This informal proposal, made to the Malone Family Foundation of Englewood, Colorado, was well received.

Over the summer of 2005, Ravaglia fleshed out his ideas into a complete design for an online school for gifted students.

In 2006, Stanford OHS received accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

[8] Until the 2014–15 school year, Stanford OHS used Saba Centra as the hosting provider for its classes.

[9] Concurrent video feeds enable each student to see their classmates and instructors during the seminar, maximizing interaction and engagement.

If hosted twice a week, classes typically meet on Mondays and Wednesdays or Tuesdays and Thursdays.

At Stanford OHS, students are placed in courses by their individual ability, not by grade level.

[12] The four-year interdisciplinary core sequence focuses on critical thinking as well as oral and written argumentation.

As of the 2024–25 school year, the application requires prior academic records, two essays, five short questions, two recommendation forms, one sample of a student's analytical writing, a parent questionnaire, and various other information.

Applicants to 12th grade for part time or single course enrollment are not subject to graduation requirements at Stanford OHS, and may be admitted under a restricted admission status.

In the 2023–24 school year, Stanford OHS allocated over $2.5 million in financial aid, including Malone scholarships.

This substantial financial aid effort resulted in more than half of the beneficiaries receiving financial aid awards covering 75% or more of their tuition costs, whether they were enrolled full time, part time, or single course.