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Online School for Hilo Families | Forest Trail Academy
Your family is rooted in one of Hawaii’s most unique communities, a Big Island hub that’s a world away from Honolulu, surrounded by rainforest, ocean, and the kind of life that doesn’t fit a standard school calendar. Whether you’re a researcher posted near Mauna Kea Observatory, a family farming the Puna district, or working in Hilo’s tourism and hospitality industry, your child’s education needs to work around real Big Island life, not the other way around. Forest Trail Academy gives Hilo families a fully accredited K-12 online school that goes wherever your life takes you.
Why Hilo Families Choose FTA
Hilo sits at the heart of Hawaii Island, but the Big Island’s sheer size means many families are far from the nearest traditional school. Families in remote Puna, rural Kona, and the areas surrounding Hawaii Volcanoes National Park have long struggled with long drives and inconsistent access. FTA solves that. Your student logs in from home, or anywhere with an internet connection, and works through a structured, self-paced curriculum that doesn’t stop when the weather turns or the road floods after a volcanic event. The flexibility isn’t a workaround; it’s the design.
Hilo’s connection to UH Hilo and the international research community around Mauna Kea Observatory means some families are here for a year or two before moving on, international scientists, visiting faculty, and research staff who need a school that travels with them. Agricultural families planting in Ka’u or harvesting macadamia near Mountain View need schooling that bends around harvest season. Tourism workers with rotating shifts at hotels along the Hamakua Coast need a schedule that doesn’t demand 8 a.m. attendance every day. FTA’s open enrollment and asynchronous coursework fits all of it, no waiting for September, no petitioning for transfers, no falling behind when life on the Big Island changes.
What You Get
- Cognia Accreditation: Your FTA diploma is accepted by all universities near Hilo and nationwide.
- No Fixed Class Times: Study before training, after your shift, on weekends.
- Open Enrollment: Start any week, no waiting for September.
- Same School Through Every Change: Military PCS, relocations, and life changes don’t interrupt enrollment.
Getting Started from Hilo
- Call 800-890-6269 or submit an inquiry online
- Submit transcripts from your Hilo-area school
- Start coursework within days, no waiting
Questions?
Is FTA’s diploma recognized near Hilo?
Yes, our Cognia-accredited diploma is accepted by all Hawaii universities and 1,000+ colleges nationally.
Can we enroll mid-year from Hilo?
Yes, open enrollment, start any week.
Part of the Hawaii FTA Community
Hilo families are part of FTA’s larger Hawaii community. Learn more about FTA for all Hawaii students →
Online High School in Hilo, Grades 9 to 12
Most Hilo families who search for online school are looking for high school. Forest Trail Academy’s online high school program for grades 9 through 12 carries the full graduation-requirement sequence, Advanced Placement courses, and NCAA-approved core courses for student athletes. Enrollment is open year-round, so a student can start any week rather than waiting for a semester.
Students in Hilo who are behind on credits can use online credit recovery to make up individual courses without repeating a year. Families moving mid-year can follow the sequence on our switch schools mid-year page. Tuition runs $3,069 to $4,269 per year depending on grade level, with monthly payment plans from $236 for elementary, $286 for middle school, and $336 for high school, plus a one-time $225 registration fee. See the tuition page for the full breakdown.
Programs Available to Hilo Families
All Forest Trail Academy programs are fully online, self-paced, and open for enrollment year-round.
