iLEAD Online Charter School Guide
iLEAD Online Charter School is a tuition-free California public charter school serving TK–12 students through an exclusively virtual learning model.
The school is authorized by Acton-Agua Dulce Unified School District in Los Angeles County. The California Department of Education lists iLEAD Online as an active K–12 public charter school with exclusively virtual instruction. For the 2025–26 school year, CDE reported approximately 425 students enrolled.
iLEAD Online currently enrolls eligible students living in:
- Los Angeles County
- Orange County
- Ventura County
- San Bernardino County
- Kern County
iLEAD Online at a Glance
School Type: Public Charter School
Grades: TK–12
Tuition: Free
Primary Model: Fully Online / Virtual Public School
CDE Virtual Classification: Exclusively Virtual
Parent-Led Homeschool: No
Online Coursework: Yes
Credentialed Teacher Support: Yes
Project-Based Learning: Yes
Personalized Learning: Yes
Flexible Scheduling: Yes
Advanced Placement: Yes
CTE: Yes
Foreign Language: Yes
Visual & Performing Arts: Yes
Credit Recovery: Yes
A–G Courses: Yes
WASC Accredited: Yes
NCAA-Recognized Coursework: Available
Authorizer: Acton-Agua Dulce Unified School District
2025–26 Enrollment: Approximately 425
Program Types
Online Charter School
Virtual Public School
Independent Study
Personalized Online Learning
Project-Based Learning
Teacher-Directed Online Education
Credit Recovery
Advanced Placement
CTE
A–G College Prep
TK–12
What Is iLEAD Online?
iLEAD Online is a California public charter school designed for students who want to complete school primarily through an online learning environment.
It offers:
- Core academic courses
- Electives
- Advanced Placement
- Career Technical Education
- Foreign languages
- Physical education
- Visual and performing arts
- Credit recovery
- Summer courses
- College-preparatory coursework
Students can complete their education from home while receiving academic instruction and support through the school.
Is iLEAD Online a Homeschool Program?
Not in the parent-led homeschool sense.
This is one of the most important distinctions for families comparing iLEAD programs.
iLEAD Online itself states that families looking for a homeschool program with instructional funds should instead look at its sister program, iLEAD Exploration.
So:
iLEAD Exploration
Parent-driven homeschool / personalized independent study
iLEAD Online
School-directed virtual public education
Both happen primarily at home, but the educational model is different.
iLEAD Online vs. iLEAD Exploration
| Feature | iLEAD Online | iLEAD Exploration |
|---|---|---|
| Student learns from home | ✅ | ✅ |
| Public charter | ✅ | ✅ |
| Parent is primary instructor | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Main delivery model | Fully online | Personalized homeschool |
| Curriculum flexibility | More structured | ✅ Much higher |
| Instructional funds | Not homeschool-style funding | ✅ Yes |
| Community providers | Limited compared with Exploration | ✅ Major feature |
| Credentialed teacher support | ✅ | ✅ |
| Online curriculum | ✅ Main model | Optional |
| CDE virtual classification | Exclusively Virtual | Independent study |
| Best fit | Students wanting online school | Families wanting actual homeschooling |
For your directory, I would label iLEAD Online as:
Online / Virtual Charter — Not Parent-Led Homeschool
That makes the difference immediately clear.
What Counties Does iLEAD Online Serve?
For full-time enrollment, iLEAD Online currently serves residents of:
- Los Angeles County
- Orange County
- Ventura County
- San Bernardino County
- Kern County
The school does not currently list Riverside or San Diego County for full-time enrollment.
How Does iLEAD Online Work?
Full-time iLEAD Online students enroll in the charter school and take their coursework through the online program.
Students have access to:
- Online courses
- Credentialed teachers
- Flexible scheduling
- Project-based learning
- Personalized support
- Social-emotional learning
- College and career counseling
- Technology-focused instruction
- Arts integration
The school describes its approach as personalized online education rather than a one-size-fits-all virtual program.
Is iLEAD Online Fully Virtual?
Yes.
CDE currently classifies iLEAD Online Charter as:
Virtual Instruction: Exclusively Virtual.
That is an important difference from homeschool charters that may combine:
- Parent-led teaching
- Printed curriculum
- Vendor classes
- Field trips
- Learning centers
- Online resources
iLEAD Online’s primary school-delivery method is virtual instruction.
Does the Parent Teach?
Parents may still provide support at home, especially for younger learners, but the parent is not the primary teacher in the same way they are in iLEAD Exploration.
The school provides the academic program, coursework, and credentialed educator support.
That makes this much closer to:
“public school online from home”
than:
“parent-led homeschooling through a charter.”
Curriculum at iLEAD Online
iLEAD Online offers a broad catalog covering both core courses and electives.
Current categories include:
- Language Arts
- Math
- Science
- Social Sciences
- Physical Education
- Foreign Language
- Advanced Placement
- Career Technical Education
- General electives
- Visual and Performing Arts
- iLEAD Adventure courses
The course catalog currently includes more than 200 courses across its broader online offerings.
Personalized Learning
Although the program is online, iLEAD emphasizes personalized learning rather than simply placing students into generic online courses.
The school highlights:
- Flexible schedules
- Individual attention
- Project-based learning
- Critical thinking
- Entrepreneurship
- Collaboration
- Social-emotional learning
- Arts integration
- College and career counseling
Students can therefore have flexibility while still following a teacher-supported online school program.
Project-Based Learning
Project-based learning is a major part of the broader iLEAD educational philosophy.
iLEAD Online describes project-based learning as an important component of its independent-study experience.
Rather than relying entirely on traditional worksheets and tests, students may complete projects that require:
- Research
- Problem-solving
- Collaboration
- Presentation
- Critical thinking
- Real-world application
Does iLEAD Online Provide Homeschool Funding?
Not in the same way as iLEAD Exploration.
This is important for your audience.
iLEAD Online explicitly directs families seeking a homeschool program with instructional funds to iLEAD Exploration.
So I would not mark iLEAD Online as offering traditional homeschool instructional funds in your comparison chart.
For your table, use something like:
Educational Funds:❌ No traditional homeschool instructional-fund program
or, if you want to remain extra cautious:
Program-based resources; not iLEAD Exploration-style homeschool funds
Does iLEAD Online Have Approved Vendors?
Not as a major component of its full-time online model.
Unlike iLEAD Exploration, which is built around instructional funds and Community Providers, iLEAD Online primarily provides courses directly through its online school.
So I would not give iLEAD Online the same “approved vendors” checkmark you give Exploration.
That would make the comparison misleading.
Can iLEAD Exploration Students Take iLEAD Online Courses?
Yes.
This is where the two programs connect.
iLEAD Online offers individual courses to students who are already enrolled in other schools, including students enrolled with other iLEAD programs such as iLEAD Exploration.
So an Exploration homeschool student may potentially take an iLEAD Online course without becoming a full-time iLEAD Online student.
Full-Time vs. Part-Time iLEAD Online
iLEAD Online supports both:
Full-Time Enrollment
Students enroll in iLEAD Online Charter School as their primary public school.
Full-time students are not simultaneously enrolled full-time in another public school.
Individual / Part-Time Courses
Students enrolled elsewhere may take selected iLEAD Online courses.
This can be useful for:
- Credit recovery
- Advanced coursework
- Electives
- Summer courses
- Courses unavailable through the student’s main school
Summer School and Track C
iLEAD Online also operates a flexible Track C program.
For summer 2026, Track C offered:
- July 1 start
- 200+ accredited courses
- Credit acceleration
- Credit recovery
- Official high-school transcripts
- College-prep courses
- WASC-accredited coursework
- NCAA and UC A–G-approved course options
This can be particularly useful for students who want to accelerate or make up credits.
High School at iLEAD Online
iLEAD Online serves students through Grade 12 and offers extensive secondary-school coursework.
Students can access:
- Core academic courses
- A–G college-prep courses
- Advanced Placement
- Career Technical Education
- Foreign language
- Visual and performing arts
- Electives
- Credit recovery
- College and career counseling
This makes iLEAD Online particularly relevant for middle- and high-school students who need scheduling flexibility.
UC A–G Courses
iLEAD states that its high-school coursework includes UC A–G-approved classes.
Students planning to apply to a University of California or California State University campus should still work with school counseling staff to make sure their individual course sequence meets current admissions requirements.
Advanced Placement
Advanced Placement courses are included among the current iLEAD Online course categories.
Availability may depend on:
- Grade level
- Course prerequisites
- Enrollment capacity
- School year
Career Technical Education
iLEAD Online also offers Career Technical Education, or CTE, coursework.
CTE allows students to explore career-oriented subjects alongside traditional academics.
Families should check the current course catalog for available pathways.
Is iLEAD Online Accredited?
Yes.
iLEAD Online currently identifies itself as WASC accredited.
Its summer program also advertises WASC, NCAA and UC A–G-approved course options.
Is iLEAD Online a Public School?
Yes.
CDE identifies iLEAD Online Charter as:
Public School: Yes
Charter: Yes
Status: Active
Grades: K–12
County: Los Angeles
District: Acton-Agua Dulce Unified
Charter Number: 1902
Virtual Instruction: Exclusively Virtual
Opened: August 22, 2017
How Many Students Attend iLEAD Online?
For the 2025–26 school year, the California Department of Education reports:
425 students
enrolled at iLEAD Online Charter.
Is iLEAD Online Free?
Yes.
iLEAD Online is a nonprofit, tuition-free California public charter school.
There is no private-school tuition for eligible full-time students.
iLEAD Online Enrollment for 2026–27
iLEAD opened its 2026–27 enrollment lottery earlier in 2026.
All grade-level admissions were determined through a public random lottery, with available seats filled first and then waitlists established by grade.
Eligible applicants include TK–12 students living in:
- Los Angeles
- Orange
- Ventura
- San Bernardino
- Kern counties
Families should check current availability because lottery and waitlist status can change after the initial enrollment period.
Who Might Like iLEAD Online?
iLEAD Online may appeal to families looking for:
- Fully online public school
- Flexible scheduling
- Credentialed online teachers
- Project-based learning
- Personalized education
- A–G high-school courses
- Advanced Placement
- CTE
- Credit recovery
- Summer coursework
- College and career counseling
- TK–12 online continuity
It may be especially useful for students who need schedule flexibility because of:
- Athletics
- Performing arts
- Travel
- Work
- Medical scheduling
- Accelerated academics
- Other commitments
Who Might Prefer iLEAD Exploration Instead?
Families may prefer iLEAD Exploration if they specifically want:
- Parent-led homeschooling
- Curriculum choice
- Instructional funds
- Community Providers
- Vendor classes
- A customized homeschool plan
- More control over daily instruction
iLEAD itself directs families seeking homeschool with instructional funds toward Exploration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is iLEAD Online a homeschool charter?
It is a home-based online charter school, but not a parent-led homeschool program like iLEAD Exploration.
CDE classifies iLEAD Online as exclusively virtual, and iLEAD directs families seeking homeschool instructional funds to Exploration.
Is iLEAD Online free?
Yes.
It is a tuition-free California public charter school.
Does iLEAD Online provide homeschool instructional funds?
Not like iLEAD Exploration.
Families specifically seeking instructional funds for parent-directed homeschooling are directed by iLEAD to Exploration.
Is iLEAD Online completely online?
Yes.
CDE currently classifies its virtual instruction as Exclusively Virtual.
Can students take iLEAD Online courses part-time?
Yes.
Students enrolled elsewhere may take individual iLEAD Online courses, subject to enrollment rules.
Does iLEAD Online offer AP?
Yes.
Advanced Placement is among its current course categories.
Does iLEAD Online offer CTE?
Yes.
CTE is also listed among its current course categories.
Does iLEAD Online offer credit recovery?
Yes.
The school offers both regular and summer credit-recovery opportunities.
Does iLEAD Online serve Los Angeles County?
Yes.
Does iLEAD Online serve Orange County?
Yes.
Does iLEAD Online serve San Bernardino County?
Yes.
Does iLEAD Online serve Ventura County?
Yes.
Does iLEAD Online serve Kern County?
Yes.
Does iLEAD Online serve Riverside County?
No current full-time enrollment page lists Riverside County.
Does iLEAD Online serve San Diego County?
No current full-time enrollment page lists San Diego County.
iLEAD Online Charter School Contact Information
iLEAD Online Charter School
3720 Sierra Highway, Suite A
Acton, CA 93510
Phone: (661) 644-8701
Email: online.classes@ileadschools.org
Grades: TK–12
Authorizer: Acton-Agua Dulce Unified School District
Charter Number: 1902
Model: Exclusively Virtual
External Resources
California Department of Education – iLEAD Online Charter
Internal Resources
Compare Los Angeles County Homeschool Charter Schools
Compare Orange County Homeschool Charter Schools
Compare San Bernardino County Homeschool Charter Schools
Because iLEAD Online serves those three counties among your existing county guides.
Important Note
CA Homeschool Hub is an independent informational resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by iLEAD Online Charter School.
Course offerings, enrollment capacity, county eligibility, accreditation, graduation requirements, and program schedules can change.
Always verify current information directly with iLEAD Online before enrolling.