🎓 Courses and learning platforms · 🏫 Classroom tools
K12 online school
By Stride, Inc.. Visit K12 online school
Desk research from the maker's own pages. Not yet tried by us. Checked 2026-10-24.
K12 is Stride's full-time online school program for kindergarten through 12th grade. In many US states it runs tuition-free online public schools; it also sells a private academy, homeschool courses and 1:1 tutoring. A child logs in each day for live classes with certified teachers plus self-paced lessons, and younger children work with a parent acting as a 'Learning Coach' at home. Families enroll through a K12-powered school in their state.
Our take: Worth a look for families who need full-time school at home and can supervise daily; families wanting a light supplement should look elsewhere.
| Ages it suits | grades K-12 (about 5-18), plus online pre-K |
|---|---|
| What its terms say about age | No minimum age in the terms. In school use, the school creates the child's account and gives consent for the parent; outside school (for example the national K12 Zone), a child under 13 needs a parent's consent. Stride says it does not knowingly collect sensitive data from under-13s except from a parent or through school use. (terms) |
| Price | Free. No tuition for K12-powered online public schools where your state has one; families supply printer ink, paper and similar items. Private academy, homeschool courses and tutoring cost extra (Oct 2026). |
| Works on | Web |
| Account | A school account |
| Ads | Not stated |
| In-app purchases | None |
| The AI in it | The privacy policy says some features, such as chatbots and AI storybook tools, use AI to tailor responses; the core school is taught by human teachers. |
What's good
- Tuition-free public option in many states
- Certified teachers and a full K-12 course list
- Flexible schedule for kids with health, sports or travel needs
Watch for
- Needs a lot of parent time for younger grades
- Independent research on online charter schools is poor
- Websites use targeted-ad cookies
- Availability depends on your state
Data and privacy
Collects the child's name, age, enrollment details and schoolwork; education records fall under FERPA and are controlled by the public school, not Stride. Stride says it does not share under-13 data for outside marketing, but its websites use cookies for targeted ads, and data from AI features may be kept to improve services. Read the privacy policy.
Does it work?
A 2015 CREDO (Stanford) study of online charter schools in 17 states found large negative effects in math and reading compared with matched public school students; K12 said the data were old and the method unfair. No newer independent study was checked.
Alternatives to K12 online school
Desk researchFreeNo ads
AmblesideOnline
AmblesideOnline (volunteer advisory) · ages about 5-18 (Year 0 to Year 12)
A strong free plan for homeschool families drawn to Charlotte Mason and literature-rich learning; secular families or those wanting an interactive program should look elsewhere.
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AoPS Online
Art of Problem Solving (AoPS Incorporated) · ages grades 5-12 (about 10-18)
A strong fit for a child who loves hard math and wants contest prep; a child who is behind in math needs something gentler.
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Babbel
Babbel · ages about 13+ (built for adults)
A solid choice for a motivated older teen; younger kids are not allowed and are better served by kids' apps.
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Beast Academy
Art of Problem Solving (AoPS) · ages 6-13 (levels 1-5, roughly grades 1-5)
A great fit for curious or advanced elementary kids and homeschoolers who enjoy a challenge; kids who need gentle catch-up practice should start elsewhere.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
Codecademy
Codecademy LLC · ages 16+
A good next step for a motivated 16- or 17-year-old; younger kids need a coding tool built for them.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Connections Academy
Pearson · ages grades K-12
Worth a look for families who need school at home and have an adult free to coach; families expecting it to match a good local school should read the research first.
Where these facts come from
- https://www.stridelearning.com/
- https://www.k12.com/
- https://www.k12.com/faq/
- https://www.k12.com/privacy-policy/
- https://stridelearning.com/terms-of-use/
- https://www.the74million.org/article/study-online-charter-schools-not-making-the-grade
Prices, terms and features change. Nobody paid to be listed, nothing here is an affiliate link, and Peabody never rates itself. Where we and the maker disagree, the maker's own pages are the ones to trust.