Online High School FAQs: 25 Questions Families Ask

College Prep

Online Learning Resources

09/09/2026

By Diane Coraluzzi, Vice President of Enrollment

Families researching an online education typically have a long list of practical questions: How does accreditation work? What does a typical day look like? What does it actually cost? We have gathered the 25 questions we hear most often from families evaluating the Laurel Springs online high school program and organized them by topic below. Whether you are comparing options for the first time or narrowing down a final decision, this guide is meant to serve as a single, reliable reference.

Online High School Overview

Laurel Springs is a private, accredited online high school serving grades 9 through 12. Founded in 1991, Laurel Springs is the nation’s first online K-12 school. Laurel Springs offers a self-paced, asynchronous curriculum that allows each student to customize their educational journey with individual support from expert teachers and counselors and access to a wide variety of social opportunities. Students can begin their individual academic enrollments at any time of the year.

Yes. Laurel Springs is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and Cognia, two of the most widely recognized accrediting bodies in American education. Families can review additional details on our School Profile page.

Asynchronous learning means coursework is available at any time through our learning management system, rather than tied to a live class period or a shared school-wide schedule. Each course contains all the material a student needs to learn the content or skills for that course. Students advance through the course material at their own pace, demonstrating mastery through assignments, research, projects, labs, and other assessments. Families weighing this model against a more traditional structure may find it helpful to read our overview of asynchronous learning and our explanation of mastery-based learning.

An online private high school like Laurel Springs offers a structured, college-preparatory accredited curriculum with high-touch, 1:1 support from qualified teachers and college counselors, clubs and activities, official transcripts, and college application support, funded through tuition or per-course fees. Depending on the state, families may also qualify for Education Savings Accounts (ESA) to help with educational expenses. A virtual public high school is publicly funded and must align with state-required curriculum standards, calendars, and testing requirements.

The core difference is who designs and delivers the instruction. At Laurel Springs, courses are designed and supported by credentialed curriculum experts and faculty, and students receive official grades, an accredited transcript, and college application support along the way. Homeschooling places full responsibility for curriculum, instruction, pacing, structure, and recordkeeping directly on the parent or guardian, including arranging social opportunities and meeting state requirements independently. Families drawn to the flexibility of homeschooling, but who also want more structure and access to credentialed teachers, counselors, and social opportunities often find that an online private high school can give them the best of both worlds.

There is no single template for a ‘typical day’ at Laurel Springs, and that is by design. Because coursework is asynchronous, students are not bound to a shared, school-wide schedule.

In practice, one student might complete coursework across a traditional weekday morning, while another spreads the same coursework across evenings and weekends to accommodate athletic training, performing arts commitments, or family travel. Many students also engage in virtual clubs or activities with group Zoom meetings that may occur throughout the month.

For students enrolled in The Academy, the day includes additional structure with weekly live Workshops and a research-focused Symposium course. Because these sessions depend on real-time attendance, Academy families should expect a slightly more structured weekly rhythm than the fully self-paced standard program.

Curriculum and Academic Placement

Laurel Springs offers more than 300 courses spanning core subjects, electives, world languages, Honors, and Advanced Placement options. Families can browse the full offering in our Course Catalog.

Yes. Our course catalog features over 24 Advanced Placement courses, alongside a full slate of Honors courses, so students can pursue additional rigor within their individualized academic placement.

Middle and high school students may choose from six world languages: Spanish, French, Mandarin, German, Latin, and American Sign Language. Course sequencing follows the same grade-level appropriate academic placement used across the curriculum. Mandarin and Spanish are available as electives for our elementary students. Families can browse our world language offerings in our Course Catalog.

The Laurel Springs Dual enrollment program allows students to complete university-level coursework while still in high school, through our partnership with esteemed universities and colleges. Eligibility requires a cumulative GPA of 3.7 or higher and specific prerequisite coursework, and currently extends to full time students in grades 11 and 12. Students in our Academy program have access to additional dual enrollment opportunities beginning in grade 9.

At Laurel Springs, all students need 23.5 credits to earn an accredited diploma, distributed across English, math, science, social studies, world language, fine arts, physical education, health, and electives. Students who graduate from The Academy at Laurel Springs receive Academy Distinction upon graduation. Full requirements are available on our School Profile page.

Yes. As part of our admissions process, our academic team requests and reviews official transcripts from every previously attended school or program to confirm credit values and build a grade-level appropriate course schedule. Because Laurel Springs is accredited, credits and diplomas are recognized by institutions that also honor accredited coursework.

Yes. Full-time online middle school students who are ready for higher-level content may be placed into online high school courses. This placement requires counselor approval before enrollment, consistent with our emphasis on individualized academic placement at every grade level.

The Academy: A Collaborative Online High School Experience

The Academy at Laurel Springs is an immersive, hybrid online program for grades 6 through 12 that offers advanced academics, weekly live Workshops, extra support from Academy counselors, and exclusive enrichment opportunities.

The Academy includes everything available in our main full-time program, then layers on additional structure for families seeking more collaboration and connection. Academy students are assigned an Academy Counselor starting at grade 6, gain access to two Dual Enrollment courses per term starting in grade 9 (compared to one per term for main full-time grade 11 and 12 students), and participate in peer mentoring, Academy-exclusive clubs and extra college preparation programming.

The Academy tends to suit students who want the flexibility of self-paced coursework paired with more frequent, live interaction with expert instructors and peers. Because weekly Workshops and the Symposium course depend on consistent participation, families should be prepared for a slightly more structured weekly rhythm than the fully self-paced program.

Enrollment and Admissions

Our admissions process begins with creating a Parent Portal account and completing the online application. From there, an Admissions Coordinator helps confirm a start date, and families sign an enrollment agreement, pay a deposit and set up a payment plan. Official transcripts are requested immediately upon enrollment and must be received and reviewed before a course schedule can be created.

Laurel Springs uses rolling admissions, meaning students can begin coursework on almost any Wednesday throughout the year, with five months to complete semester-length courses or ten months for year-long courses from that individualized start date. Families considering a mid-year move can read more in our blogs on why rolling admissions lets families start when they are ready and how a mid-year transition works in practice.

Laurel Springs strongly recommends a high-speed (25 Mbps or higher), wired internet connection provided by cable or fiber. Students need a good quality desktop or laptop computer running the most current and up-to-date version of Windows or MacOS possible. Read our blog about online school technology requirements for more information.

Tuition and Financial Planning

Full-time high school tuition is $11,700 per year or $6,450 per semester. The Academy’s high school tier is $17,250 per year or $9,425 per semester. Families interested in part time enrollment rather than full-time enrollment can expect single course pricing between $900 and $2,200, depending on the subject and course level. Complete, current pricing is available on our Tuition page.

Full-time high school tuition for the main Laurel Springs high school program provides access for a specified time (5 months for a semester enrollment, 10 months for a full-year enrollment) to the following:

Records review, homeschool assessments, international records review, and academic placement services
An academically appropriate number of courses per term (typically 5-7) including honors and AP courses, world languages, and electives
One dual enrollment course per enrollment in grades 11 and 12
1:1 academic support and personalized instruction by certified teachers
1:1 support from an assigned college counselor, including course scheduling, college and career planning, college application support, and school counseling services
Athletic Counseling services to support NCAA eligibility requirements
100+ virtual clubs and activities, including 16 honor societies
Student Services and Technical Support
Academic records (report card, transcript, and diploma)
24-7 live tutoring services through Tutor.com
Access to 1:1 music lessons through Forte Music by Virtu.Academy
Lifetime membership to SportsEdTV

Tuition for The Academy at Laurel Springs includes all of the above, plus access to:

70+ courses with Workshop
Two dual enrollment courses per enrollment from grades 9 through 12
1:1 extra high-touch support from an assigned Academy Counselor (starting in grade 6)
Academy-exclusive academic courses
Academy-exclusive clubs and enrichment programs
Peer Mentoring program
…and more!

Families who reside in Arizona, Alabama, Arkansas, and New Hampshire may qualify for state Education Savings Account (ESA) programs that cover partial or full tuition, subject to state approval. Laurel Springs also offers discounts for siblings, active military and veteran families, and payment in full, along with a referral program. Families exploring these options may also find our post on ideas for paying for private online school tuition useful.

Counseling and Student Support

Every full-time high school student at Laurel Springs receives support from individually assigned, dedicated college counselors. In addition to providing high-touch college and career planning support, counselors lead a seminar course designed to provide developmental and organizational support for students at each grade level. Counselors get to know their students well and can point them toward clubs, honor societies, and mentoring opportunities suited to their interests.

Yes. Laurel Springs offers an NCAA-approved curriculum along with dedicated College Athletic Counselors who guide student-athletes through NCAA eligibility, recruitment, and requirements, in addition to their academic planning.

Social Life and Community

Yes. Laurel Springs offers more than 90 virtual clubs, honor societies, leadership opportunities, and in-person events. Students who lean into them often build community that feels more intentional than a standard class schedule allows. Learn more about our socialization, community, and clubs on our blog.

In addition to monthly field trips and regional meet-ups held throughout the year, Laurel Springs hosts an annual Year-End Celebration. This event is a multi-day, in-person gathering that includes prom, a commencement ceremony, Grad Night, and other cornerstone community events. Students also have access to one or more travel learning opportunities each year to places like Japan, Iceland, and Europe. Laurel Springs continues to expand its Community Engagement program to include more in-person options each year.

Outcomes

Graduates are accepted to more than 500 colleges and universities, spanning small and large private and public institutions, research universities, liberal arts colleges, and performing arts conservatories all over the United States and the world.For more information about Laurel Springs graduate outcomes, see our School Profile.

About the Author

Diane Coraluzzi has worked in the fields of customer service and enrollment management for more than 20 years and is passionate about creating legendary customer experiences. She is committed to providing exceptional service and actively seeks solutions that work for our families. She brings a deep understanding of the enrollment journey and is genuinely enthusiastic about supporting students and their families from their first interaction with the school and throughout their years with Laurel Springs School. She earned her B.A. in English and Communications from Cabrini University.