For more than twenty years, Roanoke County Schools has offered online learning for high school students through RCPSOnline Academy. Since the very beginning of the program, we have developed a rich curriculum delivered by our own teachers. 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.

With the exception of World Language courses, 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), and World Language courses, 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.

Students take online courses for many reasons. Schedule conflicts, limited course availability at a base school, getting ahead or catching up, and even medical issues have all been reasons students have taken our courses in the past. 

RCPSOnline Academy is available to currently enrolled students grades 9 through 12. Some 8th grade students are eligible to take a course with some restrictions applied. 

Roanoke County students have several options and the cost for each is different. 

A student may enroll as a full-time Academy student at no cost. This must be done prior to the beginning of fall classes*.

A current Roanoke County student may take up to two online courses as part of his or her eight possible courses at no cost. This course or courses must be requested prior to the end of the previous school year to be at no cost*.

A student may pay $400 for an additional course over and above the allowed eight.

Anytime after the end of the previous school year, and up until classes start in the fall, a student may pay $400 to change his or her course request to replace a face-to-face course with an online course*. 

*Newly enrolled students are not subject to the end of the previous school year deadline. 

Students register for RCPSOnline courses through their school counselor. If you are not currently a student in Roanoke County Schools, you must enroll first before registering for Academy classes.

All RCPSOnline Academy courses are developed and taught by Roanoke County teachers. 

RCPSOnline courses, with the exception of World Language courses, are completely asynchronous. This means several things:

• There is no expectation for a student to log on at a specific time or to be online in a live setting with the instructor.
• For World Language classes, a student will have two or three Zoom-like meetings a week for the speaking component of the course.
• The courses do not follow the regular face-to-face school calendar, including the start and end dates and the quarter system.
• Most courses are completed within a semester, much like college or a high school with a four by four block schedule. Some dual enrolled courses and all World Language courses are completed in two semesters and are considered full-year courses.

During the regular school year, RCPSOnline classes begin each semester approximately two weeks after face-to-face classes start and end approximately two weeks prior to the end of the semester.  

RCPSOnline courses are largely self-paced. Each instructor will give guidance on how much work to do each day or each week so that a student can complete the course in the time allotted. In most courses, students may work ahead. 

Students who are currently enrolled in a traditional face-to-face schedule may take up to two online classes per school year.

Any Roanoke County student may speak with his or her school counselor if they are interested in becoming a full-time Academy student. 

The successful online student:

• has a plan for each day 
• logs in daily to check announcements, to look for updates from the teacher, and to read and respond to emails or messages
• seeks help and asks questions without hesitation
• maintains academic integrity in all aspects of each course
• respects deadlines 
• works hard to learn the content

RCPSOnline Academy courses are accredited by the state of Virginia and meet all NCAA eligibility requirements for student athletes aspiring to attend college. 

If a student has a technology issue, the course instructor is the person to contact. Once the issue is communicated with the teacher, he or she will direct the student appropriately to ensure the issue gets resolved.   

If you have further questions, please contact your school counselor.

You may also contact Joe LeGault, the Academy supervisor, by phone at 540-562-3900 ext 10252 or by email at jlegault@rcps.us