FAQs About Our Online School

Ohio Virtual Academy is a tuition-free, online public school serving students in grades K–12 across Ohio. We offer learning options that provide the structure, accountability, and certified teachers families expect from a brick-and-mortar public school — along with the freedom to learn in a safe, judgment-free space.

Absolutely! Ohio Virtual Academy is fully accredited by Cognia, a national accrediting organization. This rigorous accreditation is a valuable mark of distinction that ensures the quality of our policies and validates diploma eligibility and credit transfer nationwide.

OHVA uses a high-quality, proven curriculum from K12, a leader in online education with more than 25 years of experience. We tailor K12’s curriculum and resources to meet Ohio’s academic requirements and ensure students learn according to state standards.

Ohio Virtual Academy uses the K12 online learning platform, tailoring its high-quality curriculum and extensive resources to meet our students’ unique needs here in Ohio.

K12 has been delivering online education for more than 25 years, and its curriculum is used in 100+ online schools across the U.S. We’re proud to be one of them!

OHVA offers full-time enrollment for Ohio students in grades K–12. Some students enroll in kindergarten and spend their entire school career with us, while others enroll for a semester or two to catch up on credits. We love seeing our students grow and discover their strengths!

English/language arts, math, science, history, music, and art are required. Physical education may be required, depending on grade level. Kindergarten students take language arts (including phonics), math, history, and social studies. High school students also take a world language and have access to honors courses as well as a variety of electives.

Visit our online elementary, middle school, and high school academic pages for more details.

There is no tuition for Ohio residents in grades K–12 to enroll at or attend OHVA because we are an online public school. Like traditional public schools, some common household items — such as printer ink, pens, and paper — aren’t provided by our school.

Students must have access to a computer with an internet connection to attend our online public school.
To ensure you have the equipment you need for school, OHVA provides each student with a loaner laptop. These laptops are the property of Ohio Virtual Academy and must be returned when the student leaves the school. OHVA highly recommends that families accept our loaner computer, as it allows us to assist with technical and software issues.

Based on family income guidelines, an internet stipend may be available to help defray the cost of internet services. To find out whether your family qualifies for an internet stipend, please reach out to an enrollment consultant.

Yes, Ohio Virtual Academy provides students with textbooks and instructional materials. These books and materials vary by grade level and the courses students are enrolled in. For instance, our high school students receive fewer books and materials than elementary and middle school students.

OHVA follows all state law requirements for daily attendance. Our elementary program combines online instruction from licensed teachers with independent lessons completed with guidance from the child’s Learning Coach (a parent or guardian). Our middle school and high school programs are a combination of scheduled lessons with online instruction and some lessons completed independently

At Ohio Virtual Academy, we believe in the power of family involvement. As a parent, you are an essential part of your child’s learning experience — whether you take on the role of Learning Coach yourself or designate a trusted adult to support your child day to day. The Learning Coach helps keep students on track, encourages them to engage in lessons, and partners with teachers to support academic progress. Even if you’re not the one logging in every day, your involvement and support are key to your child’s success.

The time students spend learning online and the amount of support they need will vary by grade level, individual needs, and family schedule. A Learning Coach — whether a parent, guardian, or other trusted adult — helps support the student’s education. Online school also includes offline activities, assignments, reading, and hands-on learning, so students won’t necessarily spend their entire school day on the computer.

As students become more comfortable with online learning, they typically take on more responsibility for managing their schoolwork.

• K–2: Students spend approximately 4 to 5 hours per day on schoolwork, with about 30–40% of learning completed online. Learning Coaches can expect to spend about 1 to 2 hours actively supporting lessons and guiding activities, with additional time providing supervision.

• Grades 3–5: Students spend approximately 5 to 7 hours per day on schoolwork, with about 50–60% of learning completed online. Learning Coaches provide more oversight than hands-on instruction, checking progress, helping students stay organized, and stepping in when needed.

• Grades 6–7: Students take on more responsibility for their daily schoolwork. The Learning Coactypically spends 1 to 2 hours a day checking progress, helping with organization, and providing occasional academic support.

• Grade 8: Students are generally more independent and responsible for managing their schoolwork. The Learning Coach may check progress, help with organization, and provide support with specific assignments as needed.

• Grades 9–12: Students are largely self-directed and manage most of their daily schoolwork independently. The Learning Coach typically takes a background role by checking progress, helping with time management, and providing encouragement when needed. OHVA supports students directly through teacher interactions, academic advisors, and college/career prep tools.

Depending on a child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP), we should be able to tailor instruction to meet your student’s needs. See below for additional information about rights and responsibilities regarding the education of a child on an IEP:

Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE)
Procedural Safeguards [PDF]

If you think your child may have an unidentified disability, please read about the Child Find initiative [PDF]. If you’d like to discuss this with us in more detail, call 866.339.9072 (toll-free).

OHVA meets the needs of advanced learners in a variety of ways. The beauty of our elementary and middle school programs is that they’re flexible enough to meet children where they are in any given subject and take them where they want to go. Online placement assessments during the enrollment process allow us to place your student at the appropriate curriculum level. For example, if your 6th grader is doing math at an 8th grade level and reading at a 6th grade level, we can tailor lesson plans to meet your student’s abilities.

High school students can take honors courses. Qualified students are eligible to participate in the College Credit Plus program.

Ohio Virtual Academy is a safe, inclusive, local community — and we know how to have fun! Students at OHVA participate in live class sessions, group discussions, and collaborative projects that help build relationships and communication skills.

The OHVA K12 Zone is an interactive virtual campus that brings together students from across Ohio to hang out with classmates, participate in optional student-led activities and clubs, and access learning resources in a safe, welcoming environment.

Students are invited to participate in face-to-face school outings, field trips (e.g., to historical sites, museums, zoos), picnics, and other social events throughout the year. Local groups of students and parents can get together on their own as well!

OHVA also offers a variety of clubs and activities where students can connect with peers who share their interests. From academic and enrichment opportunities to activities designed for fun and friendship, students have plenty of ways to connect beyond the virtual classroom.

Check out our Student Life page to learn more about how elementary, middle, and high school students connect and socialize at OHVA!

Yes, students who attend OHVA are public school students, and they earn a high school diploma identical to those awarded by other public schools in Ohio. Our graduates enjoy the same rights and privileges as any other Ohio graduates when applying to colleges and universities across the state and nation.

No home visits are required to attend OHVA, and there are no other intrusions into your home. Ohio requires students to meet with their teacher in person four times a year. Students do this by attending academic workshops, school outings, or state or other testing events.

Yes! We know how important it is for our student-athletes to balance a tough training schedule with their schoolwork, which is why we’re so proud to be NCAA-certified. This certification recognizes the rigor of our curriculum and the dedication of our teachers, ensuring our courses meet the high standards required for Division I, II, and III eligibility.

Whether your student is training for elite competition or aiming for a college scholarship, OHVA gives them the flexible schedule they need to excel without compromising their academic foundation. You can view our list of approved core courses by visiting the NCAA’s high school selection site and inputting high school code 365143.

To learn more about our NCAA-approved courses, click here.

Flex is a program designed to help optimize a student’s learning schedule through flexible options. Check out how OHVA’s Flex program works and learn more about program eligibility.

Transferring credits is usually straightforward, especially between accredited schools. Credits earned at a K12-powered, accredited online school like Ohio Virtual Academy are often transferable to and from accredited brick-and-mortar public schools and may count toward a high school diploma at both public and private institutions. Please confirm credit acceptance with the district you are transferring into.

Transferring credits is usually straightforward, especially between accredited schools. Public school credits generally transfer to Ohio Virtual Academy by K12, an accredited online public school. Some courses may not transfer exactly and could require placement adjustments or additional coursework. Please contact our school enrollment team to confirm credit acceptance.

Transferring credits is usually straightforward, especially between accredited schools. Partial credits or unaccredited coursework may require additional review, placement assessments, or makeup work. Ohio Virtual Academy by K12 is accredited and has standard processes to evaluate transcripts and accept credits for successfully completed courses. Please reach out to our school enrollment team to confirm credit acceptance.