General FAQ

Yes — you need a computer and internet access. If you don't have a computer at home, you can use computers at your school, local library, recreation centers, community centers, or religious centers.

You are expected to spend approximately 90–95% of your course time on the computer. The remainder may involve supplemental reading available at libraries and schools.

Only basic computer skills are needed. The Red Comet platform is user-friendly and designed to be accessible for students at all skill levels.

English language learners: Courses are not specifically designed for ELL learners, but students may work at their own pace and revisit concepts as many times as needed. The platform offers tools to support non-English-speaking students.

Special needs: Red Comet teachers will make necessary accommodations within the online environment, including extended timelines and paper-format tests where applicable. Students must submit proof of IEP documentation prior to enrollment. Red Comet teachers are not endorsed in special education — students with an IEP must continue working with their case manager at their resident school.

Gifted students: Gifted students may enroll in higher grade-level or Advanced Placement (AP) courses.

• Business & Industry
• College & Career Readiness
• Engineering & Technology
• English Language Arts
• Fine Arts
• Health & Fitness
• Life Skills
• Math
• Physical Education
• Science
• Social Studies / Social Sciences
• World Languages

Any student in Kindergarten through Grade 12 may take courses at Red Comet, including homeschooled students. If you are attending a public or private school, please ensure your school approves your enrollment in Red Comet courses.

Yes. Red Comet is accredited by Cognia AdvancEd.

Red Comet's curriculum is available to students across the United States. Red Comet is approved by OSPI in Washington State as an Online Course Provider and offers curriculum aligned to state standards in several states including Washington, Texas, and Arkansas. Several Red Comet courses are also approved by the University of California.

Yes. Students earn credits for Red Comet courses upon successful completion of all course requirements.

Red Comet strongly recommends that you not exceed the standard course load for your grade level — counting both school courses and Red Comet courses combined. This gives you the best chance of success in all your academics.

• If the student is residing in the state of WA and is eligible for the state funded ALE Program, please visit redcomet.org/ale
• If the student is residing in the state of TX and is eligible for the state funded TEFA Program, please visit redcomet.org/texas
• If the student is residing in the state of AR and is eligible for the state funded EFA Program, please visit redcomet.org/arkansas

For students in all other states or for students enrolled in public school, yes — students will need to pay for Red Comet courses.

Please visit our Course Catalog to choose your courses. At checkout, you will be informed of the prices for the courses you have selected and can decide whether to proceed.

No. Course fees are non-refundable. Please ensure this is the right program before enrolling.

Red Comet offers core, AP, and elective courses year-round from Kindergarten through Grade 12. Please visit the Course Catalog for a full listing.

Yes. If students, parents, or schools are paying for the courses, students may enroll at any time during the calendar year, including summer. ALE program restrictions apply for state-funded tuition-free enrollments.

Yes. If the student, parent/guardian, or school/district is paying for the course, students may enroll at any time during the calendar year. Red Comet will enroll the student and send an Orientation Email within 1–2 business days of receiving the order. Students may start as soon as they receive the Orientation Email.

Students may enroll in Red Comet courses for original credit, credit retrieval, or to improve their grades. Red Comet does not offer a separate version of courses for credit recovery — students needing credit recovery must enroll in the original credit version and successfully complete all requirements to receive a transcript. Please see the Course Catalog for a full listing.

Red Comet AP courses are designed with greater academic rigor than standard courses. Completing a Red Comet AP course does not itself count toward advanced college credit, but students may take it for high school credit or as preparation for the College Board AP exam. Successfully completing the course improves a student's chances on the AP exam but does not guarantee a passing score.

Online AP courses are not for every student — students and parents must ultimately decide whether to enroll.

Yes. You will be required to allow pop-ups on the Red Comet website.

Red Comet uses Agilix Buzz®, which supports:

• Google Chrome 30 or newer
• Mozilla Firefox 27 or newer
• Apple Safari (latest 2 versions)
• Microsoft Edge (latest 2 versions)

A high-speed, high-bandwidth connection is required. Dial-up connections are not supported. If access isn't available at home, you can use the internet at your school, local library, community or religious centers, or local businesses offering free Wi-Fi.

Noise-cancelling headsets are recommended for the best learning experience but are not required. You will still be able to complete all coursework without one.

No special software is required. The Red Comet platform is entirely web-based and accessible 24/7.

Contact Red Comet immediately for technical assistance. Technical problems do not excuse you from required work, so it's important to seek help right away. Technical support is available Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM Pacific Time.

Submit a Contact Request Here!

All Red Comet courses are password-protected and secure. We encourage parental involvement and partner with both students and parents to maintain a safe online learning experience. Educating students about the risks of online predators is a shared responsibility.

Red Comet takes online bullying very seriously. The best protection is to never share your password with anyone other than a parent or guardian. If you suspect your account has been compromised, change the password immediately and contact Red Comet.

Yes. Each course includes a navigation module that explains the course layout and how to get started.

You must study all course material and complete all required tests, assignments, and projects. Different courses may have different requirements depending on the subject. Please refer to the grading policy and rubrics within each course to maximize your scores. Tracking your progress consistently on the platform is key to staying on schedule.

The grading policy for each course is published within that course. Review it carefully at the start of your enrollment.

Yes. Red Comet verifies all student submissions for plagiarism — checked against all content available on the internet as well as previous student submissions. A zero score and warning will be issued for plagiarized work, and the school contact will be notified. Repeated violations may result in course suspension until intervention procedures are followed.

Yes. The Red Comet online system is available 24/7, including weekends.

All tests must be completed on the Red Comet platform. We recommend using a laptop or computer with a stable internet connection — not a mobile phone or mobile device.

No — this is seriously discouraged. You are encouraged to take tests as you finish studying each section or unit.

All submissions are made through the Red Comet platform using built-in tools. Depending on the assignment, you may submit text-based responses, PDF documents, audio or video files, or photos of your work (for courses like Fine Arts).

You may submit work as soon as it is complete — there are no restrictions on submission timing. Keeping up with your course schedule is strongly recommended to ensure successful completion.

Yes. You must complete all assignments and tests to receive a final grade. If you choose not to complete certain items, Red Comet will zero out those submissions upon request.

No. Red Comet does not allow test retakes unless there is documented proof of a technical error that caused the test to shut down. All grades are final. Essays and assignments are only excused for students with formal IEP accommodations.

Teachers strive to reply to questions within 24–48 hours during the school week. Grading of submissions is completed within 5 business days.

The best way to contact your Red Comet teacher is through the communication tools on the platform. Teachers will respond to your questions and clarify academic concepts. If needed, they may schedule an appointment to discuss a topic further.

No. A student needs to put in at least 75 hours of study and work time to complete a course. Most students complete a Red Comet course in 3 to 4 months.

Younger children, especially those in elementary grades, will need more guidance if they are homeschooled — they may need help navigating the course or submitting assignments. Middle school students are generally more independent learners. High school students rarely need help navigating courses or making submissions.

Be involved with their learning! Here are practical ways to support your student:

• Help them set a consistent daily schedule — routine drives progress.
• Create a list of assignments, essays, and modules with due dates so they have a clear timeline to follow.
• Discuss assignments with your student and celebrate their successes.
• Log into the Red Comet site weekly to check their progress in each course.
• Contact teachers with academic questions and Red Comet staff with any concerns.

Parents can monitor student progress by requesting an observer account, or by checking the student's account to see what portion of the course has been completed. Parents may also communicate with their student's teacher(s) or Red Comet staff via the contact information provided within the course.

On the student's login or the observer login, parents can monitor their student's progress and grades.

Red Comet staff and teachers welcome parent communication. The best way to reach out is through the Red Comet platform using your issued login. Phone calls are also effective for time-sensitive questions.

Red Comet's curriculum is available to students across the United States. If your student is attending a public or private school, always check with the school directly to confirm they will accept credits or grade reports from Red Comet.

The school must approve the student to register in Red Comet courses. Red Comet will need a school contact — preferably a Registrar — to send the Final Grade Report to once the student completes the course successfully.

Students should work with academic counselors at their public or private school to decide which courses to enroll in. Homeschool parents should help their students choose the right courses. If a student does not attend a public or private school and is not homeschooled, Red Comet will work with school districts to offer academic counseling services.

Yes, if your school will accept credits from Red Comet. If your school is a private high school in WA State, the student may also qualify for tuition-free courses. Otherwise, the student, parent, or school/district will be responsible for the course fee.

Red Comet teachers will make necessary accommodations within the online environment, including extended timelines and paper-format tests (administered by a proctor). Some courses also offer podcast audio files for offline listening. Students with special needs such as autism, ADD/ADHD, visual or hearing impairments have successfully completed coursework on the platform.

Please note that Red Comet teachers are not endorsed in special education. Students with an IEP must continue working with their case manager. Proof of IEP documentation must be submitted prior to enrollment.

Course material is not available offline. However, most courses allow you to print one page at a time.

Yes — this option is available. Please contact us so we can understand your requirements and deliver a solution that fully addresses your needs. Red Comet can set up a separate sub-domain for your school and train your teachers on how to login and grade.

Yes. Red Comet may accept students who have been expelled or are on long-term suspension. These students will be treated as homeschooled students.

No. Students are not required to visit the Red Comet office. All questions can be answered via phone or email.

No. You can work from home or any location with a working computer and high-bandwidth connection. All work is saved on the platform and can be resumed from different locations.

You can contact your Red Comet teacher using the communication tools provided on the platform. Teacher contact information is available at the beginning of every Red Comet course.

You may get general academic help from your school teachers. However, for questions about tests, essay prompts, or submissions, you must contact your Red Comet teacher directly.

No. The platform is entirely web-based. You only need a working computer and a reliable high-bandwidth connection to access the system.

When a student successfully completes a course, Red Comet will email a Course Grade Report to the school — usually to the Registrar. The report contains information on the final grade and credit earned. Upon special request, the Grade Report may be sent via US Mail.

Upon completion of a course, high school students will receive a transcript and lower grade students will receive a Final Grade Report. You may request your transcript using this form: Request Transcript

Students typically have 120 days (approximately 4 months) to complete a semester-length course, or 240 days for a full-year course. The duration depends on the type of program you are enrolled in (AP, Private Pay, etc.).

You will receive a transcript/grade report once the course is 100% complete. If you choose not to complete the course, Red Comet will zero out any remaining submissions and issue a grade report accordingly.

If we do not receive any notification or information from your end to close or put the course on hold, the course will be marked withdrawn on the course end date. It may be reopened if you reach out to us before the end of the academic year (July 31st).

Extensions are available under the following conditions:

• A first extension will be granted automatically for the first month.
• For any subsequent extension, you must provide a feasible reason supported by evidence (e.g., illness, accident, family circumstances).
• Extensions will only be provided for a maximum of 240 days from the course start date. Exceptions may be considered after reviewing your extension request.

No. Red Comet does not issue partial credits.