The article discusses family motives of leaving schools with the traditional form of education for 9th year graduates. The reasons for the choice of online schools or so-called remote externalities to complete secondary education in grades 10-11 are analyzed in detail. In a sociological study, questionnaires were used for students of 10-11 grades of online schools. Answers to open questions of the questionnaire were processed using specialized computer programs. The result of the analysis is the classification of the benefits of school online education for high school students from the point of view of the students themselves and their parents. The main reasons for the distance learning preferences are the failure of the student in a regular school, the desire to give children a higher education, the opportunity to focus on passing the school examinations (USE), the effectiveness of distance learning and digital learning technologies. The reasons for switching to an online school, such as taking care of children's health and rest, numerous extracurricular activities, and the acquisition of additional educational and professional skills by students, are of minor importance. The findings suggest the need to support online schools, as well as the development of digital learning technologies in schools, especially in high school.