Public schools have been fully re-opened following the COVID-19 closures for a while — but, many families are choosing not to go “back to normal.” Instead, they’re keeping their kids out of the school system and continuing to homeschool — or even “worldschool.”
If you’re one of those parents choosing an alternative path to your child’s education, you’re probably looking for a solid online educational resource to help. The good news is that there’s a lot to choose from; the bad news is that…there’s a lot to choose from!
Evaluating an online educational resource can be overwhelming, so we’ve compiled a list of the pros and cons of the most popular programs used by families. Some of the programs are curriculum-based, meaning, there’s a set series of classes that a child can work through to achieve a particular academic goal. Others are class-based, which lets students take one-off classes that they find interesting.
Curriculum-based resources
Khan Academy / Khan Academy for Kids
Khan Academy is a well-known online learning platform that provides free education for students in kindergarten through 12th grade. There are thousands of courses to choose from and the courses are high quality and free of charge. They have a Khan Academy for Kids, which is similar to the regular version but more gamified for students in K through 2nd grade.
| Pros | Cons |
| Free | Offers only video-based learning |
| No Adds | Classes often are basic, not very in-depth in a topic |
| Known for quality courses | No personalized instruction |
| SAT/ACT prep | Not super interactive |
Sora is a fully accredited online middle and high school program designed to provide a personalized and flexible learning experience. The curriculum includes core subjects as well as extracurriculars like technology, entrepreneurship, and arts. The work is primarily project-based, so your child will be developing their critical thinking skills through hands-on learning and collaboration with other students. Students are assigned an academic coach who provides academic guidance.
| Pros | Cons |
| Accredited school | Full tuition is $12,500; assistance is available |
| Highly rated by parents | No options for elementary students |
| Wide variety of courses available | |
| Project-based learning | |
| Small class sizes | |
| Mentorship available |
Prisma is a virtual school that allows students to design their academic curriculum — students are encouraged to learn when and how they want. The curriculum is project-based and each student is assigned a mentor who is there to help guide them through their academic journey.
| Pros | Cons |
| Small class sizes | Tuition starts at $9,750/year |
| Mentorship available | Only for 4th – 8th graders |
| Offer a variety of extra-curricular classes | |
| Social hangouts available (in-person and virtual) | |
| Project-based learning | |
| In process of getting accredited | |
| Parents receive a portfolio of the child’s work that can be converted into a transcript |
This is a more traditional online curriculum for students in Pre-K through 12th grade. Unlike some virtual schools, there are no set schedules so students can learn at their own pace. This program is mostly used by parents who want to supplement their child’s core curriculum.
| Pros | Cons |
| Offer flexible schedules and students learn at their own pace | Price ranges from $24.95 to $34.95 a month per student |
| Assignments are automatically graded | Only core subjects covered, limited electives are available |
| Just curriculum — no teacher support or peer interaction | |
| No accreditation |
Class-based resources
Outschool is an online education platform that offers live, interactive classes for children ages 3 to 18. They provide a diverse range of classes, from core subjects to creative arts and hobbies like writing, music, and coding. Outschool’s classes are taught by independent teachers and subject matter experts from around the world.
| Pros | Cons |
| There are thousands of classes to choose from in a wide variety of topics | Not free — classes start at $10 |
| Classes are live, so students can interact with others | Quality of classes vary widely |
| Offer social hangout times | Most classes cater to elementary-aged students |
| Many class options for special needs students |
Kubrio (affiliate link)
Kubrio is an online platform that champions self-directed learners. Students are encouraged to design their own curriculum that meets their interests and their needs. This platform focuses more on non-traditional subjects. This option is geared toward families who like to travel — Kubrio is provides opportunities for traveling families to meet in real life all over the world.
| Pros | Cons |
| Wide variety of classes to choose from | Only available for ages 8 and up |
| Access to quality teachers and mentors that can provide support for reaching academic goals | Pricing starts at $200/year |
| Students can learn at their own pace and design their own curriculum | May not be great for kids who need a lot of structure |
| Offer clubs and hangouts around a particular topic so students can interact with each other |
Udemy is an online learning platform that offers a wide variety of courses aimed mostly at older students and those looking to learn new career skills. The platform features courses created by independent instructors and universities. Learners can choose to take individual courses or enroll in a comprehensive program to earn a certificate or degree.
| Pros | Cons |
| Mostly high-quality courses | Course quality isn’t consistent |
| Some free courses available (most are paid) | You pay for most courses |
| Tons of courses to choose from | Geared mostly toward older students and adults |
| Certificates are not accredited | |
| Instructor support isn’t always available |
TED-Ed is an educational platform that offers a wide range of free, high-quality animated videos and lessons for learners of all ages. Their content covers topics in science, math, history, literature, and art, among others.
| Pros | Cons |
| Free | Covers mostly topics related to traditional school subjects |
| Engaging explainer videos | Not interactive; only video-based |
| Not in-depth material; better as supplemental material to get kids interested in a topic |
This is a coding program designed by MIT to teach computational thinking and programming concepts to children in a fun, interactive way. Scratch allows users to create interactive stories, games, and animations by dragging and dropping blocks of code, rather than typing out code manually. The language also provides a user-friendly interface and a supportive online community that encourages sharing and collaboration.
| Pros | Cons |
| Free | Designed mostly for kids 8 to 16 (although Scratch Jr. is available for kids ages 5 to 7) |
| Available in 70 languages | |
| Supportive coding community for kids |