Quick answer: Online charter schools are tuition-free public schools run by an independent group under a charter from the state or a district. A district or state virtual school is also an online public school, and a private online school charges tuition and sets its own rules. Public options enroll residents of a state or district and follow state testing. Private schools enroll by application and choose their own calendar, pace and tests.
All three can lead to a diploma, and each suits a different family. This guide compares who runs each type, who can enroll, what it costs, how the year is scheduled, what testing is involved and what kind of diploma your child earns. A private option such as Forest Trail Academy’s K-12 online learning program is one example of the third type, and a short section near the end explains where it fits.
Table of Contents
The three types in plain terms
Online public school run by a district or state
Some school districts and some state education agencies run their own virtual schools. Students are enrolled in a public school, only the classroom is online. Florida Virtual School is one example of a statewide public option.
Online charter schools
The National Center for Education Statistics describes a public charter school as a publicly funded school, usually run by a group or organization under a charter (a contract) with a state, district or other entity. The charter exempts the school from some rules in exchange for meeting the accountability goals in the charter. Charters are reviewed on a schedule and can be ended if the goals are not met. NCES counted about 7,800 charter schools in 2021-22, and 45 states and the District of Columbia had charter laws as of fall 2021 (NCES Fast Facts). An online charter school offers that model through a virtual program.
Private online schools
A private online school is run by an independent organization, not a government agency. It charges tuition, writes its own admission rules and sets its own calendar. Families look at accreditation, teacher qualifications and the diploma the school issues.
Online charter school vs online private school: comparison table
The table shows typical patterns. Every state writes its own charter and virtual school rules, so confirm each point with the school and your state education department.
| Question | District or state virtual school | Online charter school | Private online school |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who runs it | A school district or state education agency | An independent group under a charter from an authorizer, such as a state board or district | An independent school or organization |
| Who can enroll | Residents of the district or state, within the age range set by the program | Usually residents of the state, sometimes of a set region | Families who apply; the school sets its own admission rules |
| Enrollment limits | Seats and enrollment windows can apply | Some states cap virtual charter enrollment or use a lottery | The school decides; some accept students on a rolling basis |
| Calendar | Usually a school year with semester start dates | Set in the charter; often a school year | Varies by school; some start any week of the year |
| Cost | No tuition for eligible residents; ask what materials or devices families supply | No tuition for eligible residents; ask the same question | Tuition; payment plans, discounts or state funding programs may apply |
| Pacing | Often follows a course schedule with due dates; varies by program | Varies; ask whether lessons are scheduled or self-paced | Varies; some schools are fully self-paced |
| Testing | State assessments for public school students | State assessments for public school students | The school chooses its own assessments |
| Diploma | A public school diploma that meets state requirements | A public school diploma that meets state requirements | A school-issued diploma; check accreditation and how colleges view it |
| Oversight | The district or state | The authorizer and the state | Accrediting agencies and state registration rules |
Online public school: who can enroll
Residency is the first rule for any online public school. Florida Virtual School (FLVS) shows how this looks in practice. Its full-time enrollment page says a student must be a legal resident of Florida, with an exception for military families who maintain Florida residency. Kindergarten applicants must be 5 on or before September 1, first graders must be 6 by that date, and high school students must be able to meet graduation requirements before their 20th birthday. The page also says that submitting an application does not guarantee enrollment.
Other states set their own residency and age rules. A district-run program may serve only students who live in that district, while a statewide program serves the whole state. Ask the school which applies.
Enrollment caps and calendars
Public online programs often work on a school-year calendar. FLVS lists semester enrollment windows. For the 2026-27 year, its page shows second semester enrollment opening November 2 with classes starting January 6, 2027.
Some states also set a ceiling on virtual charter enrollment. Maine, for example, writes in its statute that total enrollment at all virtual public charter schools authorized by its commission may not exceed 1,000 students. When demand is higher than seats, a school may use a lottery or a waitlist. Other states have different limits or none, so look at the school’s enrollment page and your state’s charter law.
Private online schools set their own calendars. Some follow a school year, and some, including Forest Trail Academy, accept enrollment any week of the year.
Testing requirements for each type
Federal law asks states to test public school students in reading and math in each of grades 3 through 8 and at least once in grades 9 through 12, and in science at least once in each of three grade spans (20 U.S.C. 6311). Online charter and district virtual schools are public schools, so their students take part in the state’s testing program. FLVS, for example, says Florida statewide assessment requirements for graduation must be met. Ask any public virtual school where and when testing takes place.
Private schools choose their own assessments. Some use nationally normed tests, some use their own course exams, and some programs that pay tuition, such as state scholarships, name the tests a school must give. If your family plans to use a funding program, read its rules first.
Diploma and accreditation
A public virtual or charter school issues a public school diploma that follows state graduation requirements. FLVS, for instance, says students need at least 6 credits through the school to earn its diploma. The state sets the requirements, as it does for every public high school in that state.
A private school issues its own diploma. Accreditation is how families and colleges check the quality of that diploma. In Florida, the state’s education department says it does not accredit, approve or regulate private schools (Florida Department of Education), so accreditation comes from outside agencies. Admission offices and employers decide for themselves how they view a private school’s diploma. Look for the accrediting agency’s name and confirm it with the agency. Our guide to accredited and non-accredited schooling explains what to look for.
Which type fits which situation
| If your family wants | Look first at | Why |
|---|---|---|
| No tuition and a state diploma | District, state or charter online public school | Funded by the state for eligible residents |
| To stay in your home district’s system | District virtual school | Your child stays enrolled in the district |
| A particular teaching model, such as a mastery or career focus | Online charter school | The charter can define the program |
| To move states or countries during the year | Private online school | Enrollment does not depend on state residency |
| To start mid-year or at any time | Private online school, or a public school that accepts mid-year transfers | Calendars differ; ask each school |
| To set the pace of each course | A self-paced program of any type | Pacing varies inside each type |
| Control over testing | Private online school | The school chooses its assessments |
Questions to ask any online school before you apply
- Is the school public, charter or private, and who authorizes or accredits it?
- Do we meet the residency and age rules today, and what happens if we move?
- Is there an enrollment cap, a lottery or a waitlist?
- When are the start dates, and can my child transfer in mid-year?
- What is the full cost, including materials, devices and testing fees?
- Are lessons scheduled or self-paced, and are there live sessions?
- Which tests are required, and where does my child take them?
- Who are the teachers, and are they certified?
- What diploma will my child earn, and what are the credit requirements?
- Will earlier credits transfer, and will later schools accept the credits?
Where Forest Trail Academy fits
Forest Trail Academy is a private, accredited, secular online school for kindergarten through grade 12. Courses are self-paced, certified teachers grade the work, and families can enroll any week of the year. More than 10,000 students have enrolled since 2007, and graduates have been accepted at over 1,000 colleges. You can read about the school’s accreditations and memberships and see the tuition rates page for current costs.
FTA says it accepts ESA funds from Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Tennessee, and that guidelines and eligibility vary by state. Details are on its funding announcement. For a side-by-side with other options, see online school vs public school, public vs private online K-12 programs and free online school vs private online school.
Frequently asked questions
Are online charter schools free?
Online charter schools are public schools, so eligible residents pay no tuition. Some ask families to supply a few materials or a device, so ask what is included.
Is an online charter school public or private?
In most cases it is public. NCES defines a public charter school as publicly funded and operated under a charter. Check the school’s authorizer and funding source on its website to be sure.
What is the difference between an online public school and an online charter school?
A district or state virtual school is run by a government agency. A charter school is run by an independent group under a charter with an authorizer. Both are public, free to eligible residents and part of the state’s testing program.
Can I enroll in an online public school in another state?
Usually not. Public programs enroll residents of their state or district, though some, such as FLVS, make exceptions for military families who keep that state’s residency. A private online school sets its own admission rules and is not tied to residency, so ask the school.
Do private online schools have to give state tests?
Rules differ by state. Florida’s education department says it does not accredit, approve or regulate private schools, and private schools choose their own assessments. A state scholarship or funding program may require a specific test, so read its rules.
Can my child switch between types?
Many families do. Credits earned are reviewed by the new school, which decides what transfers. Send transcripts early and ask how each credit will count. An admissions advisor can go through the records with you. Book a call with admissions.
