- A middle school grade report or transcript
- A certificate of eighth-grade completion
- Standardized test scores showing eighth-grade achievement or higher (Keystone recommends the IOWA test.)
- A homeschool portfolio
Does The Keystone School have an age limit?
No, Keystone is open to students of all ages. Our mission at Keystone is to help students from all backgrounds and personal situations achieve their individual potential, so we make every attempt to enroll students that are a fit for our program. For further information or to get started, please speak with a Student Support Representative at 1-800-255-4937.
Can I enroll my child in Keystone if we live outside of the United States?
Yes. Keystone has demonstrated success with students from all backgrounds, situations and geographic locations. We’ve educated students in nearly 100 countries! Students who take our online courses have 24 hour a day access to our curriculum regardless of where they live and will receive teacher feedback on assignments within 3 business days. If your student is grade K-8, please contact our Student Support Department at 1-800-255-4937 or via email at info@keystonehighschool.com to find out more or to enroll. If your student has earned high school credit at a US high school, please click here to complete our online Transcript Request Form so we can request your student’s official records and provide a free transcript evaluation.
If your student has earned credit at an institution outside the US, please contact our Student Support Department at 1-800-255-4937 or via email at info@keystonehighschool.com to see if your student’s transcript requires a foreign transcript evaluation. We can provide an evaluation of a foreign transcript but there is an associated fee. Homeschool portfolios are evaluated free of charge.
Please note there are a few countries in which The Keystone School cannot enroll students due to US embargoes or K12, Inc. non-compete agreements. Please contact our Student Support Department for more information.
Do you accept transcripts from foreign countries? (Applies to High School Program only)
Yes, please follow these guidelines:
If your student has earned credit at an institution outside the US, please contact our Student Support Department at 1-800-255-4937 or via email at info@keystonehighschool.com to see if your student’s transcript requires a foreign transcript evaluation. If your student’s transcript does require a foreign transcript evaluation, our Student Support representative can help you to complete our Foreign Transcript Evaluation Form.
There is a $180 fee associated with this process provided we have a certified English translation of your student’s transcript. If a certified English translation is required there will be an additional fee. The evaluation of foreign/international transcripts can take up to 15 business days from the time we receive the form and fee. If any questions arise during the evaluation process, please reach out to Student Support at 1-800-255-4937.
Will previously earned credits transfer to Keystone? (Applies to High School Program only)
Possibly. Most credits earned at accredited high schools and homeschool programs transfer into Keystone. Before enrolling, please click here to complete our online Transcript Request Form so we can request your student’s official records and provide a free transcript evaluation. Unofficial and official transcripts can also be emailed to our Transcript Evaluation team at transcriptevals@k12.com.
We will email you a free transcript evaluation so you’ll know which credits will transfer into our program and how many Keystone credits will be required to earn a Keystone diploma. Homeschool portfolios can be emailed to guidance@keystonehighschool.com. Homeschool portfolios are also evaluated free of charge.
What is your deadline for enrollment?
Keystone fits students’ lives by allowing them to study on their own time and at their own pace. That extends to enrollment – feel free to enroll whenever you like by phone, on the web, or by mail. There is no specific time when you must enroll. Follow these enrollment steps to get started.
When will I be able to start if I enroll today?
If you are taking online middle or high school courses, you may begin exploring your course as soon as you receive your password from us — normally a couple of days from when you enroll! If you are taking high school print courses, you can start your studies as soon as your materials arrive through the mail — generally in fewer than 10 days.
How long will it take for me to receive my books?
Your books should arrive 7-10 business days after you enroll; if you enroll in online courses, you can begin your work in a couple of days after receiving a password and access to your courses.
How do I enroll?
Follow these enrollment steps to get started.
If you plan to earn a Keystone diploma and have already completed high school coursework, please click here to complete our online Transcript Request Form so we can request your student’s official records and provide a free transcript evaluation. Unofficial and official transcripts can also be emailed to our Transcript Evaluation team at transcriptevals@k12.com.
We will email you a free transcript evaluation so you’ll know which credits will transfer into our program and how many Keystone credits will be required to earn a Keystone diploma. Homeschool portfolios can be emailed to guidance@keystonehighschool.com. Homeschool portfolios are also evaluated free of charge.
Program Overview
Is The Keystone School accredited?
Yes, The Keystone School is accredited. Keystone's demonstrated record of success in its’ programs have earned recognition from two of the leading accrediting boards in the country, Cognia, (formerly AdvancED/Northwest Accreditation Commission), and the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
You can be confident that your Keystone education is of the highest quality and that other accredited schools widely accept the work you do. Although we cannot guarantee that Keystone credits are transferable, we urge all students wishing to transfer credits receive pre-approval prior to course enrollment. Should you have a doubt, you should contact your local school officials directly or contact a Keystone Student Support Representative (1-800-255-4937) to work with you and your local school officials to determine acceptance of Keystone credits.
If my child earns a Keystone diploma, will they be accepted to a college or university?
Learn more about recent Keystone graduates and college acceptance statistics.
Thousands of parents have confidence in The Keystone School because of its demonstrated record of student success. Graduates of Keystone's high school program have been accepted to over 140 colleges and universities including Stanford, Yale, Duke, Rice, and Notre Dame; military academies like West Point; state university systems like the University of Washington; and many other two- and four-year colleges nationwide.
If our prior students are any indication, your child has a great likelihood of getting into college with Keystone.
Will the military accept Keystone graduates?
The Army, Navy, and Marines are allowed to accept 10% of enlistees from Tier 2 schools with a minimum score of 50 on the Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT). The Air Force will only accept enlistees from Tier 1 schools. Keystone is currently listed as a Tier 2 school, and many of our graduates have gone on to start a military career. Schools can be re-categorized by the military at any time, so we recommend that you check with your local recruiter for specifics. Students can gain Tier 1 status by successfully completing 15 credit hours of college courses. Most students can earn this in one semester at their local community college.
If my child decided to go back to the public school system, will he/she be accepted? Will Keystone credits transfer?
The Keystone School's middle and high school programs are accredited by Cognia, as well as the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. This means that these programs meet the academic and administrative standards required for admission to colleges and universities, and for transfer to other high schools. Keystone's high school program is also recognized as an accredited private school in the Commonwealth of Virginia by the Virginia Council for Private Education (VCPE). This allows the school to grant high school diplomas that are recognized by colleges, universities, military organizations, and employers.
Although students rarely have any problem transferring Keystone credits back to their local high school, Keystone cannot guarantee that every credit will transfer back to every high school. Should you have a doubt, you should contact your local school official directly or contact Keystone to work with you and your local school officials to determine acceptance of Keystone credits.
If I choose Keystone, will my child be able to maintain social contact?
Absolutely. Keystone students thrive in a learning community, connecting with teachers and other students whenever they wish.
Social contact is a key element within the Keystone learning community. Online courses provide opportunities for students to connect with others through discussion boards. Keystone offers a variety of clubs and organized social events for students to select to be part of throughout the year. Learn more about the school experience at Keystone.
Are the courses self-paced?
Yes, students can work at any time and complete as much or as little work as they need. There are no specific assignment/assessment due dates, so the student is able to work ahead if needed or spend extra time on lessons that are more difficult. Although the courses are self-paced, students are required to complete each course within 12 months from the date of enrollment; this means reviewing all content and completing all assignments and assessments found in the course gradebook.
Learn more about the K-12 programs at Keystone.
Do students receive report cards?
Parents can pull a copy of unofficial Academic Records upon completion of their enrollment from the Parent Support Application. Official copies of the high school transcript can be requested through parchment.
Can students enroll in courses above or below their grade level?
Yes, but middle school students are limited to middle school courses and high school students to high school courses. However, middle school students can take up to 3 high school credits in the Math or Foreign Language area with counselor approval.
Do you require that students enroll in a full course load or do they have the option of enrolling in individual courses?
Students can enroll in a full course load or in individual courses. Browse our course catalog.
Students choose to enroll in individual courses for different reasons:
- To gain experience with online learning
- To take courses that aren't available in their regular school curriculum
- To get ahead in their studies
- To make up for missed classes
How do you work with children who are gifted?
If you want a more challenging program of study, Keystone's innovative, flexible, student-focused education is for you. Keystone students study on their own time and at their own pace, so to the extent that you want to be challenged, the pace of other students is not a factor. Keystone offers advanced courses at both the high school and middle school levels.
How do you work with children who have special needs?
Our program allows students to study on their own time and at their own pace, which helps to accommodate many special situations. In addition, our certified teachers are trained to work with students from a variety of backgrounds and with varying educational needs. However, we recognize that each individual is unique and may have a need that we've not faced before.
If you have a particular situation you are concerned with, your best course of action is to speak with our Student Support Representatives directly at 1-800-255-4937.
Can I get my GED through Keystone?
No, but you can get something that is much more valuable -- a Keystone high school diploma. A Keystone diploma is widely recognized by colleges, universities, and employers. We even have a diploma program specifically designed for adult learners over the age of 18.
Attaining your Keystone diploma is an indication that you have completed an academic program of the highest standards and qualities.
Can students work at an accelerated pace and move on to the next grade?
Yes. Keystone helps you to reach your individual potential by encouraging you to study on your own time and at your own pace.
Keep in mind, however, that Keystone policy states that you may not complete a course in fewer than eight weeks from the date of enrollment. (This policy is based on a belief that a course of any material value takes a minimum amount of time for the student to properly absorb, apply, and be assessed on the content.) Contact Student Support at 1-800-255-4937 for more information on working at an accelerated pace.
What kind of computer do I need to take online courses?
You can take our online classes using either a PC or a Mac. As of right now, Linux, iOS, and Android are not officially supported as an operating system by Keystone. If you are running a current version of Firefox and a current version of Adobe Flash Player, our courses should work just fine; however, there may be issues. If such issues come up, we cannot provide support for them at this time. View computer requirements
How much time should parents expect to spend helping their student?
It depends on the individual student, but a parent should expect that students will need help with planning, lots of encouragement, and general oversight.
Parent Support
Does Keystone offer support for families?
Yes, besides academic support from our certified teachers, the Keystone Student Success Advisors are available to assist students to help get them started.
Keystone Support person can access their student progress report at anytime through the Keystone Parent Support application. The Keystone Support Application shows real-time student course progress and grades.
What are Keystone Progress Reports and what kind of information will I see on the Keystone Progress Reports?
The Keystone Progress Reports are available on demand through the Support Application. These reports will give you an update on the progress your student has made in their courses.
The Progress Reports will show the following information:
- The name of each course your student is currently enrolled in. Once a course is completed or withdrawn from, it will no longer appear on the Progress Report.
- Original Enrollment Date. This is the date that you initially enrolled in the course. Courses are due within one calendar year from the original enrollment date, so please be sure that your student is completing work regularly and on pace to finish the courses within 12 months or less.
- Due Date. This is the one year due date provided by Keystone based off of our Original Enrollment Date. All assignments within a course must be completed and successfully receive a grade by this date in order to receive credit for a course.
- Score to Date. The average score earned on all required assessments in the course.
- % Course Completed. The percentage of required coursework your student has completed in the course. Practice activities do not count towards the percentage of course complete. Courses must be 100% complete to receive credit for a course.
- Last Activity Date. The date an assessment was last graded in the course. Teachers have 72 hours from the time an assessment is submitted by a student to grade the work.
- Course Support Email. The contact information for who can assist your student with course content and assessments within each specific course.
Who can get Keystone Progress Reports?
Any Support Persons with a student enrolled in our program, as well as the student enrolled, can receive Progress Reports. Please call Student Support at 1-800-255-4937 with questions regarding access to the Support Application.
Who do I contact if I have questions about the Keystone Progress Reports?
If you have any questions about the Keystone Progress Reports, you can send an email to info@keystoneschoolonline.com or you can call our Student Support Team at 1-800-255-4937.
What is the Keystone Support Application?
If you have a student enrolled in at least one course with Keystone, you have access to the Keystone Support Application. This application gives student information access to support persons. Additionally, the application is available to school counselors or anyone else that supports the student educationally.
What can I do with a Keystone Support Application?
The Keystone Support Application allows you to see the following information:
- All graded work in each course, when they were completed, and grades received.
- Student and support person account information
- Keystone Teacher Link contact information
- Academic records
- Billing information
- direct email access to Student Services
- Access your student’s progress reports.
This account allows parents to see if their student is progressing or has become inactive by not submitting coursework for an extended period of time. Please note, the Support Application does not provide access to student class or workable assignments.
How can I request access to the Keystone Support Application?
Support persons will be able to find access to the Support Application by visiting the Keystone Support Tab within the student’s classes and by reading through the welcome letter that is provided to all students that enroll with Keystone. Additionally, you may call Student Support at 1-800-255-4935 for more information.
My student has been working on his/her courses, why is his/her Score to Date 0.0%?
The "Score to Date" only counts required (weighted) assessments. Your student may be completing practice activities early on in the course, but until your student completes a weighted assessment that counts towards his/her final grade, there will be no score to report on the progress reports.
*The score reported on the progress reports is an estimate. No course grade is final until received on an official Keystone transcript. Please call Student Support at 1-800-255-4937 if you have questions or concerns about the score reported on the progress report.
Who do I contact if I have questions about the Support Application?
If you have questions about the Support App, you can send an email to info@keystonehighschoolonline.com or you can call our Student Support Representatives at 1-800-255-4937.
Why does it say “Credit Hold” when I try to view one of my student’s courses through my observer account?
If you encounter this, please send an email to info@keystonehighschoolonline.com or you can call our Student Support Representatives at 1-800-255-4937.
How do I find my student’s grades using my Support Application?
Your student’s grade can be found under “Student Courses” you then select the name of your student. From this screen you can then view all courses the student is enrolled into. You can also view the courses in greater detail by selecting a specific course.
What if my student needs more help with a course?
Be assured, all Keystone courses offer multiple options for support. When you have a content question and need a teacher, our Teacher Link is available 9–5pm EST for each of your core courses. Look to your classroom to determine proper contact info. When you need help making a schedule or getting on track in your class, our Student Success Advisors are available. Reach out for support anytime via email at studentsuccess@keystonehighschool.com.
Curriculum
What is considered a full course load?
Middle School
Five courses is considered a full course load. Four core courses, one in each of the subject areas: Language Arts, Math, Science and Social Studies, plus one elective course. Core courses cover a full academic year of content (36 weeks) while electives cover 18 weeks of content. Learn more about middle school curriculum.
High School
For high school students, 5 or 6 credits are considered a full course load. Learn more about high school curriculum.
Do you offer courses that cover half an academic year/half credit?
Middle School
Core and advanced courses cover a full academic year (180 hours) of content while electives cover half an academic year (90 hours) of content. Learn more about middle school curriculum.
High School
Most high school courses are available in half credits. Learn more about high school curriculum.
How many hours can a student expect to spend on each course?
Students should expect to spend about 180 hours on a full year/full credit course and about 90 hours on a half year/half credit course. However, students who are gifted in a particular subject may be able to complete a course in less time, while other students might need to spend more time in some courses.
How am I graded?
Keystone uses several types of assessments including practice quizzes, short answer and essay questions, objective multiple choice exams, and oral examinations (when appropriate). This mix provides the independent learner with checkpoints to monitor his or her progress through each course. Students are also required to practice various styles of writing to help ensure learning and develop communication abilities that they'll need after high school.
Which foreign languages do you offer? Can I take a language somewhere else and transfer it to Keystone?
Keystone currently offers Chinese, French, German, Spanish and Latin. These courses are available online, providing the student with interactive tools and lessons specifically designed to improve language skills and comprehension. Enrolled Keystone students who wish to take a different world language at an institution other than The Keystone School or wish to pursue the study of any world language at the college level should email Keystone’s Guidance Department at guidance@keystonehighschool.com for more information about our dual enrollment program. Students who wish to enroll can click here to complete our online Transcript Request Form so we can request your student’s official records and provide a free transcript evaluation of their world language credits. Unofficial and official transcripts can also be emailed to our Guidance Department at guidance@keystonehighschool.com.
Do I have to take courses in a certain order?
You don't have to, but many subjects are covered through a sequence of courses. Let's use math as an example. Some students will start with Refresher Math, move on to Algebra 1, then on to Geometry, then on to Algebra 2, etc. Students move through courses at their own speed, and then go on to the next level when they're ready. All Keystone courses are designed to balance the introduction of new information with the repetition of learned information.
High school students can choose between online and print format. What is the difference?
Keystone’s high school online courses offer a more interactive experience. Courses contain virtual support activities to reinforce learning.
Keystone’s high school print courses are paper based classes delivered to you by postal mail. Students will need to access the Keystone print app virtually to submit their completed work.
Both formats are student centered and offer a sound, accredited, self-directed program that helps student reach their potential.
Do you offer print courses for middle school students?
No, our middle school courses are engaging, interactive online courses designed specifically for middle school students. Learn more about middle school curriculum.
Can high school students mix online and print courses?
Yes, feel free to mix online and print courses.
If I am enrolled in a high school print course can I fax my exams to you instead of mailing them?
Students should submit all print work through our Print App. If you need assistance with this process, please contact student services at 1-800-255-4937 or info@keystoneschoolonline.com
What are Advanced Placement (AP ®) courses?
AP® courses are offered to high school juniors and seniors in many subject areas including Science, Social Sciences, Language Arts, and World Languages. These courses offer advanced students the opportunity to progress through a course with more challenging homework and exams, beyond even Honors course study.
AP® exams are administered every spring by the College Board in your neighborhood during the month of May, and through the exams, students have the opportunity to earn college credit and/or advanced standing at most colleges and universities.
Keystone Teachers
Does Keystone have certified teachers?
Yes. Our teachers are a fundamental part of our school. Parents should have confidence that Keystone’s teachers will help their children achieve their potential.
Keystone’s faculty members are all certified with an average of 11 years of instructional experience. More than 60% of our staff have earned a master’s or doctoral degrees in education or areas of specialty. Meet the Faculty and Staff at Keystone.
Are teachers different for print vs. online courses?
Sometimes. Regardless of which format they teach, all of our instructors are certified and knowledgeable in their subject area. Their focus in all cases is the same: to help you learn, grow, and achieve your individual potential.
How many times can students contact their teachers?
Students are welcome to connect with core course teachers, Monday through Friday between the hours of 9 AM EST and 8 pm EST through the Teacher Link. Students may call or email the Teacher Link to communicate directly with teachers. The Electives Teacher Link is available 1–5pm EST. You can connect with direct support course teachers anytime via email or voicemail extension and you will receive a response in 24 business hours. Look to your classroom to determine proper contact information.
