Seventeen million pre-kindergarten through 12th grade students in the U.S. will get at least some of their education virtually by 2015, according to new research from Ambient Insight. More than four million of these students will get their entire educations virtually, from full-time virtual schools.

While each family has its own reasons for choosing full-time virtual schools, the most common driver is the ability for a student to work at his own pace and level, regardless of what other students are doing. The proliferation and proven success of virtual schools like the national network of Connections Academy schools has also fueled the e-learning education boom. “More parents today know about the solid academic track record of virtual schools. They see that technology helps deliver a more personalized education for their children, so that students’ studies are tailored to their abilities, needs, and interests,” says Connections Academy’s Senior Vice President for Curriculum and Instruction, Dr. Patricia Hoge. “Virtual schools are increasingly the go-to option for students who aren’t thriving in a traditional bricks-and-mortar classroom setting.”

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