Registration opened today for the Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) High School Virtual Academy program for the 2022-2023 school year. The program is virtual and managed by staff at the Robert D. Stethem Educational Center. Students must apply and meet minimum criteria to be accepted. Enrollment is not guaranteed.
Application information
CCPS students currently in Grades 8-11 can apply. The application is linked here. Interested students must complete the application by 11:59 p.m., Friday, March 11, 2022, to be considered for next school year. Late applications will not be accepted. Click here to view a list of Virtual Academy course offerings. A Spanish application is also available online here.
Students enrolled in Virtual Academy must participate in the program for the entire school year. Students applying for Virtual Academy must have at least 15 or fewer unexcused absences to be considered. Data will be reviewed from the 2021-2022 school year.
Program overview
Virtual Academy is for students who are independent learners looking to work from a remote location. Students interested 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 or students who prefer a nontraditional school setting.
Program format
Students will complete assigned work through the APEX Learning digital platform. Students are expected to work independently for a total of five hours daily, four days a week (Monday through Thursday), with 90 minutes per day of live/direct teaching through Zoom in Synergy. Students are expected to be available for school from 7:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Students should not have any other commitments during school hours.
Students in the Virtual Academy will be enrolled in two courses per quarter which will allow the student to earn a total of eight credits per school year – students will complete a year’s worth of work in each quarter. Advanced Placement (AP) classes will be a yearlong course. Students will need to provide transportation to their home school for all scheduled state assessments and afterschool activities.
Accepted students who have either an IEP, 504 or EL plan on file with CCPS are conditionally accepted pending the outcome of a school-based IEP/504 meeting. The team will determine if their services can be provided through the Virtual Academy program.
The expansion of Virtual Academy will offer on grade level courses, honors and select AP classes. Students will continue to have a graduation path, through the World Language completer or business management & finance.
Courses in Project Lead the Way (PLTW), dual enrollment and/or Career and Technical Education (CTE) completer programs are not available in Virtual Academy (with the exception of business management and 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 or extracurricular activities (i.e., clubs, marching band, drama, etc.) at their home school, pending they meet eligibility requirements.
Students enrolled in the Virtual Academy must agree to remain for the completion of the school year. Students may transfer to their home school the following school year.
Parents and students with questions about Virtual Academy should contact Tiffany VanDyke at 301-932-6612 or Brooke Kohlhorst at 301-934-7391 for more information.
About CCPS
Charles County Public Schools provides 27,000 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 37 schools that offer a technologically advanced, progressive and high quality education that builds character, equips for leadership and prepares students for life, careers and higher education.
The Charles County public school system does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Kathy Kiessling, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (students) or Nikial Majors, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 coordinator (employees/ adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, MD 20646; 301-932-6610/301-870-3814. For special accommodations call 301-934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event. CCPS provides nondiscriminatory equal access to school facilities in accordance with its Use of Facilities rules to designated youth groups (including, but not limited to, the Boy Scouts).