Many parents may be surprised to learn that, just like brick-and-mortar schools, there are public and private online schools. 也, like brick-and-mortar schools, 在线公立学校通常由州或当地学区赞助. 他们必须满足州和/或地区的课程和出勤要求, as well as teacher certification requirements. Similar to a brick-and-mortar school, tuition-free online public schools have geographical boundaries, 通常在全州范围内, since students must all come from the same state. 在线公立学校的学生也要参加与实体公立学校相同的州规定考试.
Like their brick-and-mortar counterparts, 网上私立学校 have more flexibility in their curriculum and class offerings, such as year-round school and Advanced Placement courses, 而且学生通常不受限于住在某些学区上学.