What is an online e-school?

An e-school, or virtual school, is an educational institution that offers courses either primarily or entirely online. E-schools have a variety of course structures ranging from fully independent, self-paced courses to instructor-led, semester-based courses. E-school courses can range in size from 20 students to several hundred.

E-schools began in the 1990s and grew exponentially in popularity since then. They offer advantages such as the ability to work remotely and on one's own schedule, as well as the integration of digital media into everyday learning. E-schools are available for students in grades K-12, as well as for students in community college and some universities in the United States.