Utah Online School principal highlights growth, partnerships and services to district

Laura Belknap, principal of Utah Online School, presented an update to the Washington County School District board Monday, describing two decades of growth, student outcomes and partnerships with district schools.

Belknap told the board that Utah Online School began serving K–6 students in 2004 with 25 students and three staff and has grown to about 14,000 active students and 218 staff in 2025, with an anticipated 367 graduates this year. She said Utah Online’s course-completion rates run between 88% and 95%, which she contrasted with national averages of roughly 50%–75% course completion for online programs.

Belknap highlighted program services that include original-credit courses, summer school, credit-recovery (referred to as “second year seniors bridge”), and support for the district’s recovery program. She noted Utah Online circulates and tracks more than 8,000 district-owned computers and said the school is working with Snow Canyon High School and Desert Hills High School on variance and pilot arrangements to better align services. When asked whether teachers must live in Washington County, Belknap said teachers must hold a Utah teaching license but the district does not separate staff by residence; she noted some teachers formerly living in state have moved out of state while maintaining roles.

Board members asked for the presentation and supporting facts to be made available; Belknap said the presentation and data would be shared. The board did not take formal action on the presentation during the meeting.