Online high schools in Washington

Washington is famous for high-tech, and the state has passed a bill to make familiarity with technology part of its core educational goals. According to the state Department of Education, between 10,000 and 16,000 students participated in at least one online course in Washington during the 2009-10 school year. That's up to 2 percent of the state's entire K-12 student population.

Browse Washington online high schools

During the 2009-10 school year, more than 40 online programs in the state were approved by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, the state government reports. Most of these programs were designed for students within individual school districts, but several served students across the state, regardless of their home district. These multidistrict schools present an opportunity to students who might live in underserved communities.

As an example, one multidistrict online school in the state offers courses in literature, language, science, history, art history and even physical education. Students communicate with their instructors via telephone during weekly check-ins, and interact with peers and professors via online forums, Skype and email. In-person meetings and field trips are also planned.

You could also choose private online schools, which may customize studies for an individualized learning plan. These schools encourage a student-teacher connection, and they typically describe their curriculum as interactive, with both online and offline learning opportunities. Some online schools partner with other educational institutions and seek to provide college-prep academics.

Online high schools in Washington allow students to complete their education without attendance at a traditional campus. From travel difficulties to personal preference, there are various reasons why individuals might thrive in an online community. Check out all the alternatives to find the virtual program that is best for you or your family.