Online high schools in California

The Golden State boasts a vast higher education system. The California Community College system is the largest higher education system in the country, with 72 districts and 112 colleges, and it serves over 3 million students per year, according to the Foundation for California Community Colleges.

California online high schools are another established phenomenon in the state. From Del Norte to San Diego and everywhere in between, distance learning high schools are linked to public school districts.

Details on online high schools in California

Online coursework in California is structured in a few different ways. In some districts, teachers work with original material they've developed for online education. In others, teachers use course content that was created by an outside source. The programs use various indicators for online education quality, including the International Association for K-12 Online Learning and the California Learning Resource Network.

Online private schools in California may have different regulations from those above, along with their own accrediting boards. One benefit of private education is that students are not bound to the same residency requirements as their public school peers. Private schools may provide flexible course schedules and study programs tailored to individual students.

Transferring online high school credits to college

If you're hoping to use online course credits to satisfy college entry requirements at the University of California, make sure the school is on the UC's approved list--look for "a-g approval" in the course lists of the schools in question. The UC system generally accepts online courses that meet its standards, but not in subjects such as the visual and performing arts or certain types of laboratory science, unless the classes have an on-site component. When in doubt about transferring online credits, seek advice from admissions counselors on your list of potential California online high schools.