Ask a typical teenager what he or she likes about high school and the teen will rattle off a list that includes such quintessential traditions as homecoming, prom, and spirit days. Despite the enduring appeal of these group activities, two major players in online education—Kaplan and the Apollo Group— are betting the students will rally around cyber-high schools. Recently, Kaplan, a unit of the Washington Post Co., and Phoenix-based Apollo Group have both acquired companies that run online high schools, allowing them to expand their reach to teenagers seeking a nontraditional education experience.

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