For students in grades 9-12:

For more than sixteen years, Roanoke County Schools has offered online learning for high school students through RCPSOnline Academy. We have developed rich curriculum, delivered by our teachers, since the very beginning of the program. Our experience with online learning puts us in a unique position to meet the wide range of current needs.

RCPSOnline Academy classes differ from regular classes in several ways. Aside from the obvious lack of face-to-face time in a classroom, they are structured, paced, and scheduled using best practices for online teaching. Some of the key differences are:

• The courses are largely self-paced with deadlines set by the instructor.
• There are no set times a student must be online with the instructor.
• Students have ready access to their instructors for help, guidance, and individual attention.
• Every course is through Blackboard, our learning management system.
• Except for a few dual enrollment courses (with VWCC), most courses are completed in a semester.
• Some courses, specifically courses with end-of-course SOL tests, do require in-person testing. With these, we offer flexibility of time and place to meet the individual needs of the student.

We offer several ways to take advantage of the opportunities offered by RCPSOnline Academy:

Full-time RCPSOnline Academy –

This is a new option for RCPSOnline. We have developed a pathway to graduation for students seeking both standard and advanced diplomas. Our course offerings include both core and elective choices that will satisfy the graduation requirements put forth by the Virginia Department of Education. A list of courses is available under the link below.

A full time RCPSOnline Academy student will have a schedule that looks more like college, or a 4x4 block schedule. The student will take three or four classes per semester. Because the schedule is very different from a face-to-face, A/B block schedule, a student who chooses the RCPSOnline Academy full-time must stay in RCPSOnline Academy for a full year.  Students who are enrolled in the RCPSOnline Academy are eligible to participate in VHSL athletic and academic activities and school-related events such as prom, homecoming and clubs.  Roanoke County residents can attend the RCPSOnline Academy tuition-free.

Supplemental Courses –

These are individual courses students pay tuition to take and fall outside of their regular schedule. Students may register for supplemental courses at any time during the school year. Registration for a supplemental course is not complete until tuition is paid in full. Students enrolled in an online SOL course are required to take the corresponding SOL test. The drop-without-penalty date for any online course is two weeks from the beginning of the course. Students dropping an RCPSOnline Academy course after the drop date will receive a failing grade. No tuition refunds will be given after the course begins.

NO-COST Courses –

These are also individual courses students take for a variety of reasons. Registration for NO-COST courses takes place only during the registration period and may not be added after the window closes. The only exception is for newly enrolled students. Students enrolling in NO-COST courses will be assigned fall or spring session depending on course and instructor availability. Students may not request a specific session.

NOTE:  This is an online-only program.  Students must have reliable internet access.