Online School vs. Homeschooling
byTrey Edgington
5 min to read
As parents research how to educate their children at home, many may be uncertain whether online public school or homeschool would be a better fit for their child’s needs. While there is some crossover between online public school and homeschooling, such as increased parental involvement in their child’s education and the added benefit of getting to learn from the comfort and safety of their own home, there are several key differences families should consider when weighing online school vs homeschool.
How Is Online School Different from Homeschooling?
There are several key differences to keep in mind when considering traditional homeschooling vs. online schooling.
Class Instruction
At online public schools, students work with certified teachers specially trained for online instruction. Online teachers periodically meet with students and their Learning Coach for real-time reviews or instruction in a virtual classroom. They also grade student assignments, evaluate comprehension, and provide ongoing feedback to students by phone and email. They’re available to parents and students to answer questions and may give extra one-on-one help when needed.
When a child is homeschooled, parents often serve as the child’s teacher for all grade levels and subjects and plan all lessons, assignments, and tests. While some parents may be able to teach across so many subjects and grade levels with the help of pre-structured curriculum they can buy, some may rely on other families through a learning co-op (or learning pod) to help.
Curriculum
Online public schools follow a state-certified curriculum created by experts in online learning, which means students enrolled in either program must meet state standards through assessment tests and other benchmarks before graduating.
For students who are homeschooled, parents create their own curriculum or buy an existing curriculum for their kids’ education. Rather than following a set timeline, parents map out a learning schedule and prepare lesson plans that may or may not follow the typical school year structure.
Online public-school students earn a high school diploma with the chance to earn Advanced Placement credits and can graduate with a full transcript that can seamlessly transfer to college programs, internships, or other areas of the workforce. Parents who homeschool will need to keep their own child’s transcripts and create their own high school diploma or arrange for their child to earn their GED once their K-12 education is complete.
Cost
Texts, learning materials, and the professionally planned curriculum for online school are provided by the school district, state education board, or other authorizing organization.
Online K-12 public schools, just like a public brick-and-mortar school, is tuition-free because it is paid for by tax dollars. Not only is online school free, but many supplies are included, such as:
Instructional materials
Required texts (physical or digital, depending on grade level)
Computers (Some schools allow or require students to use their own computer.)
Additional costs for online schools are the same as traditional schools and include optional field trips and school supplies.
For homeschool students, parents often develop their own curriculum. Searching for and buying texts and materials for every subject can be both costly and time-consuming. Many parents new to homeschooling don’t realize the cost of homeschooling vs. public school.
Some of the most common expenses homeschooling families may pay for include:
Curriculum and learning materials
School supplies (for example, pencils, notebooks, and more)
Field trips
Extracurricular activities (for example, sports, art lessons, music lessons, and more)
Co-operative fees for families who belong to a homeschool co-operative
Testing fees, if state homeschooling guidelines mandate regular testing
For a family of four with two school-aged children, homeschooling may cost, on average, anywhere from $1,400 to $3,600 per year.
Similarities Between Home School and Online School
Though there are compelling differences between attending public school online and homeschooling, the similarities are also significant.
Flexible Schedules
Virtual school allows kids to keep up with their education while also pursuing extracurricular interests and taking care of responsibilities, such as part-time jobs or community involvement. Young athletes, professional actors, and those with frequent medical appointments—among others—can also take advantage of this adaptable schedule.
Check out these sample schedules by virtual school families to get an idea of how flexible online schooling can be.
Homeschool families have more freedom to schedule their learning activities whenever and wherever they prefer. As the parents are the ones establishing what learning looks like, they set the schedule and pacing in a way that best suits the family’s goals and lifestyle.
Socialization Opportunities
Like a homeschool parent, the parent of an online school student can layer opportunities for socialization into their child’s schedule in a variety of ways. Some families do this through sports, scouting, 4-H, volunteering, or faith-based activities. Others take part in homeschool meetup groups or learning pods.
Online school students have time to interact and collaborate with friends and other students during virtual classroom sessions. Online clubs and activities are a great way for kids to connect with others who share their interests. There may also be field trips, celebrations, or other school events—like prom!—to attend.
Is online school considered home school?
While online school does mean children are educated in the home and has an increased level of involvement by the child’s caregiver, online school is not the same as homeschooling. Online schools follow a set curriculum taught by certified teachers. Students who are homeschooled follow a curriculum typically curated and taught by their parents.
In education, results can be defined in many ways, but the strongest measure of success is a graduate who is well prepared for college, career, and life. Regardless of which approach to in-home education your family selects, we hope this outline of the differences and similarities between online public school and homeschool will help you choose a model that works for your family, so get involved and guide your child toward a bright future filled with promise!
Are you ready to make the switch for your child? Let us help you find a tuition-free online public school.
*Advanced Placement® is a registered trademark of the College Board. Used with permission.
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