Answer 1: So far, I've only found one accredited school, Ashworth Career School, offers college prep diploma program and general high school diploma program.

Answer 2: There are many accredited online high schools in the US. Ashworth's "James Madison High School" is but one! Ashworth College's direct competitor -- Penn Foster College -- also operates a high school; and it, too, is accredited.

To be clear, "accredited," at the high school level, means accredited by an agency approved by the US Department of Education (USDE). But there's a caveat...

USDE approves two kinds of accreditors:

1) National accreditors

2) Regional accreditors

The six big USDE-approved "regional" accreditors are the ones that most people have heard about. Heck, some people don't even know that there's any other kind of accreditation. In fact, some people who know any better use the term "regionally accredited" or "regional accreditation" to mean just plain "accredited" or "accreditation." And that's because, again, they don't even realize that there's anything else; so they just use the two terms synonymously.

However, among at least some of those who know anything at all about accreditation, there is a decided -- albeit insensible -- prejudice against schools that are "nationally" (rather than "regionally") accredited. This is true at both the high school (secondary) and college (post-secondary) levels; but it is especially true at the high school level!

While a "nationally" accredited college, university, seminary or trade/career college's diploma may or may not be acceptable to employers, other colleges, or even governmental agencies...

...there is no question that a diploma from an only-"nationally" accredited high school will not be acceptable to most employers, most colleges/universities, and most governmental agencies which require a high school diploma for whatever reason.

With most employers, colleges/universites, and governmental agencies which require a high school diploma for whatever reason, only one from a "regionally" accredited high school will do. Period.

Again, both "national" and "regional" accreditation is, at the high school level, USDE approved; and at the college level, it's both USDE approved, and also approved by the USDE-sanctioned Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)! However, "national" accreditation, for whatever reason, seems not to be as accepted as "regional" accreditation. While it's arguable at the college level, though, it's positively true at the high school level.

And so, then, whatever high school you choose, please make sure that it's at least "regionally" accredited, and not only "nationally" accredited. It can be both -- and that's okay because the "regional" accreditation trumps the "national" one -- but it must be at least "regionally" accredited if it's a high school. Please do not ignore that advice!

Ashworth's James Madison High School is both "nationally" and "regionally" accredited; so that's perfect!

Ashworth's career school, and its college are only "nationally" accredited; and while I believe that that's also perfect, there are, again, many employers, colleges/universities, and governmental agencies who disagree. So even at the college level, it make be safer to just stick with "regionally" accredited schools.

Ashworth's most direct competitor -- Penn Foster College -- is in exactly the same situation: Its career programs and its college are "nationally" accredited; but it's high school is both "nationally" and "regionally" accredited.

See the "sources and related links" section, below, to see a link I've placed there to CHEA's "Higher Education Transfer Alliance" (HETA) web page which argues that all accreditation -- both national and regional -- should be equally respected; and which encourages all employers, colleges/universities, and government agencies to equally accept both nationally and regionally accredited academic credentials.

Ashworth and Penn Foster, though, are far from the only accredited online high schools in the US. There's nice fellow out there named TOM NIXON who has written the two definitive books on acquiring a high school diploma by other than traditional means; and he has a companion website on which he lists -- available to anyone, for free -- the US's best online high schools!

There are many of them from which to choose! Some are expensive, some are inexpensive, and some are even free! That's right: FREE. Some state departments of education, and/or local school districts, have launched online high school programs for students who live in their states or districts so that those who get kicked-out of high school, or who quit, may circle back and still graduate by enrolling in the online program; andsome of those programs are free! Do check with your state department of education, and/or your local city/county school district to see if such a program exists.

Whatever online high school in which you enroll, however, must be "regionally" accredited. Do not believe anyone who tells you otherwise! And be careful and and sure, even on Tom Nixon's excellent "Best Online High Schools" website, that any online high school you consider is "regionally" (and not "nationally") accredited. Do not accept any other kind of accreditation!

See the "sources and related links," below.

Belford University is an organization offering online unaccredited degrees for "life experience". The organization maintains a post office box in Humble, Texas, but its certificates are mailed from the United Arab Emirates.

Belford University is not accredited by any accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE) or Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Neither of the organizations from which Belford claims accreditation, the International Accreditation Agency for Online Universities (IAAOU) and the Universal Council for Online Education Accreditation (UCOEA), are recognized accreditation associations of higher learning. Without recognized accreditation, Belford's degrees and credits might not be acceptable to employers or other academic institutions, and use of degree titles may be restricted or illegal in some jurisdictions. Jurisdictions that have restricted or made illegal the use of credentials from unaccredited schools include Oregon, Michigan, Maine, North Dakota, New Jersey, Washington, Nevada, Illinois, Indiana, Texas and Korea. Many other states are also considering restrictions on the use of degrees from unaccredited institutions.

• No, Belford University is essentially a "diploma mill" and is not properly accredited. At no "real" university is it possible for to complete a degree in a matter of days.

• Not at all its just a rip off, their toll free numbers are routed to other corner of the world you never know. And if you ask them about regular phone number they would never give you one because they can not as they are not even in states.

• Belford University is NOT recognized as a legitimate university. See Houston Press article at the Related Link below.

Personally, I was approved, within 24 hours, for a degree in medicine based on my previous experience, 17 years as a hospital janitor. When I did not enroll, they sent me numerous emails lowering their tuition rates. No legitimate university does this.

• WARNING!!! -This is one institution you really want to stay away from!

For the source and more detailed information concerning your request, click on the related links section indicated below.

Excel High School is Regionally Accredited by AdvancED, North Central Association CASI and Southern Association of Schools and Colleges CASI.

http://www.excelhighschool.com/accreditation.php

WARNING!!!

When choosing a college or university within the United States, make sure the institution has a regional accreditation. With a regional accreditation you can be assured the coursework and degree you complete will be recognized by all other colleges and universities as well as employers. Below I have listed the six regional accrediting agencies and their geographical areas of responsibility. I am disclosing the below so you do not become a victim of educational scams, institutions that are nothing more than diploma mills, or that do not have the best accreditation, and are eager to take your money for a degree that is worthless. Make sure the institution is accredited by one of following responsible agencies.

Regional Accreditation Agencies

· Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools - Educational institutions in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands, as well as schools for American children in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.

· New England Association of Schools and Colleges - Educational institutions in the six New England states (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont).

· North Central Association of Colleges and Schools - Educational institutions in Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, New Mexico, South Dakota, Wisconsin, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

· Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities - Postsecondary institutions (colleges and universities) in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington.

· Western Association of Schools and Colleges - Educational institutions in California, Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, Micronesia, Palau, and Northern Marianas Islands.

· Southern Association of Colleges and Schools - Educational institutions in Virginia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee and Texas.

The list would be in the thousands, thus too much to post. The six regional accrediting agencies and their area of responsibility are listed below. Individuals searching for colleges and universities within the United States should make sure the institution they choose is accredited by one of these agencies.

Read the below carefully and follow through on the link provided.

You can obtain this information by clicking on the related links section (College Board) indicated at the bottom of this answer box and using the sites College MatchMaker search engine. You can research colleges and universities by name, or by programs of study, or by geographical location, size, or combinations of part or all of them. The site will provide you with a list of institutions based on your request. It will give you the schools background, accreditation, degree offerings, programs of study, entrance requirements, tuition and fees, financial assistance, room and board, athletic programs etc. and a link to each institutions official web page. Practice navigating this site. It will be well worth the time and effort.

WARNING!!!

When choosing a college or university, make sure the institution has a regional accreditation. With a regional accreditation you can be assured the coursework and degree you complete will be recognized by all other colleges and universities as well as employers. Below I have listed the six accrediting agencies and their geographical areas of responsibility. I am disclosing the below so you do not become a victim of educational scams, and institutions that are nothing more than diploma mills, where they are eager to take your money for a degree that is worthless. Make sure the institution is accredited by one of following responsible agencies.

Regional Accreditation Agencies

· Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools - Educational institutions in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands, as well as schools for American children in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.

· New England Association of Schools and Colleges - Educational institutions in the six New England states (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont).

· North Central Association of Colleges and Schools - Educational institutions in Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, New Mexico, South Dakota, Wisconsin, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

· Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities - Postsecondary institutions (colleges and universities) in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington.

· Western Association of Schools and Colleges - Educational institutions in California, Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, Micronesia, Palau, and Northern Marianas Islands.

· Southern Association of Colleges and Schools - Educational institutions in Virginia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee and Texas.

Answer 1: Absolutely! Er... well... at least if you're talking about this place:

DeVry University

3005 Highland Parkway

Downers Grove, IL 60515-5799

(630) 571-7700 (phone)

(630) 574-1983 (fax)

The CHEA database shows DeVry University at the above address; and that it's accredited by one of the six big "regional" accreditors approved by both the US Department of Education (USDE), and the USDE-sanctioned Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Accreditation, as my ol' man used to say, "don't get no better'n dat!"

In the "sources and related links" section, below, I have placed a link to DeVry's CHEA accreditation database listing.

The USDE database shows DeVry's headquarters at:

DeVry University

One Tower Lane

Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181-4264

...with the same phone numbers; and with the same accreditation. Why one database shows one main campus address, and the other database shows a different main campus address I don't know. But it's nothing, trust me, about which to be concerned. I know much about this school -- and have, several times, over the years, been asked to teach there (none of which times I did) -- and even though it's not exactly one of my favorite schools, it's positively a legitimate school. Positively!

It has... geez... I don't even know how many campuses, every single one of which is "regionally" accredited. So, fear not. It's most definitely "a legitimate school," as your question asks.