Grades 6-12
Hybrid learning: Weekly in-person or Google Meets lab

A Customized Education Pathway

Our Virtual Learning Academy program is a dynamic online and in-person learning experience tailored for students seeking flexibility and a self-paced environment. Ideal for those desiring a non-traditional approach or facing challenges in conventional schools, our program provides a customized educational pathway for students on track to graduate or with credit deficiencies.

Our program offers a variety of online and work-based learning opportunities, empowering students to prepare for college or careers. To ensure a well-rounded experience, students are required to attend a scheduled in-person 2.25-hour session on campus with their advising teacher once a week, with variations based on grade level and course progression.

For students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), additional on-site time may be necessary to meet specific goals. While we don’t offer sports, music, or multiple world languages (Spanish is available), students have the option to access these activities at their neighborhood school.

Who is this program a good fit for?  

    VLA is for students who are looking for more flexibility in their schedule, self-paced learning, a personalized learning environment, individualized learning plans, accessibility to online educational content, and one-on-one support with teachers in a smaller environment. Students willing and able to self advocate will do better in this program.  

What does a typical day or week look like in the program?

Students attend school one day a week for 2 hours and 15 minutes.  Regular attendance is required.  This is a time to participate in group lessons and connect with advisors regarding progress and goals for classes.  

The other four and a half days are spent working at home on the online learning platform.  Instruction comes from videos and readings in the online platform.  Students should reach out to advising teachers with questions or needs that arise as they complete their online work.   Strong email communication with advisor is a must.

What is the type of learning approach?

Most instruction comes from videos and articles in the online platform.  An average lesson takes about 1 hour to complete.  Most courses are about 45 hours in approximate length. Students are expected to take notes, identify needs for clarification and contact advisor for additional supports if needed.  In-person teacher advisors can provide some support, but they are not the main teachers of the content. Tutors are not provided.

Which subjects or standards are covered?

VLA offers courses to meet the basic district requirements for a high school diploma.  VLA offers classes to meet the basic requirements of English, Science, Math, Social Studies, PE, and Arts.  There are limited offerings for Electives and Career and Technical Education classes.  VLA does not have foreign language offerings.  

What do students need to do to stay enrolled in the program?

 To stay enrolled in VLA, students need to have regular attendance and attend class once a week, make progress in their online courses based on their Written Student Learning Plan to meet graduation requirements. Students must maintain regular monthly satisfactory progress in communication, coursework, engagement, and goals that are monitored by their advisor.