Welcome to American School
A not-for-profit leader in distance education — offering accredited middle school and high school courses in grades 6–12, in flexible online and paper-based formats, at a cost you can afford.
Why families choose American School
Curriculum
Cost
Caring Student Service
Credibility
Tap any card to learn more.
Choose a program
Middle School
A full 3-year, 15-unit middle school program that builds a strong academic foundation — all materials included.
Learn moreHigh School Diploma
General and College-Preparatory diploma tracks — a full 4-year, 20-unit accredited high school program.
Learn moreIndividual Courses
Take single courses for enrichment or credit recovery — more than 100 self-paced options across seven subject areas.
Explore coursesEducation: The Key to Success
See what sets American School apart from other distance-education high schools — more than a century of caring, accredited instruction.
Our Story Notable AlumniAffordable, all-inclusive tuition
As a not-for-profit institution, American School keeps tuition affordable — and every program includes textbooks, study materials, grading and record-keeping at no additional cost. Enroll anytime and work at your own pace.
High School Diploma
Full 4-year, 20-unit diploma program. General or College-Prep track.
Middle School
Full 3-year, 15-unit middle school program.
Individual Courses
Single courses for enrichment or credit recovery.
Flexible monthly payment plans
Full-year and full-diploma programs offer flexible payment schedules starting at $170 per month — with no interest charges and very few extra fees along the way. Most students receive their course materials within a week of enrolling, often sooner.
Middle School Program
American School’s accredited middle school program serves students in grades 6–8 with a self-paced, flexible curriculum that builds a strong foundation for high school success.
What’s included
A full 3-year, 15-unit program covering core subjects — English, math, science and social studies — with all textbooks, study guides, grading and record-keeping included. Total tuition is $3,300, with payment plans from $170/month.
How it works
Students enroll anytime and study on paper, online, or a mix of both. Exams are hand-graded by qualified instructors who provide detailed, encouraging feedback. Help is available from American School staff during business hours.
High School Diploma Program
For most of its long history American School has focused on helping students graduate from high school — and that remains a primary focus today. Choose from two accredited diploma tracks in grades 9–12.
General High School Program
A flexible path to an accredited high school diploma for students who want a well-rounded secondary education at their own pace.
College Preparatory Program
A diploma track designed for students planning to continue on to college and university study.
Accepted where it counts. American School’s diploma is accepted by colleges and universities, and thousands of high schools use American School courses for credit recovery. The full 4-year, 20-unit program is $4,400, with payment plans from $170/month.
Browse American School courses
More than 100 self-paced courses across seven subject areas. Tap a category to see what’s inside — the counter shows the total number of courses available.
seven subject areas
129 years of distance education
American School is one of the oldest and largest distance-education institutions in the world. Chartered as a not-for-profit “not organized for the distribution of profits,” it has served students on that basis for more than a century.
“The American School, a not-for-profit distance learning institution, is dedicated to providing quality instruction at a reasonable cost to those students who are seeking an alternative means of attaining their education.”
Milestones — tap any point to expand
American School has no owners or stockholders; it is governed by a Board of Trustees, which elects the President and Executive Committee. In its history it has helped more than three million students earn their high school diplomas.
The Four C’s
Regardless of how many accredited courses you study, these are the benefits that set American School apart from other distance-education schools.
Curriculum
American School’s innovative paper-based and online curriculum offers something for everyone in grades 6–12. Students choose from more than 100 self-paced courses in English, math, social studies and science, plus electives in business, career and technical education, fine arts and world languages.
Cost
As a not-for-profit institution, American School puts students’ educations first. 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. Monthly payment plans are available.
Caring Student Service
Students receive interesting curriculum at a reasonable cost from a pioneer in distance education — and outstanding, caring student service. Students may enroll anytime, work at their own pace, and get help from American School staff during regular business hours.
Credibility
Founded in 1897, American School was the first correspondence school to become regionally accredited. Today it is accredited by three reputable bodies and recognized by the Illinois State Board of Education. Its diploma is accepted by colleges and universities, and thousands of high schools use its courses for credit recovery.
Accreditations & affiliations
American School was the first distance-learning school to receive regional accreditation. Today it is accredited by three reputable bodies and recognized by the Illinois State Board of Education.
Middle States Association (MSA-CESS)
Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools accredits early-childhood through post-secondary institutions, including distance-education schools. American School was the first distance-learning school to receive regional accreditation.
Learn more →Accreditation International (Ai)
Accreditation by Ai affirms that American School defines appropriate educational goals, maintains a qualified faculty, assesses outcomes and plans for continuous improvement.
Learn more →National Council for Private School Accreditation (NCPSA)
NCPSA recognition reflects American School’s adherence to rigorous standards for private-school quality and accountability.
Learn more →Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE)
Recognized as a non-public secondary school by ISBE — a distinction held since 1978, when American School became the first home-study school recognized in this way.
Learn more →Better Business Bureau — A+
A 92-year affiliation with the BBB of Chicago & Northern Illinois and an A+ rating, the highest a business can receive.
Learn more →Founding Member, DETC
American School was a founding member of the Distance Education and Training Council — further proof of its leadership in distance education.
Three million students — and counting
Christopher Paolini
American School graduate Christopher Paolini completed high school early and went on to write the bestselling Inheritance Cycle — Eragon, Eldest, Brisingr and Inheritance. Like every American School student, he learned at his own pace with personal attention on every assignment.
Many American School students have become famous in entertainment, sports, the arts and business — but every student receives the same caring, personalized instruction. Search the roster or filter by field.
And many more: Wilson Chandler (basketball), Alexander & Danielle Gamelin (ice dancing), Randi Griffin (hockey), Elena Hight (snowboarding), Andrea Jaeger (tennis), Robert Morstein-Marx (Rhodes Scholar), Kathleen Horvath (tennis), Garrett Smith (rodeo), Rachel Weathersby (fashion), Phillip Simmonds (tennis), and more than three million more.
What students say
American School media kit
Everything you need to write about American School — fast facts, brand assets and boilerplate. Tap Copy on any fact to grab it for your story.
Fast facts
Brand assets
Boilerplate
Founded in 1897, American School is a not-for-profit leader in distance education that has helped more than three million students in all 50 states and 65+ countries earn accredited middle school and high school diplomas. American School is accredited by MSA-CESS, Accreditation International (Ai) and NCPSA and is recognized as a non-public secondary school by the Illinois State Board of Education.
Live information sessions
Is American School right for your family?
Join a free live information webinar with our enrollment team. Learn how self-paced, accredited distance education works — and get your questions answered in real time.
- How enrollment and pacing work
- Choosing middle school, high school or individual courses
- Tuition, payment plans and what’s included
- Live Q&A with the enrollment team
American School videos
See American School in action. Visit the official YouTube channel for student stories, program overviews and how distance education works.
Get in touch
Thank you for your interest in American School. Send us a message below and our public relations team will get back to you — typically within one business day.
American School
2200 East 170th Street
Lansing, IL 60438
Phone: 708-418-2800
Reply within one business day.