Huntsville City Schools is pleased to offer a virtual learning experience for students in ninth through twelfth grade who are zoned for Huntsville City Schools and currently enrolled. 

The curriculum features courses in mathematics, science, language arts, world languages, social studies, as well as electives. In collaboration with the school counselor, students will have the opportunity to select a virtual pathway to meet his/her individual learning goals. 

HVA Registration

An evaluation of your student’s prior academic performance will be conducted to determine eligibility for HVA this school year. Students will be notified of their acceptance to HVA via email by an HCS staff member with instructions for next steps. 

Orientation

At orientation HVA students and their families are invited to ask any questions about the program. Please be aware that attending one of the two available HVA Orientation meetings is a requirement for students expecting to participate in HVA.

General Information

Huntsville Virtual Academy students will remain enrolled in their home school. This option is available for students who wish to receive standards-based instruction in a virtual environment without attending classes in a traditional, face-to-face setting. This instructional model is suitable for highly motivated students who want to engage in educational experiences from home.

• Participation in HVA involves a commitment of remaining virtual for the entirety of the school year.
• All learning materials can be accessed remotely, from anywhere, anytime, using online learning management platforms.
• Devices will be provided by Huntsville City Schools.
• Students are required to have access to internet service.
• ACCESS Virtual Learning is the primary learning platform (Alabama Connecting Classrooms, Educators, and Students Statewide).  ACCESS is an education initiative of the Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE)
• All courses are led by an ALSDE Certified ACCESS Teacher and supported by a Certified ACCESS Facilitator
• All instructional materials are pre-populated and self-paced, allowing flexibility for students.
• Students are required to report to HVA Campus for all Unit Tests and Exams.
• Students will receive additional academic support as needed.
• Schedules will follow the home school format (i.e., traditional block or modified block schedule).
• Course schedules will be determined by the home school counselor, who will work with students to ensure a schedule that best fits their academic needs within the virtual learning setting. 
• Students must report to home school campuses for all state and standardized testing.
• HVA follows the HCS school calendar for all beginning and end dates of the school year, as well as for holidays, breaks, and weather days.
• Grade averages for each course are available throughout the semester and school year in PowerSchool.
• Students who graduate from high school while an HVA student will receive a diploma from Huntsville City Schools as an alumnus of their home school, and are eligible for honors graduate designations.

Requirements

• To be accepted into HVA, students are expected to have recorded at least a 60% overall grade average in each course for the 2022-23 school year.
• Students will be required to maintain course grade averages of 60% or higher to remain in Huntsville Virtual Academy.
• At the end of each 9-weeks period, students who have not achieved course grade averages of 60% in two or more courses will lose eligibility for HVA and be required to return to their home school for Traditional In-Person Learning.

Attendance Procedures

• Attendance is a combination of measures that indicates if a student is demonstrating adequate participation in HVA coursework.
• This not only includes the actual attendance hours in the HVA learning platform, but also lesson and assignment completion, and communication with teachers/school administration.
• In order to be in full attendance with Huntsville City Schools, a student must:
  • Complete and submit course assignments in accordance with due dates, guidelines and procedures communicated in the syllabus and pacing guide for each course, and make adequate progress toward course completion.
  • Communicate with Huntsville City School staff as needed via the learning management platform, telephone conversations, and email correspondence.
  • Adhere to the Huntsville City Schools calendar for attendance days. Students may choose to work on non-instructional days, however no support will be available. 

Extracurriculars

• Students can participate in clubs and organizations at their zoned school.
• Students can participate in athletics at their zoned school (subject to Alabama High School Athletic Association eligibility).
• Students can participate in any event hosted by their zoned school that occurs outside of typical school hours (i.e., homecoming events, graduation ceremonies, etc.).
• For additional questions, please contact the zoned school.

For more information about Huntsville Virtual Academy, please contact the HVA administrator, Dr. Michael Hambrick or Antoinette Parker.