Apex Learning Serves Nearly 52,000 Students During 2001 Fall Semester.

Business/Education Editors

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 8, 2001

Students Completing Apex Learning Online Advanced Placement

Courses Continue to Score as Well as Traditional Classroom Students

Today at the National School Boards Association's Technology + Learning 2001 conference, Apex Learning announced that it will serve nearly 52,000 high school students with its online courses and ClassTools(TM) online teaching assistant during the 2001 fall semester, more than the total number served during the entire 2000-2001 school year. These students represent 1,356 schools in 43 states and Canada - an increase of five times over the prior school year.

Last spring's Advanced Placement (AP) exam results indicate that Apex Learning students continue to score as well as students who participate in traditional classroom AP courses. During the 2000-2001 school year, 60 percent of Apex Learning students who passed their online AP courses, scored a three or better (passing grade) on their AP Exams. The national average is 61.7 percent.

"The past year was incredibly exciting for Apex Learning," said Keith Oelrich, president and CEO. "Our increased enrollments and reach this fall are indicative of the growing acceptance of virtual schools as a way for states and school districts to deal with educational challenges, such as ensuring educational equity. Our students' AP exam results demonstrate that virtual schools are a successful supplement to traditional classroom learning. "

As the leading provider of virtual school solutions for K-12 institutions, Apex Learning now offers 10 online Advanced Placement courses and 12 semesters of foreign language courses. The number of students enrolled in Apex Learning courses this fall is twice the number enrolled during the fall 2000 semester. Recently announced partnerships with Power-Glide, Inc. and the University of Washington will bring 22 additional course semesters to the 2002-2003 school year catalog.

Oelrich continued, "We are committed to continuing to expand our course catalog through strategic partnerships so that schools can ensure that all students have access to the high quality educational opportunities that they need to prepare for success in college and in life."

Apex Learning's virtual school customers recognize the value of the company's online courses, online teaching tools and AP Exam Review product. According to a recent independent customer satisfaction survey, more than 90 percent of educators currently offering Apex Learning online courses would recommend them to their peers in other schools. Additionally:

-- More than 70 percent of participating schools say they expect to enroll the
same or larger number of students in Apex Learning online courses.

-- 45 percent of schools enrolling students in Apex online courses use Apex
Learning as their sole provider of AP courses.

Meeting the Unique Needs of Virtual High Schools

Key to Apex Learning's growing success is its online learning platform designed to address the unique needs of K-12 education. K-12 educators need ongoing access to student progress and results and also have special needs in terms of security of student records and privacy. Working closely with its platform partner Blackboard, Apex Learning created a platform customized for these special requirements. The Apex Learning platform build on key Blackboard 5 features such as the ability for teachers to add, remove and reorder course material; electronic whiteboard with chat; course and district level discussion tools, an online gradebook; and an online bulletin board for course specific announcements.

To create a platform specific to K-12 schools, Apex Learning added features and tools to give educators access to the information that they need to better serve their students. Apex Learning's virtual schools solution includes:

-- Improved performance and progress tracking to enhance student

success.

-- Additional community features to promote communication among

teachers, students and parents.

-- Customization options so that districts and states can tailor

course catalogs and create custom sectioning to match local

needs.

-- Customization and branding options so districts can create

their own virtual school with a look and feel that is

consistent with the district's identity. To date, 28 states

and several large school districts including Chicago, Houston

and Milwaukee, have selected Apex's virtual school platform.

Last year the company served over 50,000 students with its

online courses and AP Exam Review product.

About Apex Learning

Apex Learning (www.apexlearning.com) is the leading provider of virtual school solutions for K-12 institutions. Educators use virtual schools to give more students access to hard-to-staff courses. Apex Learning offers complete solutions including technology, curriculum and support service designed for K-12 requirements. The company was among the first to offer online courses and has four years experience providing effective Internet classrooms for thousands of students. Apex Learning is fully accredited by the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges. Started by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, Apex Learning is a privately held company with investments from Vulcan Ventures, Warburg Pincus, Edison Schools, Maveron LLC, Kaplan Ventures and Michigan State University.

For more information, press only: Lisa Wolfe, L. Wolfe Communications, 312.494.0754, [e-mail]