Colorado takes school choice seriously. The Colorado Department of Education maintains a list of over 50 authorized online and blended public school programs statewide – district-specific, multi-district, and open to all Colorado students depending on the program. The range is wider than most states. So is the variation in quality, curriculum, and what a student actually earns at graduation.
Private vs. Public Online Schools in Colorado
Colorado has two tracks: public and private. Public online schools (Colorado Connections Academy, Colorado Virtual Academy, GOAL Academy) are tuition-free, state-funded, serve Colorado residents only. Private online schools operate independently – different accreditation bodies, different curricula, tuition-based.
Private schools serving Colorado families include The Keystone School (MSA-CESS accredited, self-paced model), Citizens High School (non-regionally accredited, self-paced only), Laurel Springs School (WASC-accredited, mix of live and self-paced but semester-locked), and George Washington University Online High School (selective admissions, college-prep focus).
Public schools work if you’re Colorado-based and fit their calendar. Private schools drop the residency requirement, open enrollment year-round, and build schedules around the learner.
How Our School Compares
|
Colorado Private Online Institutions |
Legacy Online School |
| Cost |
$4,000–$10,000/year avg |
Starts at $2,500/year |
| Accreditation |
WASC, MSA-CESS, Cognia, or none |
WASC (regional) |
| Curriculum |
Varies by school |
FLVS-based, US-accredited |
| Eligibility |
Open enrollment |
Open globally |
| Schedule |
Self-paced or semester blocks |
Self-paced + live group + 1-on-1 |
| AP courses |
5–12 courses typical |
19 AP courses |
| Class size |
Self-paced only or 15–20 |
Max 15 learners, 1:15 ratio |
| Dual enrollment |
Not standard |
Arizona State University (ASU)
University of South Florida (USF) |
| Live instruction |
Limited or none (Laurel: yes) |
Daily, Monday–Friday (Group plan) |
Keystone and Citizens run self-paced only – no live teaching. Laurel Springs offers live sessions but locks into semester blocks. GWU Online is selective and college-prep focused but doesn’t offer one-on-one instruction. We run three plans – self-paced, live group (15-learner cap), one-on-one – and families switch between them without re-enrolling.
Legacy Online School: AP Courses, Three Learning Plans, WASC Diploma
Our school runs K–12 on an FLVS curriculum, WASC-accredited, College Board Level I approved (school code: 000114). Colorado families thinking about University of Colorado Boulder, Colorado State University, Denver University, or universities out of state have used our program as the foundation. Recent Legacy graduates have enrolled at Penn State, the University of New Haven ($30K merit scholarship), Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University ($5K scholarship), and the University of Maryland.
19 AP courses available for students enrolled in a full program. Three learning plans:
Live Group – live classes, max 15 learners, 1:15 teacher ratio, Monday through Friday. School-day structure without the commute.
One-on-One – fully customized curriculum and schedule. For learners with intensive needs or schedules that don’t fit a group format.
Self-Paced – no fixed school year, no synchronized schedule. Teachers grade and give feedback. The timeline belongs to the child.
Virtual clubs included in every plan. Dual enrollment through Arizona State University (ASU) and
University of South Florida (USF) available – the only dual enrollment partners we work with.
Graduation tracks: Standard Diploma (24 credits), Honors Diploma (24 credits), Accelerated Diploma (18 credits).
No enrollment window. No Colorado residency required. View current tuition and fees →
No waitlist – accounts ready within 48 hours. Book a free trial lesson →
