You may have heard the commercials that say cyber charter schools are free. The truth is: they aren’t. Each time a student chooses an outside cyber program, Apollo-Ridge must send thousands of dollars in tuition out of our district’s budget.
As Superintendent, I believe it’s important for our community to understand how your tax dollars are used to support students. When a student from Apollo-Ridge enrolls in a cyber charter school, the district is legally required to pay tuition to that program. That money does not come from the state — it comes directly from our district’s budget.
The Cost to Apollo-Ridge
This year alone, Apollo-Ridge is paying $1,038,456.72 in tuition for just 44 students who enrolled in outside cyber charter schools. These funds are pulled directly from the resources that support classrooms, teachers, extracurricular activities, and student programs here in our community.
Here is a breakdown of per student cyber charter tuition rates for the 2025–2026 school year:
- Regular Education tuition: Increased from $16,541.57 last year to $17,933.13 this year
- Special Education tuition: Increased from $28,576.53 last year to $31,788.63 this year
Based on enrollment, that means an overall increase of $98,173.04 in just one year.
Cyber charter schools often charge tuition rates that match — or even exceed — the cost of educating a student in a traditional public school. Yet they don’t bear the same expenses as brick-and-mortar schools, such as maintaining facilities, offering athletics, arts programs, extracurricular, or providing face-to-face student supports. In short: we pay premium tuition for fewer opportunities.
Our In-House Cyber Option
We respect that families want choices, and we recognize that cyber education can be the right fit for some students. That’s why Apollo-Ridge has partnered with Educere to provide an in-house cyber program tailored to our students’ needs.
Currently, 33 students are enrolled in our in-house program — at a total tuition cost for all 33 students of just $26,311.00. Compare that to the more than $1 million we are paying for 44 students in outside programs, and the difference is clear.
Here’s why our Apollo-Ridge Virtual Academy (ARVA) is a smart choice for families:
- Seamless re-enrollment back to in-person classes if desired
- Participation in extracurricular activities, athletics, and school events
- District-provided laptop and local technology support
- Graduation with an Apollo-Ridge diploma
With ARVA, students have the flexibility of online learning while still benefiting from the support, resources, and community connections of Apollo-Ridge.
To learn more about ARVA, please contact Dr. Chris Clark, Director of Special Programs, at [email protected].
Why This Matters
When families choose Apollo-Ridge’s in-house cyber option, your tax dollars stay in our classrooms and community — supporting our teachers, programs, and students. Every dollar kept here strengthens the Viking community and helps us invest in brighter futures for all of our students.
Together, we can ensure that Apollo-Ridge continues to offer strong, well-rounded opportunities for every child — whether they learn in person or online.
Apollo-Ridge Virtual Academy – Special Programs – Apollo-Ridge School District