Key takeaways
Legacy Online School and Pearson Online Academy are both accredited private K-12 online schools, but they differ sharply on price, class size, and how much of the school day happens live. Pearson runs a large, mostly asynchronous catalog; Legacy is built around small live classes at a lower price point.
- Pearson’s tuition runs about $3,000/year in elementary up to $3,000-$6,500/year for high school, depending on course load; Legacy starts at $149/month (~$1,788/year).
- Pearson’s reported student-teacher ratio is 44:1 (Niche/NCES); Legacy caps Live Group classes at 15, a 1:15 ratio.
- Both Pearson and Legacy have NCAA-approved courses (Legacy is Cleared with the NCAA Eligibility Center and has 47 NCAA-approved core courses).
- Pearson doesn’t advertise a named dual-enrollment university partner; Legacy names Arizona State University and the University of South Florida.
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 | Pearson Online Academy |
| Accreditation | WASC, private diploma | MSA + Cognia-accredited |
| Instructional model | Live Group classes + self-paced option | Mostly asynchronous, periodic live sessions/office hours |
| Class size / ratio | Capped at 15, 1:15 ratio | 44:1 (Niche/NCES) |
| Tuition | $149/month (~$1,788/year) | ~$3,000/year (elementary) to $6,500/year (high school) |
| Student support | Personal Learning Support Specialist (LSS) | Academic counselors, data-tracked progress |
| AP courses | College Board Level I-approved (code 000114) | Included in 100+ course catalog |
| Dual enrollment | Arizona State University, University of South Florida | Not standard |
| NCAA course approval | Cleared with the NCAA Eligibility Center (47 NCAA-approved core courses) | Approved |
Accreditation
Legacy holds ACS WASC accreditation, whereas Pearson is accredited by the Middle States Association (MSA) and Cognia. Both are legitimate private-school accreditors – the difference is which regional body reviews the program.
Class Size and Instructional Model
This is the sharpest contrast between the two. Pearson’s model is mostly asynchronous, with live sessions limited to periodic lessons and teacher office hours – and a reported student-teacher ratio of 44:1, according to Niche’s compilation of NCES data. Legacy’s Live Group classes are capped at 15 students, a 1:15 ratio, with live teaching as the default rather than a supplement.
Tuition
Pearson’s own tuition page lists full-time pricing around $3,000+/year for elementary grades, rising to roughly $3,000-$6,500/year for high school depending on course load, plus part-time per-course pricing. Legacy’s Self-Paced plans start at $149/month; see our tuition and fees page for full pricing. At the high school level, Legacy’s annual cost runs well under Pearson’s range while keeping classes at 1:15 rather than 44:1.
Student Support
Pearson uses academic counselors with data-driven progress tracking and proactive outreach when a student falls behind. Legacy assigns each family a dedicated Learning Support Specialist (LSS) who handles scheduling, attendance, and academic questions directly from day one.
AP Courses and Dual Enrollment
Pearson’s catalog runs over 100 courses total, with AP options included. Legacy’s AP courses are College Board Level I-approved under school code 000114 – see the AP courses page. For college credit before graduation, Legacy names Arizona State University and the University of South Florida as dual enrollment partners. Pearson doesn’t advertise a named university dual-enrollment partner as part of its standard program.
NCAA Eligibility
Pearson Online Academy’s core high school courses are NCAA-approved, and so are Legacy’s: the school is Cleared with the NCAA Eligibility Center and has 47 NCAA-approved core courses. Families with a college-bound student-athlete should confirm status directly with the NCAA Eligibility Center regardless of which school they’re considering.
Why Families Choose Legacy Over Pearson Online Academy
- 1:15 vs. 44:1. A live class ratio built into the core model, not office hours layered onto independent work.
- Lower cost at the high school level, where Pearson’s pricing climbs highest.
- Named dual enrollment partners – Arizona State University and the University of South Florida.
- One dedicated Learning Support Specialist, rather than a shared counselor pool.
Where Pearson leads: a larger elective catalog. Families should weigh that against the price and class-size gap above.
Top Tips from Our Expert
Maya Robinson, College Prep Advisor
- Ask for the exact grade-level tuition, not just a range – both elementary and high school pricing can shift year to year.
- A 44:1 ratio doesn’t mean no support; it means support is structured differently. Ask how quickly a teacher responds to a struggling student.
- If dual enrollment matters to your family, ask for the named university partner in writing – “available” and “named partner” aren’t the same thing.
- Compare AP course count against which specific subjects your student actually plans to take, not the total catalog size.
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.
