Some Keystone Oaks students didn't have to leave their homes when class started this week.

As attendants of the district's new cyber high school, they were able to learn wherever they logged on.

"It's another way to help students get a high school diploma," said Scott Hagy, principal at Keystone Oaks High School.

It's also a way for the district to stop losing money to other online schools, he said.

When students withdraw from Keystone Oaks and enroll in cyber school, the district is billed for those students. It can cost $10,000 to $12,000 per student.

"It's a huge chunk of money we're losing," he said.

Last year, it cost Keystone Oaks about $400,000, he said.

"We decided to start our own program, giving us a chance to save money and provide the same curriculum to students online that they'd learn in class," he said.

Twelve students are enrolled so far during the program's first year and they will save the district $100,000, he said. Those students preferred the online school instead of the high school campus for various reasons, he said.

"Some have a hard time starting at 7:30 a.m., some would rather work more in the evenings, some have social challenges. One is a teen mom who was going to drop out because she didn't have a baby sitter. Now she can stay in school," he said.

Those students, who are all minors, didn't have the proper paperwork filled out with the district to be interviewed by the media.

The online school is offered to students in grades eight through 12. The curriculum is provided by Arizona-based Odysseyware and is tailored to the in-class material at Keystone Oaks.

Odysseyware is offered in many districts across the country and is similar to the models that most colleges and universities use, according to Annie Hiller, spokeswoman for the company.

Students must go to the high school for test-taking to verify they are doing the work and may also go if they need additional learning support. Hours are set aside for cyber students from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays.

"That face-to-face support will increase their success rate," Mr. Hagy said.

In addition to the core classes required for graduation, the cyber school also offers electives that include business classes, music theory and physical education among others.

The physical education courses teach nutrition and suggested physical activities and provide a form for students to log their progress.

It does cost the district a little extra to pay teachers for additional hours four days a week, but it doesn't compare to what the district is saving, he said.

How much the extra work costs the district depends on what the teacher makes and how often he or she is there.

Of the 2,175 students in the district, 25 students are still enrolled in other cyber schools in addition to the 12 enrolled in Keystone Oaks' online school.

Some of those 25 are elementary students. Mr. Hagy said the district is targeting only secondary students for the online school at this time.

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