By Alicia Wolff
This table compares three options that Madison-area students have for virtual schooling and online classes.
| Public/ Cost? | Part-time/ Full-time? | Who is eligible? | What is offered? | Other points of interest | |
| Madison Virtual Campus | Public, through the Madison Metropolitan School District, no cost to student in district | Part-time. Students are typically limited to taking at most 2 online classes a semester | Any middle or high school student in the MMSD who meets a ‘compelling need’ | More than 100 semester courses offered, covering graduation requirements courses, Advanced Placement courses and various electives | Online instructors are in based locally in consortium of 12 districts, works closely with student and parents |
| 21st Century eSchool | Public, through the Middleton- Cross Plains School District, no cost to student in district or to approved open-enrollment students | Part-time and full-time. May be taken as a supplement to in-class courses | Any student K-12 in Wisconsin; non-district students must apply during an open-enrollment period and be approved | There are two programs available: K12 offers core subjects and curriculum to every age student, Wisconsin eSchool Network provides core curriculum as well as electives for grades 9-12 | Offers full-time students eligibility to participate in extra-curricular sports and activities within the Middleton-Cross Plains Area Schools |
| Wisconsin Virtual School | Supplemental program for WI, (Not associated with a district), if not currently enrolled in a state district student is responsible for cost | Most students are part-time, but also available full-time | Any student-aged student in the state of Wisconsin, either enrolled in a state district or homeschooled | Offers middle & high school, credit recovery and Advanced Placement core curriculum courses | Appoints a Local Education Guide (LEG) for each student, program has served over 15,000 Wisconsin students since 2000 |
