI of Cognia.
#11 Archway Online
Archway Online is a fully accredited online private school that provides affordable programs with a leading K-12 curriculum.
Archway Online has open enrollment year-round and the freedom to school 24/7. Students have the flexibility to choose their electives and change their education plans with the assistance of a counselor.
Mentors at Archway provide 1:1 Academic Support. Students get support from counselors for mental health wellness, planning and choosing courses, electives, and extracurricular activities. Weekly calls and proctored exams are held to check the progress of the student.
Archway Online offers diplomas to those who graduate from ArchwayOnline meeting the graduate requirements. They maintain full records of official transcripts, diplomas, and proof of enrollment.
Key Specs:
Pricing: Grade K-5: $159 per month,
Grade 6-8: $179 per month,
High School: $229 per month
Accreditation: Ai Commission on Accreditation and NCPSA (National Council for Private Schools Association) and Middle States Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools
#12 IXL Learning
IXL provides a diverse PK-12 curriculum that helps learners succeed in math, literacy, language, and more. It provides unlimited practice problems with up-to-date tracking of your child’s progress.
IXL is perfect for homeschooling families. It provides content covering over 4,500 unique topics, and personalized learning that adapts to the child’s level.
IXL lets children learn at their own pace. It equips learners with unlimited practice problems, interactive questions, detailed explanations of topics, and mobile apps for practice on the go to maintain flexibility.
Key Specs:
Pricing: Maths & Engish: $11.35 per month,
Maths: $7.17 per month (LKG-XII),
English: $7.17 per month (LKG-XII)
Accreditation: IXL is not an accredited homeschooling program.
#13 ABCmouse.com
ABCmouse.com provides a curriculum for children ages 2-8. The curriculum has more than 850 lessons in 10 levels. As your child completes one level, they are guided to the next one.
The curriculum at ABCmouse.com spans from Reading, Language, Arts to Math, Science, and Social Studies. The curriculum includes books, games, puzzles, and animated learning videos.
ABCmouse.com provides a Progress Tracker that displays the total number of learning activities completed in each category (books, songs, puzzles, games, and art), and easy-to-read graphs that show progress both by academic level and by curriculum subject.
Key Specs:
Pricing:$12.99/month,
$29.99/every 6 months,
$59.99/year
Accreditation: ABCmouse.com is not an accredited homeschooling program.
#14 Khan Academy
Khan Academy has a comprehensive content library that has thousands of high-quality articles, videos, and exercises developed by teachers and subject matter experts. The platform is not intended as a full curriculum, but rather as a supplement.
Parents can find lessons that align with what the kids are currently learning. You can prepare your kid for college-level coursework with Khan Academy’s AP Courses.
Start by taking the Course Challenge, which will help you identify your child’s strengths and weaknesses and make recommendations for what they should study next.
Key Specs:
Pricing: Free
Accreditation: ABCmouse.com is not an accredited homeschooling program.
#15 Abeka Academy
Abeka helps parents educate children through a curriculum based upon a Biblical Foundation. Abeka offers several approaches to education, through video lessons, and books for K4-12th grade students.
Abeka’s approach is Spiral Learning which emphasises mastery. The Spiral Learnings approach is that repetition leads to retention. It reinforces learning by reintroducing concepts, giving multiple opportunities for students to be successful.
Students begin with basic concepts and then progress into advanced topics. Children are expected to have full comprehension of a concept before moving to the next concept.
Key Specs:
Pricing: Homeschooling Kits start from $86.85
Accreditation: Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools; Florida Association of Christian Colleges and Schools
Wiingy Tutors for Homeschooling
At times when parents are unable to commit to a rigorous schedule they often go for homeschooling tutors. At Wiingy, tutors help you homeschool your children at affordable rates.
For homeschooling, Wiingy tutors have proved to be remarkably beneficial. They are all experts in their respective subjects and have been trained to teach students according to the US education system.
Wiingy Tutors help build crucial concepts and help prepare for standardized tests such as the Advanced Placement Exams, SAT, and ACT.
Wiingy’s personalized homeschool tutoring services are designed to offer a supportive learning space where students gain clarity and confidence in their studies.
Wiingy lessons start at 28$/hr and the tutors help in teaching math, coding, science, and 350+ other subjects.
Unlike tutor marketplaces, each tutor at Wiingy is vetted individually through an extensive assessment process including interviews, mock lessons, and coding tests.
Less than 3% of applicants qualify to be a tutor on the Wiingy platform.
Wiingys algorithm understands your child’s specific learning needs and matches you with the ideal tutor. If your tutor match isn’t perfect, our Perfect Match Guarantee program promises a replacement tutor at no additional cost.
Looking for private tutors for homeschooling? Book a Free Trial Lesson with Wiingy today and match with expert tutors to achieve your academic goals!
Other Useful Reads
What is Homeschooling? [Types, Advantages of Homeschooling]
Why Homeschooling? [Pros and Cons]
Online Tutoring for Homeschooling: Benefits and Strategies
How to start Homeschooling [Top 12 Tips to Get Started]
Homeschool Socialization: Top 6 Ways to Keep Your Child Socially Connected
Best Homeschool Curriculum [Top 18]
FAQs on Best Online Homeschool Programs
What should I look for in a good online homeschool program?
While choosing a good online homeschool program, consider the following factors:
1. Accreditation: No US state requires you to have an accredited homeschool program. However, in some states, a homeschool may need to be affiliated with an accredited program or monitored by a state-certified teacher.
2. Curriculum Quality: Opt for a comprehensive, well-rounded curriculum that aligns with your state’s educational standards.
3. Flexibility: Homeschooling allows self-paced learning so the program should offer flexibility, enabling parents to choose the best times for their child’s learning.
4. Certified Teachers: The homeschooling program should have certified and experienced teachers who can provide instant support and feedback and help parents monitor their child’s progress.
5. Socialization Opportunities: The homeschool should provide students with opportunities to interact with their peers, inculcate communication skills, and, learn teamwork.
6. Availability of Demos: Trial periods or Demos help parents explore the program, curriculum, and the opportunities provided before committing.
Can students receive diplomas or certificates from online homeschool programs?
Yes, students can receive diplomas or certificates from online homeschool programs.
Accredited online Homeschooling programs often issue high school diplomas after the completion of the required coursework. Forest Trail Academy offers two distinct diplomas: the College Prep Diploma and the General Ed Diploma to homeschooling kids.
How does Homeschooling affect college admissions?
Homeschooling does not affect college admissions. Homeschoolers get accepted to colleges as often as their peers in traditional schools.
According to the National Home Research Institute, home-educated students typically score above average on the SAT and ACTs that colleges consider for admissions.
UNC-Chapel Hill admitted 47% of homeschoolers, while their standard admission rate is closer to 17%.
According to the Dean of Undergraduate Admissions at Duke University, Christoph Guttentag, homeschool applicants are admitted at rates comparable to the overall applicant pool.
The United States Air Force Academy offers homeschoolers advice on an admissions webpage and indicates that “homeschooled students are as competitive for appointment to the United States Air Force Academy as any other applicant.”
Are Homeschooled kids behind compared with public school kids?
The home-educated students score 15 to 25 percentile points above public-school students on standardized academic achievement tests.
The National Home Education Research Institute found that homeschooled students score above average on the SAT and ACTs which are considered for college admissions. The level of education imparted in homeschooling is unrelated to whether the parents were certified teachers.
78% of homeschooled children are believed to score significantly better than those enrolled in institutions.