The best internet for online school offers fast speeds, parental controls, and security features.
Back-to-School Internet: A 2026 Buyer’s Checklist for Households with Remote Learners
4 min read
Edited ByBrenna EliesonThis piece is sponsored by Spectrum.
Online school students and remote learners need at least 100Mbps download speed and 20Mbps upload speed for their home internet plan. This matches the internet speed benchmark set by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which reflects the speeds needed to support common household internet activities like video conference calls, streaming video, and web browsing — all important parts of an online learning environment.
Spectrum Internet offers some of the best internet plans for online school, with speeds starting from 100Mbps. According to Reviews.org's speed test, which collects results from consumer speed tests across the U.S., the average download speed with Spectrum Internet was actually 217Mbps, well above the FCC benchmark. This is a strong indicator that Spectrum can provide a reliable broadband connection for online school.
Keep reading to get the full guide on what students need for the best online school experience.
Key takeaways
- The FCC's benchmark for internet speed is 100Mbps download and 20Mbps upload speed.
- According to Zoom, students need at least 1Mbps download speed and 600kbps upload speed for high-quality group video calling.
- Spectrum Internet offers affordable internet plans with built-in security services such as secure browsing, antivirus protection, online parental controls, and more.
On this page:
Meet the expert
I cover internet and mobile services for Reviews.org, including how households can get the most value from their provider's plans. For this piece, I reviewed FCC broadband standards and video-conferencing bandwidth requirements to understand what makes the optimal online learning experience. I’m also an online college student myself, so I’m well-versed in troubleshooting Zoom calls, Teams meetings, and Google Meet for the best remote learning experience.
Deputy Editor, Reviews.org
A buyer’s checklist for back-to-school internet
Run through these steps before the first day of school to catch any issues with your home internet connection:
1
Test your current internet speeds and latency
Run a speed test with the device you’ll use for your classes — for example, your student’s Chromebook with a USB Ethernet adapter to connect to the router via Ethernet. If your download speeds are below 100Mbps, or you get more than 100ms for latency, it may be best to look into switching to a faster internet plan.
2
Check if your internet works for common activities
Besides the number you see on your speed test, it’s important to determine whether that speed actually works for your needs. Try a few activities at the same time to test the limits of your internet plan: set up a test video call, download a large file, and watch an HD YouTube video. Ideally, you could try this at a similar time to when your student will actually be online.
3
Count every person who could use the internet at the same time
This includes remote learners, a parent working from home, and siblings on their phones — for each person, add 100Mbps to calculate the optimal speed for your household. If your current internet plan doesn’t match, consider upgrading your plan speed or switching providers.
4
Look for an internet plan available in your area
Once you’ve determined the internet speed you need for your household, find an internet provider that services your area. Most internet providers, like Spectrum Internet, offer an address-check on their website, so you can see what’s available before you commit.
What internet speed do you need for school?
An elementary, high school, or college student needs at least 1Mbps download speed and 600kbps upload speed to join a video call on Zoom.
That 1Mbps download speed and 600kbps upload speed are the minimum needed to join a Zoom call on its own. In an average household, more speed is needed to support multiple devices connected to the internet at the same time. For example, if you have idle smart home devices, smartwatches, smart TVs, and multiple phones, you will need more bandwidth.
With that added bandwidth need in mind, it's recommended to still get at least 100Mbps download speed and 20Mbps upload speed, following the FCC benchmark. Spectrum Internet’s most affordable plan, Internet Advantage, costs just $30 per month for the first year and gets 100Mbps download and upload speed.
What upload speed do I need for online school?
Depending on your activity, you’ll need the following upload speeds:
Video calls (Zoom, Google Meet, Teams): 1.5–3Mbps per call for standard quality, 3–4Mbps for HD
Uploading assignments, photos of homework, files to Google Drive/Canvas: 1–2Mbps is usually fine. It just might take longer for bigger files
Portfolio submissions for college applications: According to the College Board's AP Digital Portfolio system, the maximum file size for uploaded images is 4MB per image. That means you need around 3–5Mbps upload speed to get a full 20-image portfolio uploaded in a few minutes
Online school students should also make sure to have less than 100ms latency or ping, according to Ookla. This keeps online activities responsive, which matters whenever real-time interaction is involved:
- Video calls/classes: audio/video stay in sync with no awkward delays
- Real-time collaboration: collaborative Google docs or whiteboards feel smooth
- Gaming/interactive tools: actions register instantly
How do you set up parental controls for younger kids and teens?
You can set up parental controls for kids and teens on your router and on each of your devices.
For your router, enable the built-in parental control app that comes with most modern routers, or point your network's DNS to a free filtering service which protects every device on your Wi-Fi network from malicious phishing or explicit content.
For your devices, use the family management apps for each platform. For example, Apple offers Child Accounts for children under 13 and up to 18 years old. Child Accounts enable parental controls such as Allowed Apps, Screen Time limits, and Allowed Content settings.
With a Spectrum Internet plan, customers can use the My Spectrum App to:
- Pause Wi-Fi on specific devices
- Set schedules
- View connected devices
- Manage settings
What are parents most worried about when it comes to their teens' internet use?
According to the Pew Research Center, 46% of parents of teens say they are extremely or very worried that their teen’s use of social media could lead to them being exposed to explicit content, and 38% are concerned about their child being distracted from completing their homework because they are using social media.
Does Spectrum Internet offer parental controls?
Yes, Spectrum offers parental controls through its Security Suite, which allows parents to set time limits, monitor web activity, and block specific websites. Security Suite also includes other features such as antivirus protection, firewall settings, and an antibot scanner.
Spectrum also has an Advanced WiFi add-on which includes:
- An Advanced WiFi router
- Invincible WiFi™: WiFi 7 coverage and battery-powered 5G backup internet, so your student can stay connected even when the main internet cuts out
- WiFi extenders: for a reliable connection throughout the home
- Security Shield: 24/7 network protection for secure browsing for your children, AI-enabled cyberattack defense, and app-based network control
For a household with school-age children, you can use Spectrum Security Suite to protect your kids from accessing harmful content.
Which internet plan should I get for online school?
Spectrum Internet offers several options for internet that can suit different household sizes with students. The table below shows how much speed you should get:
Spectrum Internet plans and prices
*
Standard rates apply after promo period. Additional charge for installation. Speeds based on wired connection. Actual speeds (including wireless) vary and are not guaranteed. Capable modem required for all Gig speeds. For a list of capable modems, visit Spectrum.net/modem. Services subject to all applicable service terms and conditions, subject to change. Not available in all areas. Restrictions apply.
Spectrum offers internet plans from 100Mbps to 2,000Mbps download and upload speeds for $30 to $60 per month for the first year. All Spectrum Internet plans are fiber-powered, enabling fast, reliable speed for all your online learning needs. Plans include a free modem and unlimited data. There are no contracts.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What internet speed is needed for a household with kids doing online school?
A household with a teen, a college student at home, or multiple kids online at once should meet the FCC's 100/20Mbps broadband benchmark or higher.
Does upload speed matter more than download speed for school?
For live video calls and file submissions, yes. Download speed affects how smoothly a student receives content, but upload speed determines how clearly their camera reaches the class and how fast a homework or portfolio file leaves the house.
Are Spectrum's parental controls free?
Yes. Spectrum’s Security Suite parental controls are included with every Spectrum Internet plan.
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