By the numbers on distance education: a data bank on education trends for district leaders.

23% of all schools offer distance learning programs for students.

Source: Market Retrieval, Technology in Education 2003

K-12 vs. Higher Ed

In the 2002-03 school year, approximately two-thirds of colleges and universities offered distance learning, while less than half of senior high schools did so.

Sr. High    40%
School

Higher      75%
Ed

Source: MDR

Note: Table made from pie chart.

School Type

Percentage of schools offering distance education by grade level

             For Students   For Teachers

Elementary       16%            21%

Middle/Jr.       21%            25%

High School      40%            38%

Source: MDR

IN ADDITION

During the 2002-03 school year, 2/3 of the schools offering Apex online courses used them to expand access to curriculum.

Source: Apex Learning 

Top 7

The states that offer the most distance
learning chances for students:

1. South Dakota     54%

2. Iowa             44%

3. North Dakota     39%

4. Nebraska         38%

5. Alaska           34%

6. South Carolina   34%

7. Hawaii           34%

Source: MDR

AP Courses

The 10 most commonly offered AP distance learning courses:

1. Calculus AB                 33%
2. English                     30%
3. Government & Politics       30%
4. U.S. History                30%
5. Economics-Macroeconomics    27%
6. Economics-Microeconomics    24%
7. Physics S                   24%
8. Statistics                  24%
9. Chemistry                   21%
10.Biology                     15%

Source: The College Board

Urban vs. Rural

Rural schools have the greatest percentage
of distance learning opportunities
while urban schools have the least.

Urban      40%

Suburban   42%

Rural      58%

Source: MDR

Note: Table made from pie chart.

FINISHING WHAT YOU START

84% of students complete the online course in which they are enrolled

Source: Apex Learning