2020 Best Online Schools in CaliforniaAbout this List

Stanford Online High School

• Online School
• Stanford, CA
• 7-12
• 123 reviews

Parent: The teachers are experts in their subjects and their excitement about the material creates challenging and engaging classes for the students. But make no mistake, these are difficult classes! When my girls have had outside tutors, the common response is awe at the depth of the material they are covering in middle and high school.
It is a surprisingly social school too! The kids are always on the group chats with OHS friends talking, goofy around or even watching movies together. The families are also great about getting together often and letting the kids visit each other. The best part is that it is cool to be smart and doing something positive and unique. This is the best type of peer influence you could ask for in high school!
My daughter has taken summer classes in more traditional “work on your own” virtual schools and, while they have their own strengths, if you are looking for a truly challenging school and a real school community, OHS is a great place!
Read 123 Reviews

• A+

• 804 Students
• 12:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Mt. Everest Academy

• Online School
• San Diego Unified School District, CA
• K-12
• 41 reviews

Senior: Mt. Everest Academy is an exceptional school that offers a unique learning experience for each student. The teachers and faculty at Mt. Everest are very caring and truly look out for the students best interest. Being that Mt. Everest Academy is an alternative, independent study school, working in that environment provides the students with better time management and communication skills than at your typical high school. In a way you get that college experience of having different classes on different days and times; having to balance your class time, homework, and extracurricular schedules is all a part of it. That might seem intimidating to some but fortunately you still have the guidance and help from teachers and counselor who will help you make the best decisions for your goals and needs. At Mt. Everest Academy, you have the opportunity to make a connection with each of your teachers, which adds to the overall experience. Enroll at Mt. Everest Academy, you won’t regret it!
Read 41 Reviews

• A+

• 276 Students
• 21:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Laurel Springs School

• Online School
• Ojai, CA
• K-12
• 81 reviews

Senior: Laurel Springs is amazing! It's opened me to to so many opportunities over my four years. I personally have enjoyed their clubs, since it provides a more "normal" school experience, and it connects you with friends from throughout the school. The coursework is definitely rigorous, however, it is a college prep school, and I feel it does just that. Additionally, their in-person experiences are spectacular, and I have had a wonderful time at every one I have attended. I would recommend LSS to anyone considering online school!
Read 81 Reviews

• A

• 2,953 Students
• 25:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Capistrano Home & Virtual Schools

• Online School
• Capistrano Unified School District, CA
• K-8

• A

• 107 Students
• 18:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

California Connections Academy Southern California

• Online School
• Capistrano Unified School District, CA
• PK, K-12
• 146 reviews

Senior: Connections Academy is different from a traditional school in countless ways. Unlike a traditional school, Connections Academy is more flexible when it comes to your schedule, making it perfect for students who are heavily involved in extracurricular activities and/or struggle with day-to-day health problems. Along with that, I feel that by attending Connections Academy, the stress of social peer pressure and the melodrama of school students is lessened, creating a positive and focused environment for people who want to succeed in their studies.
The one thing that I would like to see change is improvements in the Special Educations department. The staff in the department are beyond hard working. I feel that they deserve more recognition from the school for their outstanding work ethic and commitment to their students. I also believe an investment into a modified course(s) for severe special need students could be helpful to their overall success in the school.
Read 146 Reviews

• A

• 3,500 Students
• 15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Alternative Education-San Joaquin High School

• Online School
• Irvine Unified School District, CA
• K-12
• 1 review

Niche User: This school provides an alternative way to learn in a different environment, as opposed to other public high schools.
Read 1 Review

• A

• 59 Students
• 9:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

California Preparatory Academy

• Online School
• Capistrano Unified School District, CA
• 9-12
• 11 reviews

Senior: This is an amazing school. It offers a mix of challenging and easier classes, though to succeed regardless of which classes you take, you must follow a schedule and complete all homework in a timely fashion. Outside of this, students and faculty are amazing!
Read 11 Reviews

• A

• 176 Students
• 28:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Learning Post High School

• Online School
• William S. Hart Union High School District, CA
• 7-12
• 24 reviews

Senior: I have found this school to be great. The teachers a super flexible, and allow you to work at your own pace. I like being able to go in whenever I need to to ask for help. The math program leaves a little to be desired, but otherwise this school is great!
Read 24 Reviews

• A-

• 156 Students
• 22:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Virtual Academy at Shenandoah

• Online School
• El Dorado Union High School District, CA
• 9-12
• 5 reviews

Junior: I absolutely love this school. The people here are so focused on supporting their students and their education without compromising their integrity. Small class size allows students to connect everyone in their school if they strive to do so, and it promotes self-success through action and good attitude. The schedule/classes are set up to follow those of a college/university so the transition is fairly easy. Students can even opt to take advanced education, too, and take up to two college class per semester for free (books and materials not included). I'm going to start college as a junior after I graduate my senior in year of high school thanks to it.
Read 5 Reviews

• A-

• 80 Students
• 25:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

California Connections Academy Ripon

• Online School
• Ripon Unified School District, CA
• K-12
• 27 reviews

Senior: The teachers are amazing! They tailor to your learning style and are easily accessible. As a competitive athlete, this online school allowed me to take rigorous courses and keep my busy training schedule. I can take school with me wherever I go, as long as there is internet access. The rigor of the courses keep me competitive for college applications.
Read 27 Reviews

• A-

• 1,054 Students
• 38:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Richmond Elementary School

• Online School
• Susanville, CA
• K-8
• 2 reviews

Niche User: I loved this school. The atmosphere was great, the teachers for the most part were great.
Read 2 Reviews

• B+

• 216 Students
• 24:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Family Partnership Home Study Charter School

• Online School
• Blochman Union Elementary School District, CA
• K-12
• 4 reviews

Senior: I would not have been able to finish high school without this. My mom got really sick, and my mental health went downhill rapidly. The teachers here are fabulous and genuinely care about our well being and work to put our mental health first. Being able to stay home and take care of myself and my mom every day instead of being forced to sit in classes that bored me was one of the best possible things for my life. I apreciate my teachers and the oppurtunities my school gave me more than anyone could know.
Read 4 Reviews

• B+

• 386 Students
• 17:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Ilead Hybrid

• Online School
• Acton-Agua Dulce Unified School District, CA
• K-12
• 3 reviews

Junior: Ilead is a wonderful charter school to homeschool through! I highly recommend this charter school to anyone who wants to homeschool.
Read 3 Reviews

• B+

• 2,370 Students
• 22:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Orchard View

• Online School
• Twin Hills Union Elementary School District, CA
• K-12
• 5 reviews

Senior: Orchard View is a small school located on a beautiful campus in Sebastopol. Orchard View is a unique mix of on-campus classes and independent study. Students meet with their supervising teacher once a week to cover their independent study classes. The teachers are friendly, and know their students on a first-name basis. The school's flexible schedule allows students to enroll at the local junior college. There are technically no clubs besides the Interact Club, but there is a robotics class which is structured similarly to a club. I would like to see more clubs such as a chess club or a math club.
Read 5 Reviews

• B+

• 233 Students
• 21:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

California Virtual Academy at San Mateo

• Online School
• Jefferson Elementary School District (Daly City), CA
• K-12
• 35 reviews

Senior: CAVA taught me to be a disciplined student and gave me a comfortable and confident feeling about studying. It gave me an opportunity to be successful with my studies despite of my mental health issues. Teachers, counselors, and staffs are very nice, they are always willing to help you succeed. I am now a better student than I was and I am now more confident in participating in class. It happened because CAVA helped me, without a doubt, to be a better student.
Read 35 Reviews

• B+

• 762 Students
• 17:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Redlands eAcademy

• Online School
• Redlands Unified School District, CA
• K-12
• 6 reviews

Junior: Redlands eAcademy is a very unique school. It's blended learning program is mostly consistently balanced between online and physical school work. The online portion allows students, such as I, to learn to manage our time on our own and study accordingly to when and how we want. Though the programs are undoubtedly tough, and sometimes heavily stressful, we learn skillful methods of time management and responsibilities that you could not easily find in regular schools. We also keep a very sociable student life within the school electives and events, which allows all kids to choose to be very sociable and make many great friends.
Read 6 Reviews

• B+

• 91 Students
• 13:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Val Verde Academy

• Online School
• Val Verde Unified School District, CA
• K-12
• 18 reviews

Senior: I love this school so much! The counselor is just the best and Mrs. Cabral is so amazing! I don't regret anything about my decision to want to attend here! Thanks to Val Verde Academy, I get to graduate a year and a half early! I love this school so much!
Read 18 Reviews

• B+

• 86 Students
• 21:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

California Virtual Academy at Maricopa

• Online School
• Maricopa Unified School District, CA
• K-12
• 11 reviews

Alum: California Virtual Academy at Maricopa provides learners with the opportunity to learn at their own pace when they want and how they want. A common misconception with online school is that it is easier than traditional brick-and-mortar school. Online school is not for the weak-willed, however, as each student must push him or herself to meet deadlines, seek help, and attend classes.
Students who learn through the California Virtual Academy are subject to some of the most testing times of a school education. Opportunities abound in and out of school.
The academic value of this school is average. I would like to see more challenging material overall, more hands-on resources, and more requirements per course. There is a lot of lee-way as far as deadlines are concerned, and only the AP instructors provide constructive criticism on work that is useful for furthering the students' academic experience.
Read 11 Reviews

• B+

• 1,621 Students
• 13:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Riverside Virtual

• Online School
• Riverside Unified School District, CA
• K-12
• 4 reviews

Senior: Great teachers and amazing student interaction. Small camous and smaller student body so each teacher can focus on each student more dilegently. My grades were bumped up from D's and C's to A's and B's!
Highly Recommend
Great school!
Read 4 Reviews

• B+

• 92 Students
• 8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Ihigh Virtual Academy

• Online School
• San Diego Unified School District, CA
• 9-12
• 22 reviews

Junior: Honestly if you are interested in a flexible schedule this school is perfect. The teachers are great and very supportive and extracurriculars like ASB and art are a lot of fun. My one downfall is the limited course options and the program, Edgenuity, that we do work on is just sub par.
Read 22 Reviews

• B+

• 36 Students
• 4:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

California Virtual Academy at San Diego

• Online School
• Spencer Valley Elementary School District, CA
• K-12
• 82 reviews

Alum: I attended off and on for many years. I think there is a stigma around online school and a misconception that it does not provide a quality education the same way public/private school will. I disagree with this because it was not the experience I had. However, I did feel like the history classes could have gone into more depth into historic events and not just discuss the ones we always hear about. I also liked the fact that there was some guidance in prepping the students for college. I found that very useful and was even able to learn of concurrent enrollment. Through that I was able to enroll in college for my first semester while finishing up my senior year at CAVA. I can also recall receiving a kindle in the mail from them to encourage me to read more. which I did. A lot.
Read 82 Reviews

• B+

• 2,067 Students
• 21:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

California Virtual Academy at Los Angeles

• Online School
• West Covina Unified School District, CA
• K-12
• 160 reviews

Alum: I think CAVA is a great school. It's a public, homeschooling program. The teachers are supportive, responsive, and very encouraging. I really liked the fact that, though we communicated online, I created relationships with them that I still keep today. (I was in CAVA from 3rd grade to 12th grade). Their curriculum challenged me to be more responsible and disciplined, but in the same way I loved the fact that I was actually learning. I valued the flexibility that CAVA allowed me because it helped me find my strengths such as finding my learning style and improve my weaknesses. Overall, I was very grateful for CAVA's curriculum because it prepared me for college being that I was able to customize my learning patterns which has helped me pass my college courses. I would recommend CAVA because it's personalized, engaging, challenging and helps students grow academically. CAVA really helps develop a students' potential!
Read 160 Reviews

• B+

• 2,614 Students
• 21:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Century Academy

• Online School
• Conejo Valley Unified School District, CA
• 6-12
• 14 reviews

Alum: I had the most amazing experience at Century Academy! I will always be so thankful for everyone that I met and all the wonderful experiences I had! Century Academy has helped me find the confidence and strength in myself to dream big and work hard! I could not be more grateful, because without it, I would not be nearly half the person I am today! It was a lot of work trying to juggle everything while maintaining my grades and workload on my own, but every challenge that was thrown at me has taught me so much! I think that everyone should go to Century Academy
Read 14 Reviews

• B+

• 77 Students
• 17:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

California Connections Academy @ Central

• Online School
• Alpaugh Unified School District, CA
• K-12
• 3 reviews

Freshman: What I like about California Connections Academy is how parents are very involved in their child's education throughout the whole learning process, from marking their child on present to helping the child learn. Because Connections Academy is 100% online, the teachers make a great effort to connect with their students and help out with any problems, via web mails, live lessons, and on the phone. Despite the fact that the school is online, one can receive a great education here. However, one thing that I would like to see change is that they should create more student interaction. Students interact with one another during discussion assignments, and during live lessons, but other than that, there is not really any other interaction. However, other than this, California Connections Academy is a great school and there is not a lot that needs to be changed.
Read 3 Reviews

• B

• 453 Students
• 46:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Chaffey District Online High School

• Online School
• Chaffey Joint Union High School District, CA
• 9-12
• 6 reviews

Sophomore: The teachers here really care about your success in their classes. This is important because since the curriculum is mostly online it is really easy to get behind on your homework and if you don’t pay attention you will most definitely fail. Plus, the school pushes students to go into the Dual Enrollment program through Chaffey College which allows you to substitute any of your high school classes for a college one. This makes your workload a lot harder but provides a great opportunity to find out what you are interested in or even get a leg up on your general education requirements to reduce your college workload in the future. The school is also very small but extremely welcoming so if you are considering home schooling I would check it out.
Read 6 Reviews

• B

• 86 Students
• 20:1 Student-Teacher Ratio