DURHAM, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
North Carolina Virtual Academy (NCVA) reported that in one month since it opened enrollment, the state-approved public virtual charter school has received 2,482 new student applications for the 2017-18 school year – an increase of 32 percent from last year. Since the number of student applications far exceeds the amount of new students NCVA is allowed to enroll, the school will hold a lottery on Friday, April 28, 2017.
Dr. Steve Moody, Chairman of NC Learns, the school’s nonprofit governing board, said, “The high number of new applicants we received in one month shows the strong demand for virtual charter schools in North Carolina. We are proud to offer this public school option to families, and we are excited about what the future holds for our students and school.”
NCVA opened its enrollment window on March 22 and closed it on April 21 at 5:00pm. Applications came from families in counties across the state.
Under state law, the total number of students allowed to enroll in virtual charter schools is restricted. NCVA’s enrollment is capped at 1,800 students this year and 2,160 students next year – an increase of 360 new students.
The school will hold its lottery on Friday, April 28th at 10:00am and families will be notified of the results later that day. Students not selected in the lottery will be placed on a waiting list.
“No charter school wants to hold a lottery or place students on waiting lists,” said Joel Medley, head of school for NCVA. “It’s extremely difficult having to tell parents that their children cannot attend the public school they chose. Our desire is to serve every child and every family who wants to come to NCVA.”
Next year, NCVA will expand to serve all grades, kindergarten through 12th grade. The school will also celebrate its first-ever graduating class.
According to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, there are 168 charter schools in the state, including two virtual charter schools. While traditional, brick-and-mortar schools are constrained by location and space, virtual charter schools are open and equally accessible to every student in the state, regardless of where they live. For many families – especially those in rural areas and communities where traditional charter schools do not exist – virtual schools are the only charter school option available to them.
“NCVA serves students in 94 of the 100 counties in the state,” said Medley. “Our teachers and staff are proud to reach students from so many diverse communities in our state. We have many great success stories and look forward to welcoming more students to the NCVA family next year.”
About North Carolina Virtual Academy
North Carolina Virtual Academy (NCVA) is a full-time online public school program that currently serves students in grades K through 11, and will offer 12th grade beginning with the 2017-2018 school year. As an state-authorized public charter school in North Carolina, NCVA is tuition-free, giving parents and families the choice to access the engaging curriculum and tools provided by K12 Inc. (NYSE: LRN), the nation’s leading provider of proprietary K-12 curriculum and online education programs. For more information about NCVA, visit http://ncva.k12.com.
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