1. Who would benefit from attending the Catoosa Online Academy?
- Students looking for a high quality, technology based alternative to their current learning environment
- Students seeking flexibility in their schedule
- Previously home schooled or private school students seeking to return to Catoosa County Schools seeking an academically rigorous, accredited high school education.
2. Students who have a high probability of success in an online learning environment generally display the following characteristics:
- Self-motivated and exhibits characteristics of maturity
- Possess reading, writing, and communications skills at or above grade level
- Willing to ask the teacher for help
- Exhibits organizational and time management skills
- Comfortable with the technology required by the course
- Expectations of online learning courses are realistic
- Ability to learn independently
- Strong personal commitment
As a student considering whether to take online courses, CCPS asks that students consider each of these characteristics. If students do meet the majority of them, it may be best for them to take a different type of course. CCPS offers a wide variety of course options to meet student needs. The online environment enables students to learn at their own pace, relieving the stress of feeling rushed and pressured.
3. How will students be admitted to the Online Academy?
Students must be enrolled in a CCPS school.
After submitting an application to the student's home high school, the COA staff and home high school will work together to make a recommendation for placement. All students admitted to the COA will have a recommendation from the student's home high school either by an administrator or counselor. No students are admitted to the COA without a recommendation from the school.
4. What is virtual education?
Virtual education refers to instruction in a learning environment where teacher and student are separated by time or space, or both, and the teacher provides course content through the use of methods such as course management applications, multimedia resources, the internet, and videoconferencing. Students receive content and communicate with the teacher via the same technologies.
5. Is the school year the same as a traditional school year?
The Catoosa Online Academy will follow the CCPS school calendar. The calendar is located on the CCPS public website. The URL for the CCPS public site is: www.catoosa.k12.ga.us
6. What if school is closed due to weather, do I need to do my virtual education?
Inclement Weather: Inclement weather decisions regarding school closings should not affect students participating in the COA. In the event the Catoosa County Board of Education Offices are closed the student should be able to access course work from his/her computer.
7. How does attendance work in the Academy?
Attendance in online courses is performance based. Students are expected to login daily but attendance will be measured by successful assignment completion and submission, participation in course activities such as quizzes, threaded discussions, and communications with the online teacher.
Each course will have a required amount of work due per week.
8. What about testing?
All state mandated testing will be administered at the home zone school during school scheduled testing sessions.