Best Online Classes for Homeschoolers

One of the best things about educating your child at home is the flexibility it offers. As a parent, you can choose from a variety of topics and delivery methods for instruction, including online courses.

Online classes allow you to expand your child’s educational experience, allowing them to learn from skilled educators for some—or even all—of their at-home curriculum. These virtual courses are inherently flexible and accessible to anyone with an internet connection. Live or self-paced, they offer a more structured learning experience for your child. Many online courses also cover both core academic topics and electives like photography or computer coding.

Of course, not all online courses are equal. This is true both for subject matter and academic standards. With educational quality being a big motivator for most homeschooling parents, you may be concerned about making sure that you choose from the best online classes for homeschoolers.

In this post, we offer guidance for choosing online classes for your homeschooled child, including specific criteria to consider. Accreditation, course style, instructor qualifications, and more are essential for helping you objectively compare your options and choose the very best for your at-home student.

Accreditation and Academic Quality

When a homeschool program or online course is accredited, it means that the offering has been evaluated and found worthy by a third party agency such as Cognia.

Accredited homeschool programs ensure that the course you choose meets your high educational standards. It also helps to ensure that your child’s education is recognized by colleges and universities as well as future employers, helping your child to be successful long beyond their homeschooling experience.

Live vs. Self-Paced Classes

While live online classes offer real-time, teacher-led, interactive instruction, they aren’t the only option for online learning. Self-paced independent online courses allow your child to learn independently, offering maximum flexibility.

The program type that is best for you depends on your child’s learning style and schedule. Teacher-led courses may be best for a student who thrives with structured learning and opportunities to engage. Self-paced courses, which allow your child to study independently, may be better for students who want maximum flexibility.

Engaging and Interactive Learning Tools

Many homeschoolers, especially older teens, are already adept at self-directed learning from a textbook. Your child’s online class should offer much more than that, from live engagement during set class or discussion times, multimedia resources, interactive assignments, discussion forums, and virtual labs.

Even self-directed courses should go far beyond pre-recorded lectures, offering your child a robust online learning experience.

Instructor Qualifications and Support

Understanding who will be teaching your child is critical for choosing the best online classes for homeschoolers. Is the instructor a certified teacher or a subject matter expert in the field being taught? Or are they someone who is simply reading from a textbook? If you are going to invest in an online course, a skilled, knowledgeable teacher is key.

It’s also important to consider the level of academic support available to your child throughout the course. If your student has questions, can they ask them during class or after hours? Are there tutoring options available, or one-on-one guidance to help them through a tricky section of the course materials?

Customization and Curriculum Flexibility

Flexibility is one of the biggest draws of homeschooling, and the best online classes for homeschool recognize and celebrate that need. Many online course offerings allow you to create a customized, flexible learning plan for your child, allowing them to pursue the topics that are most interesting, academically appropriate, and useful to them.

The best online homeschool classes allow students to learn at their own pace, while offering a wide range of options like advanced placement (AP) courses, electives, dual enrollment, and personalized curriculum paths.

Proven Results

Online classes for homeschoolers have become increasingly popular in recent years—and many opportunistic entrepreneurs have taken advantage of the trend. That makes it even more important to seek out an established homeschool program and course provider.

Bridgeway Academy has been an invaluable resource to homeschooling families for nearly 40 years, with online courses and support from both academic advisors and the homeschooling community. Rather than choosing a course provider who popped up during COVID, trust your child’s education to an established online class provider with proven results.

Homeschool Communities and Social Interaction

One of the biggest arguments against homeschooling is the idea that it isolates children. For most families, that notion is antiquated and doesn’t represent the modern homeschooling socialization experience. 

Online classes and communities make it easier than ever for children and families to engage with others. The best online classes for homeschool offer peer-to-peer interaction through group discussions, collaborative projects, virtual meet-ups, and online clubs. That engagement can enhance learning, keep students motivated, and encourage them to grow socially as well as academically.

Choosing the Best Online Classes for Your Homeschooler

To ensure that your child is getting the most out of their online learning, it’s essential to thoroughly vet all of your options. The best online classes for homeschoolers are accredited and reputable, offering proven results, opportunities to engage, and robust resources to support your child’s success.

For  more than 35 years Bridgeway Academy has maintained its reputation as being a top provider in online education for homeschooled students. Our Cognia accredited homeschool programs cover a wide range of core academic subjects and electives, with experienced instructors, one-on-one support for students, flexible online class options, and interactive learning experiences.

To learn more about Bridgeway Academy’s online class offerings, sign up for an upcoming virtual open house. You can also contact one of our expert advisors for personalized guidance on your child’s online educational journey.