Online Schooling Trends Among Junior Tennis Athletes Post-COVID
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, online schooling for elite junior tennis players has surged, providing greater flexibility to balance rigorous training and academic pursuits.
The ICL Academy has become the largest online school focusing on tennis, with enrollment growing by 4,300% since 2020 and currently serving about 532 competitive players worldwide. Meanwhile, Dwight Global Online School (Dwight Global) remains a well-established option, offering a hybrid approach that combines online learning with in-person activities and events. Its annual tuition is around $42,000—more than double that of ICL—and enrollment has more than doubled since 2020.
Dwight Global fosters social interaction by integrating online study with orientation programs, lab weekends, music events, Model United Nations, and graduations on campus. Advocates of online schooling emphasize that socialization is a core element of their design, with gatherings such as the Junior Orange Bowl supporting peer connections.
However, some families report challenges; for example, an unnamed mother from New Jersey expressed concerns that online schooling can stunt emotional and mental growth. Other families highlight the benefits: Meg Stratton, mother of 16-year-old Tristan Stratton at ICL, notes that online schooling helps increase focus and simplifies daily life. In Virginia, Laura Lafors says her 17-year-old son Cole benefits from the travel flexibility it offers while pursuing college tennis ambitions.
Additional options such as Laurel Springs are also mentioned, though concerns remain regarding affordability and equitable access. The social and mental health implications of online schooling continue to be debated by experts and parents alike.
This growing trend of combining athletics with online education has contributed to increased reclassification among U.S. youth athletes—particularly in tennis—with many choosing to stay back a grade for development purposes. The broader outlook suggests that blended learning models could become more widely adopted within traditional schooling systems in the future.
