Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Virtual Education topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Raleigh County Schools reports virtual enrollment more than doubled to 354 students
Summary
District staff told the board that virtual program enrollment rose from 175 in September to 354 in December, with orientations averaging 25–35 attendees; staff said expanded electives and scheduling flexibility are driving interest and stressed that benchmark completion is required to remain in the program.
A presenter for Raleigh County Schools told the board at the district’s final 2025 meeting that virtual program enrollment increased from 175 students in September to 354 in December.
"In September, we had a 175 total students in virtual, and now we have 354," the presenter said, adding that the district scheduled one last orientation for the semester with 32 families planning to attend. The presenter described orientations as averaging between 25 and 35 attendees and said the program has added afternoon live classes and a wider set of electives for high‑school students.
Why it matters: district staff said growth helps retain families who would otherwise leave the public system for other options and provides scheduling flexibility for students with family or work obligations. Staff also warned that virtual students must meet benchmark and assessment requirements, and failure to meet those obligations could jeopardize continued virtual enrollment.
Details: presenters noted middle school virtual enrollment remains the smallest cohort while grades 10–11 are the largest. Electives now include art, poetry, creative writing, psychology and forensics, and the district provides art supply packets for new virtual students. Staff described outreach and communication strategies—email, calls and an orientation process—used to recruit and retain students.
Next steps: the presenter said staff will continue to monitor enrollment and benchmark completion, and that second‑semester growth will require additional planning on staffing and scheduling.
