Registration for the Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) Virtual Academy, which is housed at the Robert D. Stethem Educational Center, will be open Jan. 6 to Feb. 28 for students currently in Grades 8-11. Students must apply to be considered and enrollment is not guaranteed.
Accepted students who have either an IEP, 504, or EL plan on file with CCPS will be conditionally accepted pending the outcome of a school-based IEP/504 meeting. The school team will meet before the end of the 2024-2025 school year to determine if services can be provided through the Virtual Academy program. There may be circumstances where the meeting may take place in the summer and/or beginning of next school year. Please contact the IEP facilitator or 504 coordinator at the home school to schedule the meeting.
This program is geared toward students who are independent, motivated learners looking to work from a remote location. Students interested in this program may include but are not limited to seniors needing four or fewer credits, students with school anxiety, students who require a flexible schedule to meet individual needs, students who prefer a nontraditional school setting, or students apprehensive about in-person learning.
Students will complete assigned work through the APEX Learning digital platform as well as One Note. Students are expected to work independently for five hours daily, four days a week (Monday - Thursday), with 90 minutes (about 1 and a half hours) per day of live/direct teaching through Zoom in Synergy. Tutoring support will be available to students during select periods during the school day. Students are expected to be available for school from 7:45 a.m. – 3:45 p.m. Students should not have any other commitments during school hours.
Students in the Virtual Academy will be enrolled in two credits per quarter, allowing them to earn eight credits per year. In other words, students will complete a year’s worth of work in one (1) quarter. Advanced placement (AP) classes will be year-long courses. Students will need to provide transportation to their home school for all scheduled state assessments and after school activities.
Virtual Academy will offer grade level courses, Honors, and select Advanced Placement Classes. Students will continue to have a graduation path, through the World Language completer or Business Management & Finance. Eligible 11th and 12th grade students in Virtual Academy may participate in dual enrollment through the College of Southern Maryland.
Courses in Project Lead the Way and/or Career and Technical Education (CTE) Completer Programs will not be available in Virtual Academy (except for Business Management & Finance).
Students will receive their report cards and diplomas through their home schools, as they are concurrently enrolled. Virtual Academy students will be able to participate in sports and extracurricular activities (i.e., clubs, marching band, drama, etc.) at their home school, pending they meet the eligibility requirements. Students may attend homecoming dances, prom, and extracurricular activities after the school day.
Students enrolled in Virtual Academy must agree to remain for the duration of the school year. However, if a student shows a lack of interest in the program, due to failing grades or excessive absences, the student may be removed from Virtual Academy and return to their home school.
Please contact the coordinators, Tiffany VanDyke at 301-932-6612 or Brooke Kohlhorst at 301-934-7391, for more information.
