Stride's Online Career Schools Top $1 Billion in Revenue

Stride Inc. reported that revenue from its middle and high school career learning programs exceeded $1 billion in fiscal year 2026. The publicly traded education company said this segment represents its fastest-growing business, marking a 19% increase over the previous year. Stride now manages more than 50 online secondary schools that offer career-oriented programs to students across the United States.

The expansion into career and technical education responds to rising student interest in vocational training. Many families seek alternatives to four-year college degrees, looking for ways to enter the workforce with industry-recognized credentials. Stride and competitors like Pearson and Edmentum have expanded their digital offerings to meet this demand. These programs often target students in rural areas or those who struggle in traditional classroom settings.

Student experiences at Stride-operated schools vary significantly by state and individual circumstance. In Idaho, Mileka Hager attended the Idaho Technical Career Academy, a virtual school of about 200 students. Hager chose the business track and attended live online classes for four hours daily. She earned eight professional certifications, which she plans to use when seeking entry-level employment. State data shows that 61% of students at her school earned industry-recognized credentials in the 2024-25 school year, compared to a state average of 7%.

In contrast, Cori Space attended the Alabama Destinations Career Academy during her sophomore year. Her mother, Hilary Space, said staff never discussed enrolling Cori in a specific career path. Cori attended live classes for only two hours twice a week and typically finished homework in under an hour. Hilary Space described the school days as "concerningly short" and questioned why the program is considered a career readiness initiative.

Stride spokesperson Brooke Gabbert defended the company's approach. She noted that many students enroll midyear and are academically behind, making direct outcome comparisons difficult. Gabbert stated that students are monitored through assignment completion, course performance, and participation metrics. She explained that some students take career courses to satisfy district graduation requirements rather than to complete a full career track. "This variation is by design, not a gap in outcomes," Gabbert said.

State regulations for these programs differ widely. Idaho requires private providers to operate as public charter schools governed by independent nonprofit boards. The state reviews each vocational program every five years. Chet Andes, director of program quality at the Idaho Division of Career Technical Education, said officials monitor end-of-pathway assessments and offer support when scores are low.

Alabama offers local school districts more latitude. A 2015 state law allows districts to contract directly with private entities to run virtual schools. Local boards create the rules, but oversight is decentralized. A county superintendent told the Alabama Political Reporter in 2020 that there has never been enough oversight of these schools. The Alabama State Department of Education did not respond to recent inquiries.

At the Wisconsin Destination Career Academy, which serves 750 students, teachers facilitate job shadowing and ship practice kits for hands-on training. Students in health sciences use blood-typing and suture materials during live video sessions. However, Wisconsin state data indicates that only 16 students earned an industry-recognized certification between the 2021-22 and 2024-25 school years. Stride officials dispute this number, citing a different definition of industry certifications. The school's 2024-25 academic growth score placed it in the bottom 10% of state high schools.

Experts suggest lawmakers could improve oversight by adjusting funding models. In Texas, legislators passed a law last fall giving districts a $3,000 to $5,000 bonus for each student who graduates with an industry-recognized certificate. Other experts recommend partial payment schemes where companies receive half their funding upfront and the remainder only when they meet specific performance metrics.

Elly Krawinkel attended the Wisconsin academy as a junior in 2023. She chose the agriculture and natural resources track but graduated last May without industry credentials or work-based credits. Her mother, Heather Krawinkel, said teachers were supportive, but Elly's anxiety limited her participation. Elly is currently not working or in school.