Kylee Patterson graduated from high school with a full year of college already completed - a move that saved her $15,000 on tuition and books.

While attending Scotland High School of Math, Science and Technology in Laurinburg, the 17-year-old began her day at Richmond Community College in Hamlet and earned other credits in an online course. Now she's got college friends and college credits, and a head start toward becoming a pharmacist.

"Moving (for college) is going to be a big change for me, and now knowing what to expect will make it easier for me," said Patterson, who also was able to juggle athletics and two jobs while taking classes and enjoying the high school life.

The statewide North Carolina Virtual Public School program allows students like Patterson to take online courses, recover missing credits, earn college credit or get to college faster. It's available statewide to public middle school and high school students.

Interest has ballooned since the program was created by the Legislature in 2006, funded with a $2.6 million appropriation. Enrollment grew from an initial 4,968 in summer 2007 to nearly 13,000 in spring 2008.

Of the 72 courses offered online, students have mostly taken advantage of Advanced Placement and foreign language courses, and officials say that's because those subjects aren't available at all of North Carolina's public schools.

Students must sign up at the beginning of a semester and complete the course by semester's end. Officials said in 45 of the 52 courses offered in Spring 2008, 86.5 percent of students scored above 70 percent, equivalent to a C.

Patterson, who will transfer 31 credits to fulfill her general education requirements at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, is among the success stories being touted by those championing efforts to expand the online offerings of North Carolina's public schools.

After studying models of online learning from Florida, Georgia and Idaho, program executive director Bryan Setser said North Carolina decided on a hybrid method.

"Our results are extremely promising," Setser said. "We're seeing our classes and our courses compete with face-to-face averages and above in many areas."

The classes use technology such as Skype software that allows for Internet phone calls, live video chats, real-time assessments and live messaging for the coursework, and allow students the flexibility to work from home or school.

The program includes the state's Learn and Earn Online program, which enables students like Patterson to attend community colleges as part of their school day.

Gov. Mike Easley told a group of superintendents and educators this week that the economy is demanding more creativity and innovation in education. That's why the Learn and Earn Online part of the virtual school, which offers high school juniors and seniors college credit, is so important.

And for students like Phone Keosouma, who had dropped out of West Montgomery High School in Troy, the program will help them graduate on time. Encouraged by officials at his school, Keosouma returned and took online courses to recover the credits he'd missed. He also earned some college credits.

"I returned last fall determined to graduate," Keosouma said during a public forum on the program.

North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction June Atkinson said she believes online learning will contribute to lifelong learning and redefine what school means.

"A student's address does not determine a student's access," Atkinson said. "Just like we have social networks, we need schools to be a part of a student's social network. This is just one step in the progression of redefining the place called school."