Can You Finish Senior Year of High School Online?

September 3, 2024 byJulie Hersum

5 min to read

young graduate holding up her diploma during a video call.

Predicting the future is difficult, no matter a person’s age. During high school, students often undergo significant personal, intellectual, and social growth, and their learning needs and interests may change over time. Sometimes decisions made early on in high school no longer fit the same students as they approach senior year and they need to find alternative accommodations that better fit their goals so they can graduate.

Sometimes, that means finishing high school online.

Can You Finish High School Online?

Yes! You can finish high school online, even if you’re heading into your senior year. In fact, regardless of where you may be currently enrolled—an in-person high school, or even homeschooled—the flexibility, accessibility, and personalized support provided by online high schools make them an appealing option for high school students of any age. And today, with the prevalence of online public schools, many can even finish high school online for free.

1. Research Online High Schools

First, research the online high school(s) available in the state where you currently live. Not all states offer public online high school options, but there may be private school options available as well. You’ll want to consider some criteria especially carefully, including:

Accreditation status.

For your high school diploma to be recognized by most colleges and employers, you’ll want to graduate from an online high school that’s accredited and meets state and national education standards. Connections Academy is accredited by Cognia. Many of the Connections Academy–supported schools are also accredited by one or more of six regional accrediting organizations for higher-education institutions, recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the United States Department of Education. Most accredited schools will prominently display this status on their websites. However, if you have any concerns, contact the department of education in your state to verify the online school’s status.

Curriculum and Course Offerings.

Online public high schools offer a well-rounded curriculum, including core subjects (English, Math, Science, Social Studies) as well as electives, and some even offer Advanced Placement®* (AP) courses or early career training. If you’re interested in special programs to help you accomplish a certain goal, be sure to check whether the school can meet your needs.

Flexibility and Learning Format

Online high schools vary in how they deliver learning. Determine whether you’re looking for more flexibility, such as with asynchronous (self-paced) learning, or more structure, as with synchronous (live classes)—or perhaps a blend of both. Make sure the school(s) you’re evaluating provide the option that will allow you to be most successful.

Cost, Tuition, Fees.

At public, online high schools (like Connections Academy), students transferring from an existing high school or homeschool program can finish high school online for free. However, private online schools charge tuition and other fees. Make sure you know what type of school you’re looking at and how much it will cost.

Family Involvement.

To avoid any surprises, understand whether, and to what extent, the school expects parents, caregivers, or Learning Coaches to be involved in the student’s learning.

2. Apply and Enroll

Once you’ve chosen the online school that meets your family’s and student’s needs, you’ll need to apply and complete the enrollment process. This typically involves submitting transcripts and other necessary documentation.

3. Create a Study Schedule

Online learning offers flexibility, but it also requires self-discipline. Creating a study schedule can help you tremendously when it comes to staying on track with courses and assignments.

4. Stay Engaged and Seek Support

Make use of the resources available through your online school, such as virtual tutoring, counseling, and peer interaction. Some schools offer valuable CTE courses that focus on valuable post-graduation job and life skills. If you’re college bound, ask about virtual college prep courses and similar resources. Staying engaged and seeking support when you need it will help you succeed in your online studies.

An online high school student at a computer researching requirements to graduate high school.

What Are the Requirements to Graduate High School?

Each state and each online school within the state has its own graduation requirements.

Accredited online high schools will require a certain number of credits in core subjects such as English, Math, Science, and Social Studies. They may also require elective courses and physical education (P.E.). Remember to inquire about how your prior credits will transfer to your new online high school so you can be sure they will contribute toward necessary requirements to graduate high school.

To review the requirements for graduating high school from a specific public Connections Academy school, find your state in the list below and follow the link:

Alabama Virtual School Graduation Requirements

Arizona Online School Graduation Requirements

Arkansas Virtual School Graduation Requirements

California Springs Online School Graduation Requirements

Colorado Online School Graduation Requirements

Florida Virtual School

Florida Online School Graduation Requirements

Georgia Virtual School Graduation Requirements

Idaho Online School Graduation Requirements

Indiana Online School Graduation Requirements

Indiana Virtual School Graduation Requirements

Iowa Online School Graduation Requirements

Kansas Online School Graduation Requirements

Louisiana Online School Graduation Requirements

Maine Virtual School Graduation Requirements

Massachusetts Virtual School Graduation Requirements

Great Lakes Learning Academy Graduation Requirements

Michigan Online School Graduation Requirements

Michigan Virtual School Graduation Requirements

Minnesota Online School Graduation Requirements

Missouri Online School Graduation Requirements

Nevada Virtual School Graduation Requirements

New Mexico Online School Graduation Requirements

Ohio eSchool Graduation Requirements

Ohio Virtual School Graduation Requirements

Oklahoma Virtual School Graduation Requirements

Oregon Virtual School Graduation Requirements

Oregon Online School Graduation Requirements

Pennwood Cyber Charter School Graduation Requirements

South Carolina Virtual School Graduation Requirements

South Carolina Online School Graduation Requirements

Tennessee Online School Graduation Requirements

Texas Virtual School Graduation Requirements

Utah Online School Graduation Requirements

Virginia Online School Graduation Requirements

Washington Online School Graduation Requirements

Wisconsin Virtual School Graduation Requirements

Wyoming Virtual School Graduation Requirements

If there is not a Connections Academy-supported school in your state, Pearson Online Academy is an affordable option for students in grades K-12 who live in a state not listed above, who currently live outside of the U.S., or who wish to pursue a private school option.

An online school student finishing high school online.

Finish Senior Year of High School Online

None of us can predict the future with absolute certainty, so we can’t always know exactly where we’ll end up along our journey to learn. One thing we do know for sure is that today, finishing high school online is a more viable and attractive option than ever before.

Regardless of why you or your student may be interested in switching to an online school, we no longer need to ask, “Can you finish senior year online?” The answer is a resounding “Yes!”

Online high schools like Connections Academy and Pearson Online Academy can make it possible for students to finish high school online by providing options and resources to successfully prepare for their futures.

*Advanced Placement® is a registered trademark of the College Board. Used with permission.