Online Schools in Texas

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full time online school Texas

They have been around for years, but with the world turned upside down due to the pandemic, now more families than ever are looking at online public schools in Texas as a viable solution. Full-time online schools for kids have already solved many of the issues that have been causing trouble for brick-and-mortar schools and for families that are new to distance learning: how to deliver supplies, books, and technology to homes; establishing a structured school day; guiding interaction and relationships between teachers and students; and building a sense of community.

During the current school year, families are facing a lot of uncertainty about when campuses will be open and what procedures will be followed. Some families are considering withdrawing their children from their former schools so they can have more control over their schedules. If homeschooling seems daunting, then online schools are an appealing alternative because the programs include TEKS-aligned curriculum and support from experienced teachers. If you are curious about online schools but need more information to guide your decision, then we are here to help; you may also wish to join the San Antonio Charter Moms discussion group on Facebook to ask questions of other parents and caregivers.

Features of Full-Time Online Public Schools for Kids

Full-time online school is a public education, but in a different packaging. Like homeschooling, there is no school building, and students work on school wherever they are—at home, at work, or even traveling. Like other public schools, full-time online school is free—there are no tuition costs. Students enrolled in full-time online school take all of the state-mandated standardized tests (i.e., STAAR and end of course exams). Online schools are required to enroll students with special needs and provide them with the services they need. The teachers are Texas-certified and trained in online instruction.

In Texas, there are some limits, unfortunately, on which students are eligible for full-time online school.

  • Limited to grades 3–12 (although there appears to be a new exception—more below in Recent Changes)
  • Students must have been enrolled in a public school in Texas during the previous school year—but there is an exception for military dependents.

Even before the pandemic, there are many reasons why a family might choose full time online school. Special needs, including medical needs, sometimes require a flexible learning schedule. Students who are high achievers—in music, dance, gymnastics, sports, or another pursuit—appreciate the fluidity of full-time online school. Military families who move away from Texas, but plan to return, can stick with TEKS-aligned curriculum by enrolling in a Texas full time online school while posted overseas.

This post focuses on public full-time online schools. There are also private online schools. Also, students can choose from a catalog of online courses to pursue part-time online school.

Full-Time Online Public Schools for Texas Students

In Texas, all of the public full-time online schools have ties to a public school entity—either a traditional public school district or a charter school network. The Texas Virtual School Network, managed by the Texas Education Agency (TEA), currently has six members. These online schools are open to students all across Texas.

eSchool Prep Texas virtual schooleSchool Prep

iSchool Virtual Academy of Texas iSchool Virtual Academy of Texas

iUniversity Prep Texas online schooliUniversity Prep

Texas Connections Academy Houston online schoolTexas Connections Academy at Houston

Texas Online Preparatory School K12 online school

Texas Online Preparatory School (TOPS)

Texas Virtual Academy Hallsville K12 online schoolTexas Virtual Academy at Hallsville (TVAH)

Expanded Online School Offerings Due to the Pandemic

In response to the pandemic, legislators and regulators have opened new avenues for Texas families who are seeking full time online virtual school options. These new programs are open to students as young as kindergarten, and there is no prior public requirement—i.e., students don’t have to prove they were previously enrolled in a Texas public school to be eligible.

Founders Classical Academy Virtual logoFounders Classical Academy Virtual is a virtual school offered by ResponsiveEd that opened in November 2021. During the 2021–22 school year, Founders Classical Academy Virtual is serving students in grades K–8. To learn more about the Founders Classical Academy education model, read our blog post about Founders Classical Academy Virtual and our blog post about Founders Classical Academy of Schertz, a bricks-and-mortar campus located in the San Antonio area. Follow Founders Classical Academy Virtual on Facebook and Instagram.

Great Hearts Online—Texas is a virtual school offered by Great Hearts that opened in January 2021. During the 2022–23 school year, Great Hearts Online is serving students in grades K–8, and will expand to high school. To learn more about the Great Hearts classical education model, read our blog post about Great Hearts Online, blog post about Great Hearts Microschools, and our enrollment guide to Great Hearts Texas bricks-and-mortar schools. Follow Great Hearts Online—Texas on Facebook.

School of Science and Technology logo

School of Science and Technology Online Academy  is a virtual school offered by the School of Science and Technology (SST) in partnership with TTU K–12, a unit of the Texas Tech University eLearning & Academic Partnerships division. During the 2022–23 school year, SST Online Academy is serving students in grades 5–6. To learn more about the education model at SST, which is focused on STEM and character education, read our enrollment guide to SST bricks-and-mortar schools.

More changes are coming as the TEA, districts, and charter schools respond to families’ educational needs. The San Antonio Charter Moms discussion group on Facebook is a good place to find up-to-date information and ask questions of other parents and caregivers.

Charter Moms Chats

Shea Mackin is the mother of four boys, and has experience with full time online school going back to 2009. She is the Texas lead and serves on the board of the National Coalition for Public School Options. Listen to her interview with Inga Cotton on Charter Moms Chats.

Read More About Online Schools for Kids

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