The most common question that I am asked is about free online high schools. Just a few short years ago, there were very few of these creatures available. There are now over a hundred and growing quickly.

However, there are some things that you should know about these free online high schools:

• Almost without exception, these schools are for teenagers. In a very few states, it may go as high as 21 years old.
• Free online high schools are typically public charter schools, school-district-sponsored programs, or state departments of education-affiliated schools. This means the rules are rather specific.
• Some of these programs will let you borrow a computer, will pay for internet access, and more. How much a given school actually does depends on many factors and you will need to talk to your local one to determine how many (or if any) freebies are available.
• Free is a relative term. Yes, these schools are free, but only for people of a certain age who live in a certain geographic region (usually a state, but can also be a county, city, or school district area).