Regular readers will have seen this topic more than once. We even now have a free online schools and free online high schools site because the question comes up so often. While it really is quite simple which schools are free and which are not, it can be confusing to the uninitiated. Here are the types that are free:

1. Charter schools. Charter schools are public schools that don’t have to follow quite as many of the rules as a traditional public school.
2. Public schools. Increasingly, public school districts are creating their own entirely self-sufficient online schools.
3. State departments of education. There are some states, particularly, those that have only a couple of large cities and many smaller ones, that have created their own online schools. This usually is in addition to a student’s attendance at a regular public school.

Typically, they follow these rules:

1. Location. Online high schools offer seats only to people who fit in their particular geographic or political boundaries. This could be a school district, adjoining counties, or a state. I know of no free schools that offer courses across state lines.
2. Age. While some charter schools have some flexibility with age (up to 21), most follow the same age range as traditional schools.