Key takeaways
Legacy and Laurel Springs School both come up a lot in the same conversation – accredited, private, college-prep focused. But sit in on a school day at each and you'll see two very different philosophies. Laurel Springs hands students a big course catalog and lets them run with it, on their own schedule. Legacy puts a teacher in front of a small live class every day, at a fraction of the cost.
- Laurel Springs has no live classes – fully self-paced, with an optional Academy program adding weekly live workshops; Legacy’s Live Group classes are the default, capped at 15 students.
- Both schools name dual enrollment partners: Legacy with Arizona State University and the University of South Florida, Laurel Springs with Baylor University and Syracuse University.
- Both hold WASC and Cognia accreditation, and both report NCAA-approved courses – Legacy’s courses currently aren’t NCAA-approved.
Contents
We are a US-accredited international online school that coexists with local schooling. Families are responsible for ensuring compliance with any local education requirements applicable to their situation.
Summary Table
| Feature | Legacy Online School | Laurel Springs School |
| Accreditation | WASC-accredited | WASC + Cognia-accredited |
| Instructional model | Live Group classes + self-paced option | Fully self-paced; optional Academy adds weekly live workshops |
| Class size / ratio | Capped at 15, 1:15 ratio | No class cohort (self-paced) |
| Tuition | $149/month (~$1,788/year) | $9,900-$17,250/year, depending on program |
| Student support | Personal Learning Support Specialist (LSS) | Academic Advisor + College Counselor |
| AP courses | College Board Level I-approved (code 000114) | 60+ Honors/AP courses plus AP Capstone |
| Dual enrollment | Arizona State University, University of South Florida | Baylor University, Syracuse University |
| NCAA course approval | Not currently approved | Approved (160+ NCAA-approved courses) |
Accreditation
Legacy is accredited by WASC, whereas Laurel Springs holds dual accreditation from WASC and Cognia. Both issue recognized private-school diplomas under the same regional accreditor for the WASC portion.
Instructional Model and Class Size
Laurel Springs is built around a fully self-paced, 24/7 model – students set their own daily schedule, with no default live class structure. Its optional Academy program (grades 6-12) adds weekly live workshops for students who want more structured interaction. Legacy’s Live Group classes are capped at 15 students, a 1:15 ratio, with live teaching as the default rather than an add-on tier.
Tuition
Laurel Springs’ full-time high school tuition runs around $9,900/year for the standard program, up to $15,700-$17,250/year for premium college-prep tracks, per Private School Review. Legacy’s tuition starts at $149/month – see our tuition and fees page – putting a full year at roughly $1,788, a significant gap against Laurel Springs’ range, with live teaching included by default rather than as an upgrade.
Student Support
Laurel Springs pairs each student with both an Academic Advisor and a College Counselor. Legacy assigns a dedicated Learning Support Specialist (LSS) who manages attendance and academic questions directly.
AP Courses and Dual Enrollment
Laurel Springs offers 60+ Honors/AP courses plus the AP Capstone program, within a 240+ course catalog. Legacy’s AP courses are College Board Level I-approved, school code 000114 – see the AP courses page. Both schools name their dual enrollment partners directly: Legacy through Arizona State University and the University of South Florida, Laurel Springs through Baylor University and Syracuse University. This is one of the few points where both schools compete on the same specific, verifiable ground.
NCAA Eligibility
Laurel Springs reports 160+ NCAA-approved courses. Legacy’s courses currently aren’t NCAA-approved. Families with a competitive student-athlete should verify current course status directly with the NCAA Eligibility Center before enrolling anywhere.
Why Families Choose Legacy Over Laurel Springs
- Daily live teaching by default, at 1:15, versus a fully self-paced model with live workshops as an optional upgrade.
- A fraction of the cost – roughly $1,788/year versus $9,900-$17,250/year.
- A dedicated Learning Support Specialist, in addition to live teacher access every school day.
- Named dual enrollment partners, matching Laurel Springs on this specific point.
Top Tips from Our Expert
Maya Robinson, College Prep Advisor
- A large course catalog is only valuable if your student will actually use those electives – check the specific AP subjects offered, not just the total count.
- Ask both schools for total annual cost including any required add-ons (the Academy program, premium college-prep tiers, technology fees).
- For dual enrollment, confirm the credit-transfer terms with the receiving university directly – both Legacy’s and Laurel Springs’ named partners have their own transfer policies.
- If your student needs daily structure to stay on track, weigh that against a fully self-paced model, regardless of how strong the catalog looks on paper.
We are a US-accredited international online school that coexists with local schooling. Families are responsible for ensuring compliance with any local education requirements applicable to their situation.
