Virtual High School offers trusted, flexible online OSSD courses, built for today’s busy learners and backed by real teacher support.
The landscape of secondary education is changing. Students are juggling athletics, part-time work, travel, health needs, and complex family lives. Many aren’t well-served by rigid semester schedules, limited course availability, or the inability to take crucial prerequisites when they’re needed. The pandemic accelerated this shift, but the trend was underway long before: learners want control over how, when, and where they learn.
At the same time, access to credible pathways matters more than ever. A single missing prerequisite — especially in STEM — can block a post-secondary goal. Many students are also returning to learning later in life, looking to shift careers without starting from square one. What they need is a flexible way to learn backed by recognized credibility and meaningful support.
The problem with a one-size-fits-all system
Traditional high school structures don’t always reflect the realities of students’ lives. Fixed schedules can leave young people stranded when illness, circumstance, or opportunity disrupts their timeline. “Many learners today want to fit education into their lifestyle, not the other way around,” says Sandi Baker, COO of Virtual High School (VHS).
Students pursuing elite athletics, living abroad temporarily, or navigating health challenges often fall behind through no fault of their own. Others discover late that the course required for their program wasn’t offered, or wasn’t offered when they needed it.
Many learners today want to fit education into their lifestyle, not the other way around.
The Virtual High School model: flexibility, credibility, and support
Founded in 2001, VHS is a fully online, Ministry of Education-inspected private school offering Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) credits. Students can enroll any day of the year and progress at their own pace from anywhere in the world. Some learners complete a single course, while others complete their entire diploma.
Every course is designed by educators using a mix of text, video, and interactive media. Learning is asynchronous and self-paced, supported by real teachers behind the screen. “Because it’s fully asynchronous, it’s essentially like one-on-one teaching,” says Baker. Every student gets personalized feedback from teachers, support from a full guidance team, and access to free online tutoring in most courses.
This model offers distinct advantages. Students aren’t rushed through concepts, nor held back. If they master material quickly, they move on. If they need more time, they take it. And unlike most classroom settings, there are no unfinished units or skipped curriculum content near term-end.
Most importantly, credibility is built into the foundation of Virtual High School. Only schools subject to rigorous Ministry inspection can issue Ontario credits. VHS maintains long-standing trust with Canadian and International post-secondary institutions — relationships fortified over more than two decades of cooperation — and its courses are recognized at all Canadian post-secondary institutions and at institutions around the world. That longevity matters: being early adopters in online education has allowed VHS to set standards, refine their model, and earn institutional confidence over time.
“We’ve been pioneers in this method of education since 1995, and we’ve evolved as online learning has evolved,” says Baker.
And universities have taken notice: admissions offices regularly recommend VHS to students needing a prerequisite.
From students accelerating toward post-secondary study, to adults returning to education, to learners studying internationally, VHS provides a flexible, credible route forward.
Visit Virtual High School to explore flexible, recognized OSSD courses that fit your life — and prepare you for whatever comes next.
