21K vs K12: Which Online School Is Better?

The CEO of 21K School said that he shuffled the letters in K12 education and made it 21K. But why so?

21K School was formed to represent the 21st-century learners who want flexibility in the choice of subjects and ways of teaching.

K12 is another online school that is confined to structured and online academic training of learners from Kindergarten to Class 12.

A detailed comparison through this piece would be valuable for parents and kids who are planning to get admission in accredited online schools while understanding their demands from the education system.

What is 21K School?

21K School, founded in 2020, is the first fully online school in India that enables learners to complete their education from nursery to higher secondary.

It offers education remotely to learners who shift multiple times due to their parents' career-related commitments.

After acquiring highly recognised certifications from the Indian (NCF, NIOS) and global curricula (Cambridge, Pearson Edexcel), learners can find their respective career paths.

21K School provides real-time learning through live sessions and offers flexible learning with interactive, recorded lectures.

Currently, it has been established in more than 500 cities with global peer exposure from 78+ nations.

With the help of well-trained facilitators, high-tech applications, and guidance counsellors, parents and children feel at peace completing their education from 21K School.

Key features of 21K School

The main features of 21K school can be mentioned as:

• Flexible, Online Learning: 21K School organises classes that are highly flexible. Learners can choose to attend classes as per their choice of scheduled sessions.

• Global Richness: 21K School is established in more than 78 countries across the globe, which means children get to understand global perspectives through their peers in class.

• Multiple Curriculum Options: To cater to learners worldwide, 21K School offers varied types of curriculum of both British (IGCSE, Cambridge, and AS or A level) and Indian pathways (NCF for classes 1-8, and NIOS for classes 9-12).

• Student-centred Approach: 21K School believes that every child is unique, and thus their capabilities should be improved and cherished during their developmental phase. It offers holistic learning for learners through its 21K Learning Garage.

• Live Interactive Classes: You can select from the four session timings and batch sizes that focus on individual attention for each kid in the class. In these sessions, learners participate and learn through live classes. These live classes can also be accessed later as recorded lectures for facilitation in learning.

What is K12?

K12 is an education provider that collaborates with private-sector and public-sector schools to provide US-based education to learners across the world.

It is designed to cater for learners from Kindergarten to Class 12, and guarantees successful graduation.

The live, online classes offer structured learning to learners through proper academic training, the presence of certified teachers and a supportive environment.

It provides online classes to learners who feel more comfortable in a board-and-table setup. The classroom environment is similar to a conventional classroom, where attendance and other aspects are followed accordingly.

Key features of K12

K12 is distinct from other schools due to its central features, including:

• Flexibility in Access: Learners can learn from different sessions to suit different work schedules of families, so that they can also participate in co-curricular activities and get academically trained.

• Parental Support: K12 education providers also ensure that parents can equally engage in their child's learning and act as mentors who are also responsible for their attendance and assignments.

• Recognised Curriculum: High-quality courses in major subjects are generally offered through a globally recognised US-based curriculum for in-depth understanding and academic excellence.

• Individualised Approach: Another feature of K12 is that it has something for all learners, helps them attain their goals in future, and focuses on meeting the needs of each learner.

• Extracurriculars: Since K12 modifies itself with respect to each state and its respective regional demands in education, learners get to show their skills in extracurricular activities.

15 key differences 21K School vs K12

21K School and K12 are two different online schools that differ primarily in the way of teaching.

Apart from K12 having highly structured classes and 21K School adding more flexibility in learning plans with the help of recorded sessions, other major distinctions include:

1. Accreditation and recognition

• 21K: 21K School operates within accepted academic models for global learners and provides internationally designed curricula. It could be used for homeschooling and online learning, which is becoming widely recognised globally.

• K12: K12 collaborates with known schools and educational boards from the United States. Its programs are mainly known in the U.S. educational system.

2. Curriculum offered

• 21K: 21K School has several curriculum modules, such as the British, and Indian educational systems. 21K School makes learning possible for Indian as well as international students. It also facilitates advanced learning for Indian learners who want to go abroad for their future academic goals.

• K12: The majority of state standards are U.S. state-based. This means K12 emphasises American education that fulfils the graduation requirements of all learners.

3. Graded coverage

• 21K: 21K School provides age-appropriate online programs to students from early years to Grade 12.

• K12: K12 also includes Kindergarten through Grade 12 and has specialised pathways in high school to prepare students for college and career.

4. Live classes

• 21K: Students can experience the interactive live classes and recorded lessons with 21K School and learn at their own pace.

• K12: K12 has a more regimented schedule and has clear class times and attendance.

5. Physical learning space

• 21K: 21K School has unique Experiential Centres and Learning Garages that provide spaces for learners to engage in practical experiences through collaborative learning, hands-on learning, and inclusive workshops.

• K12: K12 mainly provides virtual classrooms and does not have a lot of physical experiential centres.

6. Assessment criteria

• 21K: 21K School values the process of continuous assessment, projects, presentations and skill-based assessment.

• K12: K12 uses more exams and standardised academic assessments that match the educational systems in the United States. It involves learners in end-of-lesson tests, unit tests, quizzes, and final exams at the end of yearly sessions.

7. Technology used

• 21K: 21K School utilises modern digital learning tools to provide personalised learning journeys. FLOWW helps learners in 21K School to experience extraordinary learning systems to boost creativity and imaginative skills.

• K12: Communication and academic tracking become way easier due to the powerful online learning management system in K12 schools. The technology is also responsible for taking attendance and conducting online classes for learners.

8. Global reach

• 21K: 21K School has a global reach since it offers education to learners across the globe, and has Indian, and British Curricula to offer adequate learning opportunities.

• K12: K12 is largely centred around the United States. Private and public schools follow the U.S.-based curriculum and offer education that aligns with a particular state.

9. Teaching methodology

• 21K: 21K School works on the principles of experiential, student-centred and inquiry-based learning based on creativity and independent thinking.

• K12: K12 uses a structured model for instruction, teacher-led, and with goals for the completion of instruction.

10. Faculty availability

• 21K: Individual needs of learners are met and catered for by facilitators and mentors at 21K School.

• K12: The overall organisation of the K12 teachers is the standard teacher-student organisation, in which the teachers are generally available during the designated academic hours.

11. Learner to facilitator ratio

• 21K: 21K School is more likely to have a lower learner-to-facilitator ratio for more individualised interactions.

• K12: Depending on the school program partnered with, the K12 may be a relatively large online classroom.

12. Fees

• 21K: The fee structure of 21K Schools are comparatively cheaper than that of other Gulf schools that offer internationally-recognised curriculum. It differs depending on the learning program, level, and curriculum. The fee increases when a learner participates in multiple programs and Learning Garage Centres.

• K12: Pricing varies according to the type of school that students attend. This includes public virtual schools and private tuition schools.

13. Flexibility

• 21K: 21K School offers flexibility in lesson schedules, pace, and learning styles so that students can achieve beyond just grades. The 21K School is ideal for homeschooling families who switch cities more often. Athletes, artists, travellers, and learners with an entrepreneurial mindset can get the best of 21K School.

• K12: Unlike conventional schools, K12 offers flexible online classes with multiple sessions in a day. It ensures efficient academic training without sacrificing a structured approach to schoolwork.

14. Parent engagement

• 21K: 21K School encourages collaborative participation of parents by inviting them to PTMs and discussing their child's performance chart. Parents can offer their guidance and supervision at home and give necessary updates to facilitators at 21K School.

• K12: Parents can offer significant help as learning coaches or supervisors at home, particularly in the case of younger learners, at K12. They can share such information with teachers through online messaging apps and personal chats to maintain confidentiality.

15. Advanced learning

• 21K: 21K School’s FLOWW is a future-oriented learning initiative that focuses on learners' ability to go beyond marks. It pushes their innovation, entrepreneurship, creativity and skill development to another level of precision and advancement.

• K12: K12 is about career readiness, Advanced Placement (AP) courses and college readiness programs.

Who should choose which school is right: A final verdict

21K School and K12 are both online institutions that provide education to learners from their homes.

Both are flexible in sessions, but the major difference is that the former is an independent school, while the latter works in association with both private and public schools.

Learners who want flexibility in learning times and prefer international curricula can go for 21K School education.

Here, the education is individualised, and learners can practice experiential learning while also travelling actively.

Choose K12 if you prefer a structured U.S.-based education system where the curriculum is based on American academic standards, no matter the state in which it is being implemented.

Both are great options for acquiring education, but the choice lies in your hands based on your future planning and career preferences. Many learners who want a traditional learning environment in online schools go for K12, and you can too.

Concluding comments

Currently, more and more families are switching to education systems that feel productive and equally safe for their kids. 21K School and K12 make it easier.

K12 reflects a more structured system to train learners and guide them towards their graduation level.

21K School sets a different platform for learning where learners learn through experiences. The exposure given here is customised and hands-on, which promotes creativity and self-regulated learning opportunities.

Parents need to be wise while choosing what's best for their children as they learn and grow to become successful.

Frequently asked questions