Dive Brief:
- At the virtual Silicon Valley High School, 19 low-cost supplementary high school courses are offered to students, teachers, and parents in subjects including art, business, history, math, science, Mandarin, Japanese, Spanish, social studies, and technology.
- Each class costs students between $50 and $100, and students complete classes according to their own self-directed pace.
- Classes don't currently earn students a diploma and are taken in addition to traditional high school coursework.
Dive Insight:
What sets Silicon Valley High School apart from other virtual charters is the fact that the University of California system has reportedly approved some of its classes.
"Silicon Valley High School was formed by Cambridge Manhattan Group, a startup formation and incubation company that founded and owns various Silicon Valley startups including Tynax Inc., the leading patent exchange, SVBS Co. ~ Silicon Valley Business School, offering online business and law programs to students worldwide," the school's website states. "The shareholders in Silicon Valley High School Inc. include the founders and staff as well as Cambridge Manhattan Group."
But the online charter sector is also plagued by many players that exist primarily as an investment opportunity for their founders. Currently, the space is in hot water in California, as an ongoing statewide investigation by Attorney General Kamala Harris' office is examining fiscal practices and accountability at various virtual schools.
