Chester-Upland Digital Academy reports enrollment gains, attendance and credit completion improvements
January 25, 2025 | Chester-Upland SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania
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An unnamed presenter for Chester-Upland's Digital Academy outlined the program's enrollment, operations and recent academic improvements at the Jan. 23 receivers meeting.
The Digital Academy is the district's fully virtual, in-district program that allows students to remain enrolled in Chester-Upland while learning remotely and retaining access to district extracurriculars and supports. The presenter said the program had 86 students enrolled in grades 6 through 12, with most enrollment concentrated in ninth grade.
Why it matters: the Digital Academy is positioned as a local alternative to cyber-charter schools, and district leaders said they are investing in recruitment and program improvements to keep students in-district.
Program details and outcomes
- Schedule and curriculum: The presenter described a hybrid model in which students spend approximately half the school day in synchronous instruction and the other half on independent work with access to teacher office hours. The program uses Pearson Connexus as its learning-management system and aligns courses to Pennsylvania standards.
- Attendance and course completion: Between quarter 1 and quarter 2 the presenter reported average daily attendance rose from 65% to 71%, and students' on-track credit completion moved from 63% of attempted credits to a projected 72% for quarter 2.
- Student population and supports: The presenter said students enroll or transfer into Digital Academy for varied reasons, including maternity leave, housing instability and family safety concerns. The program offers office hours, postsecondary seminars, social-emotional supports and planned in-person events and labs to build student connections.
- Recruitment and partnerships: The presenter said the district is planning a website overhaul and marketing campaign to reach families who live in the district but do not currently attend district schools. The Digital Academy is forming partnerships for referrals, including with Delco CYS.
What officials did not specify
- No detailed academic comparison to Keystone test outcomes was provided; the presenter said Firefly assessment results exist but warned that not all students took the Firefly, making direct Keystone comparisons difficult.
Ending
District staff said they will continue marketing work and coordinate with the central office and the Delaware County Intermediate Unit (DCIU) on outreach to retain and recruit students for the Digital Academy.
The Digital Academy is the district's fully virtual, in-district program that allows students to remain enrolled in Chester-Upland while learning remotely and retaining access to district extracurriculars and supports. The presenter said the program had 86 students enrolled in grades 6 through 12, with most enrollment concentrated in ninth grade.
Why it matters: the Digital Academy is positioned as a local alternative to cyber-charter schools, and district leaders said they are investing in recruitment and program improvements to keep students in-district.
Program details and outcomes
- Schedule and curriculum: The presenter described a hybrid model in which students spend approximately half the school day in synchronous instruction and the other half on independent work with access to teacher office hours. The program uses Pearson Connexus as its learning-management system and aligns courses to Pennsylvania standards.
- Attendance and course completion: Between quarter 1 and quarter 2 the presenter reported average daily attendance rose from 65% to 71%, and students' on-track credit completion moved from 63% of attempted credits to a projected 72% for quarter 2.
- Student population and supports: The presenter said students enroll or transfer into Digital Academy for varied reasons, including maternity leave, housing instability and family safety concerns. The program offers office hours, postsecondary seminars, social-emotional supports and planned in-person events and labs to build student connections.
- Recruitment and partnerships: The presenter said the district is planning a website overhaul and marketing campaign to reach families who live in the district but do not currently attend district schools. The Digital Academy is forming partnerships for referrals, including with Delco CYS.
What officials did not specify
- No detailed academic comparison to Keystone test outcomes was provided; the presenter said Firefly assessment results exist but warned that not all students took the Firefly, making direct Keystone comparisons difficult.
Ending
District staff said they will continue marketing work and coordinate with the central office and the Delaware County Intermediate Unit (DCIU) on outreach to retain and recruit students for the Digital Academy.
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