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Virtual High Schools: Does the Virtual High School Have a Specific Focus?

Statewide virtual high schools typically have a specific focus: core curriculum, accelerated courses and credit recovery are the most common focus areas.

Why does it matter?

  • Students benefit when they have increased access to accelerated courses.
  • An initial focus in a limited number of areas simplifies staffing requirements and other start-up costs.

    Highlights:

  • Virginia’s virtual high school focuses on AP courses.
  • Twenty-two state programs offer core curriculum and one offers non-core electives.
  • Five offer supplemental curriculum, one offers remedial courses, and one focuses on mathematics.
  • Twenty offer AP classes as well.

    Methodology: This information was collected from state statutes, rules and regulations, and state education agencies, and will be updated as new policies and programs are enacted.

    Sources for all data points are available through this link.

    Last updated: December 3, 2007

    Research conducted by Melodye Bush and Michael Colasanti. Please contact Melodye Bush (303.299.3631 or mbush@ecs.org) with comments or questions about this database.

    		•
    Does the virtual high school have a specific focus?
    Alabama Core curriculum and AP courses
    Alaska
    American Samoa
    Arizona Core curriculum and AP courses
    Arkansas Core curriculum and AP courses
    California Core curriculum and AP courses
    Colorado Core curriculum, electives and AP courses
    Connecticut
    Delaware
    District of Columbia
    Florida Core curriculum, honors programs and AP courses
    Georgia Core curriculum and AP courses
    Guam
    Hawaii Supplementary and AP courses
    Idaho Remediation, dual credit and AP courses
    Illinois Primarily supplemental, some AP courses
    Indiana
    Iowa Supplemental courses
    Iowa Online AP Academy, run through the University of Iowa, offers AP courses.  Both Iowa Learning Online is funded by the state.  Iowa Online AP is funded by a federal grant.
    Kansas
    Kentucky Core curriculum and dual credit offered
    Credit recovery
    Kentucky Virtual Advanced Placement Academy division of the Kentucky Virtual Schools offers access to a core AP curriculum.
    Louisiana Supplemental curriculum, AP courses in European and U.S. History
    Maine
    Maryland Core curriculum, supplemental courses and AP courses
    Massachusetts
    Michigan Core curriculum and AP courses
    Minnesota
    Mississippi Core curriculum and AP courses
    Missouri Core curriculum
    Montana
    Nebraska
    Nevada
    New Hampshire
    New Jersey
    New Mexico Core curriculum
    New York
    North Carolina Core curriculum, honors courses, AP courses and credit recovery. Also, there are dual enrollment opportunities through the Learn and Earn Online program.
    North Dakota Core curriculum and AP courses
    Ohio
    Oklahoma
    Oregon College preparatory and AP courses
    Pennsylvania
    Puerto Rico
    Rhode Island
    South Carolina Core curriculum, AP courses and credit recovery
    South Dakota Core curriculum and AP courses
    Tennessee
    Texas Core curriculum, driver education and AP courses
    Utah Core curriculum
    Vermont
    Virgin Islands
    Virginia Core curriculum and AP
    Washington
    West Virginia Both core and non-core curriculum and AP courses
    Wisconsin Core curriculum, credit recovery and AP courses
    Wyoming


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