New York is an outlier. Most states have at least one statewide tuition-free virtual public school. New York doesn’t. The New York State Education Department (NYSED) updated its virtual learning regulations in April 2024, but there is still no state virtual school and no multi-district fully online public program. Online learning in New York happens at the district level – through BOCES partnerships, individual school programs, and a handful of NYC-specific initiatives.
For families looking at a full-time online high school in New York, the honest picture is this: public options are fragmented, district-dependent, and limited. Private accredited online schools pick up where the public system doesn’t reach. That gap is wider in New York than in most states. A family in Ohio or Wisconsin can enroll in a free statewide virtual school with a full K–12 program and a recognized diploma. A family in New York generally can’t – at least not outside NYC. That shapes the market here differently.
Not recordings. Not office hours. Real teachers, live, every single school day.
What New York State Education Department Offers for Online High School Students
New York doesn’t have a statewide virtual school. What it does have:
District-level virtual programs – individual schools and districts can offer online courses and programs under NYSED’s 2024 regulatory amendments. These vary dramatically by location. A student in one school district may have access to several virtual options; a student in a neighboring district may have none.
BOCES online courses – Boards of Cooperative Educational Services run supplemental online course programs. AccelerateU, operated by EduTech RIC/Wayne Fingerlakes BOCES, offers 200+ online courses for pupils in grades 6–12 for credit accrual, credit recovery, and advanced coursework across the state of New York.
Individualized Home Instruction Plan (IHIP) – New York allows homeschooling under an Individualized Home Instruction Plan filed with the local district. This is a separate track from online school enrollment and carries different requirements, recordkeeping, and diploma pathways.
Launched as New York City’s first permanent public virtual high school in 2022-23, NYC Virtual Innovators Academy offers remote learning environment to pupils in grades 9–12. NYC is the largest school district in the US to offer any student the option to enroll virtually full-time. About 200 students were enrolled in the 2023–24 school year across freshman and sophomore years, with each grade level added annually.
New York State Diploma – learners attending NYS public schools, including virtual programs, earn a New York State Regents diploma upon meeting graduation requirements. This is distinct from a WASC-accredited private school diploma.
Dwight Global Online School is one of the few accredited private online high schools in New York State, operating as a registered nonpublic school under NYSED, and serving high schoolers with an IB curriculum. Tuition applies.
The Private Option: What a WASC-Accredited Diploma Opens
New York families who need a full-time accredited online K-12 program – not supplemental courses, not a district program with an enrollment lottery – typically look at private accredited schools.
Legacy Online School is a WASC-accredited private K-12 online institution. Not part of New York’s public school system. Different accreditation standard, different diploma, different eligibility rules.
|
NY Public Virtual Options |
Legacy Online School |
| Cost |
Tuition-free (district programs) |
Start at $2,500/year |
| Accreditation |
NYSED |
WASC (regional, US-recognized) |
| Availability |
District-dependent |
Open globally – no NY residency required |
| Grades |
Varies |
K-12 |
| Schedule |
Fixed school year |
Self-paced, live group, one-on-one |
| AP courses |
Varies |
19 AP courses |
| Diploma |
NY State Regents Diploma |
WASC-accredited US private diploma |
| Dual enrollment |
Not standard |
Arizona State University (ASU) |
K-12 Curriculum and AP Courses
Our program covers K-12 on an FLVS-based US-accredited online curriculum. High school runs grades 9–12. Through College Board affiliation (school code: 000114), 19 AP courses are available to learners on full programs – not as standalone online courses.
AP Art History, AP Biology, AP Calculus AB and BC, AP Computer Science A and Principles, AP English Language and Composition, AP English Literature and Composition, AP Environmental Science, AP Human Geography, AP Macroeconomics, AP Microeconomics, AP Physics 1, AP Precalculus, AP Psychology, AP Spanish Language and Culture, AP Statistics, AP United States Government and Politics, AP United States History.
Dual enrollment through Arizona State University (ASU) is also available – the only dual enrollment partner we work with.
Two graduation tracks: Standard Diploma (18 credits, university-bound) and Honors Diploma (24 credits, for students targeting competitive universities or scholarships). An extra track, Accelerated Diploma (18 credits), is available for pupils targeting faster graduation.
Learning Plans
Three options. Not variations of the same thing – genuinely different models.
Live Group Learning – live online classes, max 10 learners, 1:10 teacher ratio. Real teacher interaction, school-day structure, five days a week.
One-on-One Learning – fully customized curriculum and schedule. For learners who need intensive support or don’t fit a group format.
Self-Paced Learning – no fixed school year, no synchronized schedule. Teachers grade, answer questions, give written feedback. The pace belongs to your child.
Virtual clubs included in every plan.
Diploma and College Readiness
Recent 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. New York families applying to NYU, Columbia, Fordham, or SUNY schools will find the WASC-accredited private school transcript meets review requirements of standard admissions.
See the full university acceptance list →
Legacy’s diploma is not a GED equivalent. It’s the same category of credential as any other accredited private high school diploma – issued by a WASC-approved institution, transferable to other accredited programs, and recognized for military enlistment. New York families sometimes ask whether an online diploma raises questions at admissions offices. With WASC accreditation, it doesn’t. The format is online, but the credential is standard. Credits are transferable to other accredited institutions. Accepted for college admissions, trade school applications, and military enlistment.
Enrollment
No enrollment window. No New York residency requirement. No previous school documentation needed to start.
| Payment Plan |
Discount |
| Annual |
20% off |
| Semester |
10% off |
| Monthly |
Standard rate |
Self-Paced plans start at $149/month for elementary. View current tuition and fees →
No waitlist – accounts are ready within 48 hours. Book a free trial lesson →
