Information for Parents of High School Students

An accredited, online high school can be a great alternative to a traditional experience! Whether your child wants to graduate early, needs a more flexible schedule to support their needs, or just doesn’t thrive in a public school setting, an online school could be a strong fit to help them reach their goals – graduation and the next step toward their future.
Accredited
Online
Self Paced

Save up to $470 Ends 3/26/2025

Cost of Program

$1,099

$1,569 Save $470

or

$55/month, Start for as low as $20

1-800-961-6407 (9AM - 9PM ET)

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Why Penn Foster High School?

Since 1890, Penn Foster has been a trusted provider of distance – and now, online – learning for students around the world and has been a partner to thousands of high schools nationwide, helping students across the country earn their diplomas. With our regionally and nationally accredited high school diploma, students and their parents can own their education – deciding what works best for their unique situation.

 

Penn Foster is designed to help them thrive, so they can pick up where they left off by transfering credits and finish at their own pace—whether that means graduating early or taking the time they need to earn the grades you know they’re capable of.

Our Guide for Parents

Is Online High School Right for My Child?

Penn Foster High School could be a great fit for your child if

  1. They learn better going at their own pace – whether that means taking their time or progressing quickly through their courses.
  2. They want to graduate on their timeline to pursue the future they want, from starting a career to enrolling in college, and more!
  3. They aren’t thriving in public school, whether due to personal reasons or the environment.
  4. They want to balance high school with other interests, like getting a part-time job, volunteering, or pursuing their dreams.
View Student Stories
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Flexible Pathways to Support Your Student’s Goals

Students at Penn Foster High School can own their education and graduate on their terms. While our curriculum is aligned with national and regional high school standards and includes courses like English, math, science, and history, students are also able to customize their experience through a range of electives and pathways, such as

  • College Prep. Students can choose electives that can help them prepare for college courses. These electives can be more academically challenging, geared toward helping students build knowledge and skills that can translate to college coursework.
  • Career. Students can choose electives designed toward helping them explore or prepare for specific careers, including jobs in skilled trades, healthcare, or the veterinary profession.
  • General. Students can choose a variety of electives that interest them instead of choosing one pathway.

Online High School Curriculum

  • 17 core courses
  • 5 elective courses


Estimated completion time:

  • Fast track = 6 months
  • Average time = 14 months

With Penn Foster, you can learn at whatever pace works best for you. Some learners will be more comfortable moving faster, and dedicating more time, and the fast track estimate will apply to them. The average track will apply to most learners who can dedicate a few hours per week to completing their coursework. The estimated completion times are based on completion times for learners enrolled in this program from November 2019 - October 2020, excluding withdrawals.

 

Through our online curriculum, students will cover the essential courses as well as be able to choose a variety of elective classes to suit their goals and interests. If your high schooler has already completed some high school, they may be able to transfer in credits from their previous school, allowing them to pick up where they left off.

 

Parents can find the full curriculum details, including standard subjects, electives, and their descriptions below.

Show Full Curriculum

Save Time and Money with Transfer Credits

If your student has already completed some high school courses, it’s possible that they can transfer those classes to Penn Foster and pick up where they left off! Besides allowing them to continue progressing in their studies, transfer credits can also help them save time and save money on tuition.

 

We evaluate transcripts on a class-to-class basis, meaning our expert evaluators consider the class your child completed, their grade, and how it aligns to our curriculum to determine whether it can be transferred in.

How to Transfer
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Our Proven High School Learning Model

Empowering students to reach their goals on their schedule

Set Your Own Schedule

  • Enroll any time
  • Access courses 24/7
  • Set a schedule that works best for your child

Accredited and Licensed

  • Education Built to Meet Regional & National Guidelines
  • Accredited by the DEAC and Cognia
  • A+ Rated Member of the Better Business Bureau

Choose Your Payment Plan

  • Customizable payment options
  • Affordable tuition
  • Pay in monthly installments

Committed Support System

  • Dedicated instructors and student support
  • Access to Learning Resource Center and digital library
  • Career services

Dedicated and Supportive Instructors

Our high school instructors are dedicated to helping students succeed! Learners are able to contact instructors for guidance, questions, and help through their Learner Center or 1:1 appointments.

 

Meet Some of Our High School Instructors

 

 

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Brian Brown

Academic Manager, Penn Foster High School

“It takes a special learner to enroll in an online program. Our learners are a self-motivated group who show they have what it takes to succeed. Our learners embrace the responsibility of their education. When I hire anybody, I look to the characteristics that our Penn Foster High School student body possesses.”

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Daniel Sciarrillo

Spanish Instructor, Penn Foster High School

“As their high school faculty, we understand everyone’s unique journey and we are excited to help them achieve their academic goals. I’ve seen how resilient, motivated, hard-working, and determined our students are; I’ve also seen how successful they have become after putting so much effort into completing the program, to benefit their lives in countless ways.”

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Mariam Dawoud

Math Instructor, Penn Foster High School

“The Penn Foster High School program is a great option for busy passionate people who eagerly aim to advance forward in their career or education without putting employment or family duties on hold. It’s also a valuable alternative for parents who wish to provide their children with high-quality education in a controlled environment away from emotional and social distress.”

Online High School Tuition

We strive to make our tuition as affordable as possible. As a parent, you can choose to pay in full to save money or make monthly payments, whatever best fits your budget!

Option 1: Pay in full

Save up to $470 Ends 3/26/2025

Cost of Program1

$1,099

$1,569 Save $470

  • Best price. Best value.
  • Pay the full cost today
  • No monthly payments
Enroll Now

Option 2: Monthly Auto Pay Plan

Cost of Program1

$1,569

  • Pay $55 per month
  • Start for $20 down
  • All major credit and debit cards accepted
Enroll Now

Option 3: Monthly Mail Pay Plan

cost of program1

$1,569

  • Pay $55 per month
  • Start for $39 down
  • Mail your payments
Enroll Now

Need more info or ready to enroll?

Looking for more information on transfer credits, military benefits or our refund policy. Find this information and more about tuition and enrollment.

Tuition and Payment Options

Graduation

Your student doesn’t have to miss out on traditional milestones because they’re enrolled in online school! Each year, Penn Foster Group holds an in-person graduation ceremony to celebrate the accomplishments of our students. That means that, when they’ve earned their diploma, you can still experience the pride and joy of seeing them walk across the stage!

 

Graduation is open to all eligible graduates each year, but it’s important to note that the cost of attending the ceremony is not included in tuition and capacity can be limited depending on the venue.

Online High School FAQs

Is Penn Foster High School accredited

Yes! Penn Foster High School is regionally accredited for grades 9 through adult, by the Commission on Secondary Schools of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, and nationally accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission and Cognia.

What does it mean to be an accredited high school?

Accreditation is a process that evaluates a high school to make sure it meets certain educational standards. Being an accredited high school means that you can be confident that your student is earning a legitimate education that can help them take the next steps toward their future goals. Reaccreditation occurs every few years, meaning that classes and programs are always being evaluated and improved upon to meet regional and national accreditation standards.

Does Penn Foster High School accept transfer credits from other schools?

Penn Foster does accept credits from previous high schools. To transfer credits for your student, an official, sealed transcript must be sent from the previous school for evaluation. Credits from courses that are equivalent to the Penn Foster curriculum and that come from regionally accredited high schools will be considered for transfer. You can learn more about credit transfer here.

Can my student enroll in college after graduating from Penn Foster High School?

Penn Foster High School is an accredited program that allows students to earn a recognized high school diploma. However, acceptance of a high school diploma can vary based on the college or university. No form of accreditation can guarantee that any learning institution or employer will accept the high school diploma. We recommend checking with colleges and universities your student is interested in attending to verify they accept the Penn Foster High School diploma before enrolling into the program. For a list of schools that Penn Foster graduates have been accepted to, click here.

Can my high school student complete all of their work online?

The amount of work that can be completed online varies by program. Some high school programs can be completed entirely online, while others may require physical textbooks.

Do I need to purchase textbooks for their online classes?

No! Most of the coursework is easily accessible to the student through their student portal. The majority of study guides and materials are provided online for a mobile learning experience. For courses requiring textbooks, students will receive access to digital eBooks at no extra cost.

Is there a way to view my student’s grades and progress?

While there is no individual parent portal to view a student’s grades and course progress, parents are able to access the account with their child’s login information. In their Learner Center, you can view grades, the classes and lessons they’ve completed, and more!

Want more information about this program?

We're here to help. Call 1-800-961-6407 (9AM - 9PM ET)