English 1, Understanding

Distance education at American School offers students a convenient way to take classes on paper or online. Regardless of which program you choose–General High School, College Preparatory or Independent Study–you will receive these benefits. Together these are what set us apart from other distance education high schools. We call these our Four C’s.

Curriculum

American School’s innovative paper-based and online curriculum offers something for everyone. Students can choose from more than 100 self-paced courses in traditional subjects such as English, math, social studies and science and take electives in such subject areas as business, career and technical education, fine arts, and world languages, including online world language courses offered through a partnership with Rosetta Stone. American School is perfect for students who need several courses to complete graduation requirements or for those who choose to take just one course to make up credit or gain knowledge for personal enrichment. Visit our Course Descriptions page for the most recent list of course offerings.

Cost

As a not-for-profit institution, American School puts students’ educations first. Our tuition is affordable—much lower than many other distance education and online high schools—and all textbooks and study materials are included at no additional cost. As of October 1, 2015, our 4-year, 18-unit paper-based diploma program costs $2250, while our 4-year, 18-unit online diploma program is comprised of a series of 1-year contracts for 4 1/2 units of credit at a cost of $900 per year, or 18 units of credit at a total cost of $3600. All diploma programs have flexible payment schedules starting at $100 per month, which makes tuition even more affordable, and there are no interest charges, no charge for pre-evaluation of transcripts, and very few extra fees along the way. American School also is proud to offer lower tuition for General High School or College Preparatory Program students who pay in full at the time of enrollment. Individual courses purchased through our Independent Study Program or taken for enrichment typically cost between $150 and $300.
Caring Student Service

When students are accepted at American School, they not only receive interesting curriculum at a reasonable cost from a pioneer in distance education; they also receive outstanding, caring student service. To start, they may enroll online, on paper, or over the phone, and enrollment is open year-round. Students work in a classroom of one—at their own pace and on their own schedule—but they are not alone. Our friendly staff is available to assist students over the phone during normal business hours. Also, American School students can access help sheets, homework Web sites, and view their academic records and other helpful information 24-7 by logging into the Online Student Center. General High School and College Preparatory Program students can receive their diplomas at any time of the year provided they have completed all graduation requirements, and qualifying graduates are eligible to receive one of 18 post-secondary scholarships that American School awards annually.

Credibility

American School was the first correspondence school to become regionally accredited. Today we are accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools/Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools (MSA-CESS), Accreditation International (Ai) and the National Council for Private School Accreditation (NCPSA), as well as recognized by the state of Illinois as a non-public high school. An American School diploma is widely accepted by colleges and universities across the country and around the world. Several thousand high schools use American School to help their students recover credits and graduate on time with their classes. We are proud of our three-way tuition warranty, which ensures customer satisfaction through its ten-day inspection and money-back guarantee, liberal tuition refund policy, and promise of a refund or additional training if you must take a qualifying examination and cannot pass it. Author Christopher Paolini, motorsports star Travis Pastrana, tennis legend Andre Agassi and actress Jessica Alba are just some of the famous people who have taken American School courses throughout our 119-year history.