How to Make Sure an Online High School Is Real
Private school and homeschool have been options for students wishing to avoid the public high school system. With the growth of the Internet, online high schools have even become available. Online schooling can be ideal for a student who wants the homeschooling experience, but does not have access to at-home educators or tutors. Online high school can be legitimate and grant an actual diploma, but some Internet offerings may be little more than "diploma mills" that accept money in exchange for a worthless degree. Before enrolling for online high school, you should first verify that the school you are considering is legitimate.
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Instructions
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Verify accreditation by looking for the name of the school in each of the six regional accreditation agencies' databases. Each agency is responsible for the handful of states within its jurisdiction. These agencies are the only accreditation agencies universally recognized by employers and universities. The agencies are New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA), Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges (MSA), Southern Association of Schools and Colleges (SACS), Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges (NWCCU). The agency's databases are available on the websites of each agency.
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Check the Distance Education Training Council (DETC) database of accredited schools for the name of the online high school. While both the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the United States Department of Education recognize the DETC as a legitimate accreditation organization--which means your diploma will be recognized as valid and legitimate in all contexts--regionally accredited high schools and universities may not allow credits to be transferred from a DETC-approved school. The DETC database of accredited schools is available at its website.
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Ask about the length of the school's existence. While brick-and-mortar high schools are likely to be around for a while, online high schools may come and go more rapidly. If you are a few years deep into your high school education when your online school goes out of business, you may be without a diploma if you cannot transfer your credits. A school that has been around for several years is more likely to be around for longer.
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Look into the school's attrition rate (the number of students that leave the school before graduation) by asking the school for this information. The rate may also be published in the school's advertising materials. If the school has an attrition rate above 3 percent, ask why so many students leave before they graduate. Real online high schools should graduate the vast majority of their students.
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Ask about the curriculum or distance learning format used. Diploma mills--services that sell high school diplomas without any real courses--will not be able to provide information about their academics. A real online high school will be able to explain its teaching format. The exact format the school uses doesn't matter as much as the fact that the school can articulate its teaching plan to verify that it has one.
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Tips & Warnings
Because regional accreditation agencies do not necessarily recognize the legitimacy of DETC-approved schools, do not accept DETC accreditation in lieu of regional accreditation unless you are confident that the colleges or universities you intend to transfer to recognize a DETC high school.
