These last few years were unlike any other. Many students turned to VLACS temporarily as a bridge while their regular school was closed. Others used VLACS as an added bonus, taking classes and gaining experiences when they needed extra support.
As life begins to return to “normal,” we know that for many, we are a long way from normal when it comes to your academic journey. Regardless of your next move in your learning, there are a number of ways VLACS can continue to help you progress and meet your academic goals, either as a part-time or full-time student. VLACS offers K-12 curricula as well as the opportunity to earn college credits early. Our experiences, internships, job shadows, and career badges offer the opportunity for a tailored learning experience specific to your interests and ambitions.
Are you behind on the credits you need to graduate? At VLACS, our competency-based learning environment means that you advance in your learning by demonstrating mastery of knowledge and skills. We define competencies as big ideas, concepts, and enduring understandings that students are expected to master before moving on in their learning. With VLACS, you can work to develop competencies whenever and wherever you want, and get one-on-one support from your instructors along the way. We offer more than 200 competencies to our students, which can be achieved through a variety of learning opportunities. Check out our learning catalog, which has a complete list of the courses, projects, and experiences that you can participate in as a VLACS student.
Student perspective: Here’s how Jamie Duquette was able to receive the credits she needed to earn her high school diploma through VLACS’s adult education program.
Curious about a particular career? VLACS provides the opportunity for you to discover careers that align with your talents and strengths, develop tangible skills in your future field, and define the best pathway to achieve your goals. Through our customized career pathways, you can take the courses and experiences that work together to form badges, which can be a valuable credential in the job market. Through our Career Connections, you can join live video conferences hosted by industry professionals, and form relationships with individuals who work in the career you’re interested in. Through job shadows, you can experience a day in the life of a professional in your chosen field, all while earning credit and gaining important networking contacts. And through internships, you can gain hands-on work experiences in your chosen industry, develop valuable new skills and build your resumé. You can even design an activity of your own and submit the idea for credit approval.
Student perspective: Through VLACS, Naomi Nunez landed a paid internship with Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center’s neurology department, inspiring her to pursue a career in medicine.
Is in-person learning not working out for you? VLACS offers full-time virtual enrollment for grades 6-12. Our full-time elementary program will be open soon.
Our admissions process will help support you as you transition to online learning full-time. Learn more about enrolling in courses, completing your application, and our graduation requirements here.
Student perspectives: Curious about what it’s like to be a full-time student? Check out our blog, where you can read stories about students like Austin Howard, who chose to accelerate his learning and graduated early. Or Taylor Wenczkowski, whose enrollment at VLACS allowed her to balance an ambitious hockey dream with academics. Or Amaranthia Gittens-Jones, a shy teen who found VLACS’s online environment facilitated better interactions with her teachers and peers.
Need some extra support? Many VLACS students attend our virtual school while also attending their local school. So even if you are excited about returning to in-person learning, you can still take advantage of the many opportunities VLACS has to offer. Our learning catalog lists all of the projects, experiences, and courses that you can take part in as a VLACS student. You can also talk with your school’s counselor about how VLACS can support your learning journey.
Student perspective: Here’s how taking a Veterinary Science course helped Savannah Dunn’s work at a local veterinary clinic.
No matter where your learning journey takes you in the coming years, VLACS offers a range of customized learning pathways that can support your needs. Whatever your next move is, we would love for you to consider VLACS to be a part of it.
