Frequently Asked Questions
One Schoolhouse and Learning Online
Can every student learn online?
Yes! Our courses are designed to be personalized for each student. For many assignments, students choose their preferred way to learn, whether that’s listening to a lecture, reading from a textbook, or watching a video. Students also have choice in how they check their understanding of course material and how they apply their new knowledge. Because we offer many pathways for learning, our courses complement varied learning preferences and strengths. Learning online is a new experience for many of our students, and there can be a transition period to the increased independence of a learner-driven class. If that happens, our teachers and the One Schoolhouse advisor at home schools offer additional individual support.
How does a One Schoolhouse course compare to courses at my student's school?
One Schoolhouse courses are designed to be as rigorous and creative as the classes at top independent schools around the country. That’s by design. Teachers and students come from independent schools and expect courses to challenge and engage learners. We’re proud that 97% of our students say they’re challenged in our courses. Our AP courses receive the same approval from the College Board that brick and mortar schools earn for their classes.
What does learning look like?
The same kind of learning takes place in online courses and face-to-face classrooms, but we use different tools online. Instead of seminar-style discussions, we use discussion boards and video chats to create dialogue among students and provide opportunities for reflection. Group projects use wikis for creative collaboration within classes. Students in science classes do labs--some use online simulations, while others use household objects for hands-on exploration. Throughout all the activities of online learning, we know that a student’s connection to the teacher is paramount, so we offer video meetings, opportunities for reflection, and regular feedback.
Do students need to be online at a specific time?
One Schoolhouse courses are asynchronous and paced. When we say asynchronous, we mean that students choose when to log in and complete their work. There aren’t any required times for class meetings. Our courses, however, are paced--they have regular due dates (usually on Tuesdays and Fridays) for assignments and projects. In our experience, this balance allows students to have flexibility in choosing when to complete work, while providing structure and pacing for the course
What technology do students need?
Students and teachers are expected to have a working computer with a webcam, microphone, web browser (including Flash support), and high-speed Internet access. In general, any computer that is less than five years old should work fine. At this point, an iPad or Android tablet will not fully suffice as a device for courses with One Schoolhouse. For more details, please see our Technology Requirements & Policies.
Before the start of the class, students should confirm internet accessibility. This is especially true for students who plan to access the course from outside the US at any point during the year. Our Learning Management System (LMS) is user-friendly, but internet signal strength and the reliability of the internet service provider/virtual private network do matter. Questions about internet access should be directed to the One Schoolhouse office at help@oneschoolhouse.org.
Before the start of the class, students should confirm internet accessibility. This is especially true for students who plan to access the course from outside the US at any point during the year. Our Learning Management System (LMS) is user-friendly, but internet signal strength and the reliability of the internet service provider/virtual private network do matter. Questions about internet access should be directed to the One Schoolhouse office at help@oneschoolhouse.org.
Is One Schoolhouse accredited?
Yes. One Schoolhouse is fully accredited with the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools & the Western Association of Schools and Colleges through December 1, 2025. One Schoolhouse also belongs to the National Association of Independent Schools, connecting us to a network of more than 1,800 schools and associations in the United States and around the world.
Enrollment
What types of students take One Schoolhouse courses?
Highly motivated students across the United States and abroad take One Schoolhouse courses to challenge themselves and go beyond the courses their home schools can offer in brick and mortar classrooms. Some students want to study a topic that isn’t covered in their school’s curriculum. Others have completed the sequence of courses their school offers and are ready for new challenges. The need for flexibility drives some students to register for our courses, and others want to explore what it’s like to learn online. One Schoolhouse students are enrolled at some of the top independent schools in the U.S., and plan to go on to four year colleges, many of which are highly selective.
Summer courses are designed for students who want to move ahead in math or computer science sequences, or want to complete requirements over the summer in order to have more flexibility in course selection during the school year. Summer courses are not designed to be remedial.
Summer courses are designed for students who want to move ahead in math or computer science sequences, or want to complete requirements over the summer in order to have more flexibility in course selection during the school year. Summer courses are not designed to be remedial.
Our school isn't a consortium school? Can we still enroll?
Yes! Students don’t need to attend a consortium school to take One Schoolhouse classes. About 5% of our students do not attend consortium schools. To find out if your school is a consortium member, see our list of consortium schools.
What's the cost?
The cost of tuition is dependent on whether your child’s school is a member of our consortium. You can find this year’s tuition fees on our Tuition and Policies page.
If my student decides to drop, can we receive a refund?
Refunds depend on when the course is dropped. If a course is dropped before the first day of classes, a full refund is issued. If a course is dropped during the drop/add period (the first two weeks of academic year courses, or the first week of summer courses), 50% of tuition is refunded. We can’t offer refunds for any courses dropped after the drop/add period is over. (See our Calendar page for this year’s dates.) Please note that this policy applies even to students who register late for a course.
How do I know my student has been placed appropriately?
We rely on schools to recommend the correct placement for each student. Once courses begin, if our teacher feels that a different One Schoolhouse course would be a better fit for a student, we consult with the student’s home school to discuss the possibility of a switch. Once we have the school’s approval, we switch the student’s registration in our learning management system and connect the student with the new teacher.
Courses
How big are your classes?
Just like most independent schools, our classes are small, with an average section size of 14 students. We believe that small classes build community and connections between students and teachers. We offer both all-girls and all-gender sections in many of our courses.
Summer courses are designed for students who want to move ahead in math or computer science sequences, or want to complete requirements over the summer in order to have more flexibility in course selection during the school year. Summer courses are not designed to be remedial.
Summer courses are designed for students who want to move ahead in math or computer science sequences, or want to complete requirements over the summer in order to have more flexibility in course selection during the school year. Summer courses are not designed to be remedial.
How much time is required per week?
In our year-long courses, students spend about 6-8 hours each week on non-AP courses, and 8-10 hours each week on AP-level courses. Some students do work during the school day, while others do it after school or on the weekends. In our summer courses, students do about 20 hours a week of coursework. Most of the work, but not all of it, is completed online through our Learning Management System.
What supplies are needed and how do we purchase them?
Before classes begin, we provide a resource list for each class with required and suggested materials and links for online purchasing. Many of our courses use textbooks--both digital and print--while others use software, or online resources. Some courses may require supplies for at-home labs and hands-on projects. We ask our teachers to pay close attention to the materials they require, and to make sure the total cost of supplies stays under $100.
How do colleges and universities get One Schoolhouse grades and transcripts?
One Schoolhouse sends grades and comments to schools at the end of each quarter, and sends a transcript at the end of our school year. Schools report our grades to colleges in a variety of ways. Some include them on their own transcript and calculate them into GPA, while others send the One Schoolhouse transcript along with but separate from the school transcript. Please check with your child’s home school for more details.
When does One Schoolhouse take break?
One Schoolhouse observes a winter break between semesters. (See our Calendar page for this year’s dates.) We do not offer any other vacations and classes do not stop for American Thanksgiving, long weekends, Presidents’ Day holidays, the Fourth of July, or spring breaks. Even when home schools are closed for a vacation, students are expected to continue with work in their One Schoolhouse courses.
How will my student take the AP® exam?
Students’ home schools register students for the AP® exams, order the tests, and administer them for students in One Schoolhouse courses. If your child wants to take the AP® exam, please check with her/his school to be sure they will administer it before registering for your One Schoolhouse course. For the vast majority of our students in AP® courses, this is not a problem. In the rare situation that your child’s school will not proctor the AP® exam for your child, it is your family’s responsibility to find another testing location. One Schoolhouse does not require students in AP® courses to take the AP® exams, and One Schoolhouse cannot order or administer AP® exams.
Teachers and Support
Who are the teachers?
One Schoolhouse hires caring and engaged teachers from some of the top independent schools around the country. Ninety percent of our faculty holds a master’s degree and/or a terminal degree. Many teachers come from our consortium schools. All are experienced teachers in their discipline and are specially trained in creating and managing personalized online learning spaces.
What if my student needs extra help?
If students need extra help, the first stop should always be their One Schoolhouse teacher. Our teachers are available to students through weekly office hours, Skype, phone and email, and frequently via text as well. Whether meetings are occasional or regular, teachers are ready to discuss assignments, review topics or help prepare for assessments.
How does One Schoolhouse support students?
We believe that strong connections help students thrive, so teachers are available to meet with students regularly on multiple platforms: email, video chat and text. If students need more consistent and repeated support than one teacher can provide, there’s a team in place. The Director of Student Support connects online teachers and home schools, passing recommendations for support on to One Schoolhouse Advisors and sharing information from schools with online teachers. When appropriate, schools or One Schoolhouse may reach out to parents with updates. Together, we make sure students have the resources and strategies they need to move forward in the course.
What happens if my child gets sick?
Because students typically have three or four days to complete assignments, minor illnesses don’t usually affect online work. If students are out sick for longer, they should get in touch with their teacher as soon as possible to let the teacher know how they’re feeling and how long they expect it to be until they can return to work. Once students are ready to resume class, they’ll meet with their teacher to set up a schedule for completing missed work. If students are out of school for medical leave, we work with their home school to create an individualized plan that’s best for the student’s needs.
My student will be away from the internet for a time. What should happen?
If students know they will be without internet access in advance, it’s their responsibility to let their teacher know ahead of time and to create a plan to complete work in advance of their absence or to arrange for limited extensions.
Communication
What communication should I expect from One Schoolhouse?
At the start of the year, you’ll receive information about calendar and expectations, as well as an invitation to a live webinar with more details about our school, our teachers, and our courses. As the year continues, narrative comments and grades are included on report cards, which are sent to parents, students, and schools every quarter. The One Schoolhouse Advisor at your child’s school is your best resource for course progress and performance information throughout the year. We encourage you to reach out to the One Schoolhouse Advisor with any specific questions you might have.
Can I see my student's grades and assignments?
If you’d like to see your child’s grades and assignments, your child can show you the course pages and electronic grade book for her or his course at any time. All directions are posted on Friday for the next week’s assignments, allowing students to make a plan for completing work in the week ahead. Teachers are expected to return all student emails in 24 hours, and to assess all student work within 5 days, so online grades provide an accurate snapshot of current performance. We do not provide parents with passwords or login credentials, and we encourage parents to talk with their children about expectations for accessing course pages.
Can I talk to my student's teacher?
If you have questions about your child’s online course, teacher, or performance, we encourage you to communicate with the One Schoolhouse Advisor at your child’s school. Our Director of Student Support communicates important information about students to their home schools. If you have specific questions that your One Schoolhouse Advisor can’t answer, we’ll make sure you get the information you need, either through the One Schoolhouse Advisor or in a conversation with the Director of Student Support. We do not schedule parent-teacher conferences.
Will my student's school have access to the course?
Yes. Your school’s One Schoolhouse Advisor has login credentials for our Learning Management System and can view assignments and student grades.