Free Online Schooling K12

Teaching your child at home gets easier when you have the right online school. The platforms below cover full-time enrollment, supplemental practice, and free curriculum libraries — all on tablet, phone, or computer.

This guide picks six free or tuition-free K-12 programs that work in 2026, what each one is best for, and how to choose between them.

Free K-12 Online Programs at a Glance

Platform	Type	Best for	Cost
K12.com (Stride)	Tuition-free public school + free resource hub	Full-time online schooling	Free where state-funded
Connections Academy	Tuition-free public school	Structured online classes with live teachers	Free in supported states
Khan Academy	Self-paced supplement	Math, science, SAT/AP prep	Free
CK-12 Foundation	Open textbooks + practice	STEM in grades 6–12	Free
Discovery K12	Free full-curriculum framework	Independent homeschoolers	Free
Easy Peasy All-in-One	Christian-based curriculum	Faith-aligned homeschool	Free

Free Online K-12 Schools and Platforms

K12.com (Stride)

K12 is run by Stride, Inc. and powers tuition-free online public schools in most US states. Enrollment uses state-certified teachers and follows your state’s curriculum, so the program counts as public school — not as homeschooling. Your child gets textbooks, a school-issued laptop in many states, and live online classes.

If you don’t want a full-time enrollment, the free K12 Learning Hub gives you 17,000+ lessons, videos, and activities across core subjects, world languages, and electives — no application or login wall. K12 also runs the Stride STRIVE program for K-8 game-based learning and free summer camps in coding, business, and tech for older students.

For paid alternatives, K12 operates three private online schools (George Washington University Online High School, Destinations Career Academy, and others) for families who want more flexibility than the public-school track allows.

Connections Academy

Connections Academy is Pearson’s tuition-free online public school for grades K-12. Like K12, it’s funded by state tax dollars in supported states — families pay only for normal school items like supplies and optional field trips.

Pearson added new Connections Academy programs in Pennsylvania, California, and Missouri for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years. From July 1, 2026, the long-running TEC Connections Academy in Massachusetts is being renamed Massachusetts Connections Academy. The program also expanded its AI study tools for middle and high school algebra in 2025-26, with more subjects rolling out as they’re validated.

You stay involved as a “Learning Coach,” and your child joins live virtual classes, online clubs, and field trips. The school also provides school counselors, college prep, and standardized test guidance, so students don’t lose access to the support a brick-and-mortar school offers.

Read: Online Counselling Courses

Khan Academy

Khan Academy is the most-used free supplement in US homeschooling. It started as a math tutoring tool and now covers SAT prep, AP courses, computer science, economics, art history, and English-as-a-second-language. Children earn “mastery points” and take unit tests, so you can see progress at a glance.

Khan Academy is not accredited and doesn’t issue grades or transcripts, so it can’t replace a school program on its own. Pair it with K12 or Connections Academy for the structure, and use Khan Academy for extra drill, gap-filling, or test prep.

Khan Academy Kids (a separate free app for ages 2-8) covers early reading, math, and social-emotional skills with no ads.

CK-12 Foundation

CK-12 is the strongest free option for STEM in grades 6-12. It’s a nonprofit used by more than 200 million students and teachers, and every feature is free — no premium tier or paywall.

The platform’s FlexBooks 2.0 are interactive open textbooks built around simulations, the PLIX series of mini-experiments, and adaptive practice. Subjects span algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, biology, chemistry, physics, earth science, and engineering, plus writing and history.

A built-in AI tutor named Flexi answers questions inside any FlexBook, so students get instant explanations when they get stuck. CK-12 is best as a math/science backbone alongside another curriculum.

Discovery K12

Discovery K12 is a free online platform that gives you a full K-12 curriculum, daily lesson plans, and progress tracking. There’s no enrollment, no fees, and no required logins for parents. The trade-off: you grade the work yourself and Discovery K12 doesn’t issue accredited diplomas. It works well for parents who want a ready-made daily plan but prefer to keep things informal.

Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool

Easy Peasy is a Christian-based, fully free K-12 curriculum built by a homeschool mom and used by tens of thousands of families. It covers reading, writing, math, science, social studies, computer skills, and Bible. Lessons link out to free third-party resources, so you don’t pay for anything beyond a printer and the books your library carries. Best for families who want a faith-aligned, no-cost daily plan.

How to Pick the Right Program

• Need a diploma? Choose K12 or Connections Academy — they’re public schools and issue accredited transcripts and diplomas.
• Already homeschooling? Layer Khan Academy and CK-12 on top of your existing plan for free practice and STEM depth.
• Want full curriculum without enrolling in a school? Discovery K12 or Easy Peasy give you a daily plan but you stay in control of grading.
• Have a younger child? Khan Academy Kids is the cleanest free option for ages 2-8.
• Live outside the US? Khan Academy and CK-12 work anywhere. K12 and Connections Academy are tied to specific US states.

FAQ

Is K12 actually free?

Yes, in states where K12 partners with the local school district. Tuition, books, and (in many states) a laptop are covered by state funding. The K12 Learning Hub is free everywhere, with no enrollment.

Is Connections Academy the same as K12?

No. Connections Academy is owned by Pearson; K12 is run by Stride, Inc. Both offer tuition-free online public school in supported states, but the curriculum, teachers, and platforms are different.

Can Khan Academy replace school?

No. Khan Academy isn’t accredited and doesn’t issue grades or transcripts. It’s a supplement, not a stand-alone curriculum.

Does CK-12 work for elementary students?

CK-12 is built mostly for grades 6-12. Elementary students will get more out of Khan Academy Kids, IXL (paid), or the K12 Learning Hub.

Do free programs include accredited diplomas?

Only K12 and Connections Academy (the public-school enrollments) issue accredited diplomas. Khan Academy, CK-12, Discovery K12, and Easy Peasy do not.