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Enrolling Your Student
Registering for Courses
Concurrent Enrollment
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Have Questions?
Check out these FAQs to learn more about Williamsburg Academy of Colorado.
What's Online School Like?
About Williamsburg Academy of Colorado
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What is Williamsburg Academy of Colorado?
Williamsburg Academy of Colorado is a tuition-free, public online school serving students statewide in grades 6-12. Our program is built on the award-winning Williamsburg Curriculum and emphasizes leadership, the liberal arts, and adventures, preparing students to lead meaningful lives in our fast-changing world.
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How is Williamsburg Academy of Colorado related to Williamsburg Learning?
Williamsburg Learning is the education services provider behind the award-winning Williamsburg Curriculum. We partner with Williamsburg Learning to make the Williamsburg Curriculum available to Colorado students tuition-free.
The Williamsburg Curriculum makes up the bulk of our school’s overall academic program, in addition to exclusive offerings like concurrent enrollment through our partnerships with Pikes Peak State College, Pueblo Community College, and Front Range Community College.
In our engaging live-online classes, Williamsburg students meet and interact with students at other Williamsburg Learning schools, including Williamsburg Academy Private School , Williamsburg Academy Public Education Partners , and Leadership Academy of Utah . -
What grades does Williamsburg Academy of Colorado serve?
We currently serve grades 6-12.
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Does Williamsburg Academy of Colorado charge for tuition and books?
Nope! We are a publicly funded, multi-district online school so tuition is $0. (That includes all required books and supplies. Additionally, students enrolled full-time can receive a loaned laptop with built-in online safety software.)
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Are there any other fees for anything else?
Parents are responsible for providing high-speed internet.
Additionally, we do not cover all fees associated with our Concurrent Enrollment programs. See our Concurrent Enrollment and individual college partner pages for information regarding fees, tuition, and books for these programs.
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Where is Williamsburg Academy of Colorado located?
As an online school, we do not have a physical school office or in-person classrooms. Instead, our faculty and staff work from distributed offices in Colorado and throughout the U.S. Our students live all over Colorado.
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Is Williamsburg Academy of Colorado an accredited school?
Yes, our school is accredited by Cognia, one of the world’s largest accrediting bodies. All credit earned at Williamsburg Academy of Colorado is recognized by all other schools accredited by Cognia and most other accredited schools. More information can be found on our Accreditation page.
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Does Williamsburg Academy of Colorado offer NCAA-approved courses?
Yes. All of our live-online and self-paced core courses are approved by the NCAA, so your student can work towards Division I or Division II eligibility while attending our school. Please see our NCAA Accreditation page for a complete list of approved courses and additional eligibility requirements.
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Is Williamsburg Academy of Colorado affiliated with any religious organizations?
No, our school does not affiliate with or support any faith, church, or religion. Our students come from a variety of religious and political backgrounds. We remain neutral and build a safe environment where students can be themselves, learn from each other, and share their ideas and beliefs respectfully.
Enrollment Requirements
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Where does my student need to live in order to attend Williamsburg Academy of Colorado?
While Williamsburg Academy of Colorado is an online school accessible from anywhere with an internet connection, our students are required to be official residents of Colorado. Parents must provide proof of residency upon enrollment and annually after that. The following documents may be used to prove residency:
- A residential utility bill from the past 60 days
- A mortgage statement from the past 60 days
- A lease agreement for your current residence from within the past year
- A rent receipt for your current residence from the past 60 days
- A property tax statement for the most recent year
- Your current voter registration card
- A letter from a government agency from the past 60 days
For any further questions about residency requirements, please contact our Executive Director.
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How many courses does my student need to take at Williamsburg Academy of Colorado to be considered full-time?
Williamsburg Academy of Colorado offers a full-time program that operates during the traditional fall and winter semesters. Full-time students are required to take a full load of courses as outlined by the Colorado Department of Education (CDE).
High school students who wish to graduate and receive a high school diploma from our school should refer to our graduation requirements and make a grad plan in SIS before registering for courses. The number of courses required each semester may vary depending on the type of courses taken and past high school credits awarded.
For any specific questions about selecting the right courses for your child, please contact our Academic Counselor or Registrar. -
Is there a part-time option?
Yes. If your student would prefer to take just 2-3 classes with us, you can enroll them in our part-time Homeschool Enrichment (HSE) program.
Please note: HSE students are not eligible to graduate from Williamsburg Academy of Colorado, or to receive Special Education services from our school. They are also not eligible to receive our school’s computer package (laptop, tech support, internet filtering, etc.).
Like all Williamsburg Academy of Colorado students, HSE students are required to participate in NWEA MAPS testing.You can learn more about enrolling in our part-time HSE program from the Enrollment FAQs on our How to Apply & Enroll page.
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Can my student be enrolled at Williamsburg Academy of Colorado and still take classes from another public school?
To remain a Williamsburg Academy of Colorado student, our school must be your child’s only publicly-funded curriculum provider.
Note: Exceptions include sports and other extracurricular activities offered at your local public school that are not offered at Williamsburg Academy of Colorado. -
Can my student be enrolled at Williamsburg Academy of Colorado and still take other classes in a homeschool setting or at a cooperative or private school?
If you’d prefer to use our program to supplement your child’s homeschool, cooperative, or private school education, you can register them for 2-3 courses per semester and receive books and supplies without cost as part of our part-time Homeschool Enrichment (HSE) program.
Note: HSE students are not eligible for graduation, are not eligible for Special Education services, and are not eligible to receive a computer package (laptop, tech support, internet filtering, etc.). -
Is there an age requirement to attend Williamsburg Academy of Colorado?We have two general age guidelines (one for middle school and one for high school):
- For middle school, students should turn twelve during the academic year in which they enroll in 6th grade.
- For high school, students should turn fifteen during the academic year in which they enroll in 9th grade.
While these guidelines are highly recommended, we leave the final decision to parents and students because we know some students are ready earlier. If your student is younger, we encourage you to consult with an enrollment advisor before registering to avoid overloading them. -
How do I submit an application for my child?
We have a simple online application process you can complete in our Student Information Services (SIS) system. Please visit our How to Enroll page for full details, or schedule a call with an advisor for step-by-step guidance.
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Do I have to submit an application for my child each year?
Yes. Parents of returning students must submit an application each year; however, the returning student application is shorter than that for new students.
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If I have multiple students, do I need to apply for them separately?
Yes, the application process is one-per-student. If you have multiple students, you’ll need to submit separate applications for each of them.
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Is there a cap on enrollment at Williamsburg Academy of Colorado?
No, we do not have an overall cap on enrollment. However, all of our courses are offered on a first-come, first-served basis with a limited number of seats in each section. Many of our courses fill up quickly, so we encourage you to register early for the fall and winter semesters.
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Can I withdraw my student’s application after I’ve applied?
Yes, you can withdraw your student’s application at any time prior to the start of the school year. After the first day of school, if your child is registered for classes with us, you have 28 days from the start of the semester to withdraw them before their grades up to that point become permanent on their transcript.
For any other questions about withdrawing from Williamsburg Academy of Colorado, please contact our Registrar.
Course Registration
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When can I register my student for courses?
Registration for the upcoming fall and winter semesters opens on the first Monday in February each year. Registration is first-come, first-served, so we recommend registering early to secure your child's preferred schedule.
Please note: You’ll need to submit an application for your student, and it must be approved by our team, before you can register your student for classes in SIS. -
What types of courses are available at Williamsburg Academy of Colorado?Williamsburg Academy of Colorado offers a full range of courses in every core subject your student needs to graduate with an accredited high school diploma—plus a wide range of elective courses. These include:
- Award-winning online courses from the Williamsburg Curriculum in all subjects, including our highly popular Leadership Program.
- Dynamic, fun in-person courses through our Adventure Fridays program.
- Concurrent Enrollment courses in partnership with Pikes Peak State College, Pueblo Community College, and Front Range Community College.
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What formats are available for online courses?
Our online courses are offered in partnership with Williamsburg Learning. Williamsburg Learning provides three online course formats:
- Live-online: Students meet together with a mentor in an online classroom and participate in live class discussions every week. Some live classes include an Honors version with a larger workload for students who want to go deeper.
- Self-paced: Students complete assignments on their own schedule and communicate via email, online student forums, and mentor office hours.
- Independent Studies (for high school): Students earn academic credit for completing PE, Fine Arts, or Elective studies with a third-party provider.
For more information about each course type, check out this page on the Williamsburg Learning website.
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How do I register for courses?
Registration for all courses takes place in SIS. To register for courses, you’ll log in using your SIS parent account username and password. From there, you can follow the steps on our middle school and high school registration pages to select your student’s ideal courses.
Note: Additional steps are required to register for Concurrent Enrollment courses. Please see our college-specific webpages for more details. -
How do I know which courses to register my student for?
For detailed course recommendations by grade, please see the course paths and sample schedules listed on our middle school and high school registration pages.
For questions about selecting the right courses for your child, please contact our Academic Counselor or Registrar. -
After I register my student for courses, what’s next?
Once your student is registered, all that’s left is to prepare for the first day of school! To help with this, we highly encourage you to review our How to Prepare for School page and on-demand Parent Orientation videos. We’ll also email you and your student with information about student orientation assignments they will complete in Canvas, our online learning management system.
Note: All course selections are reviewed and approved by our enrollment team. We will let you know if any of your student’s courses need to be adjusted. -
Are live-online classes capped at a certain size?
We maintain a student-instructor ratio of approximately 19:1. Instructors include both mentors and teaching assistants, who help provide detailed feedback on student assignments. For individual courses, our live-online class sessions range in size depending on the content of the course.
In general, we maintain smaller class sizes for middle school grades, with the exception of our seminar-style Leadership classes. It’s also important to note that a large online class is very different from a large class in person: The online classroom is a far less distracting environment for students than even a small class at a brick-and-mortar school. We’ve also pioneered using technology to maximize the online learning experience in classes of any size.
For example, many of our classes are based on engaging visual presentations by mentors, dynamic class-wide discussions, and smaller discussions and activities between groups of students in Zoom breakout rooms. Because of this, even students in our largest classes still make a personal connection with course material, their mentors, and their fellow students.
As Malcolm Gladwell pointed out in his book David and Goliath, smaller class sizes don’t always lead to better learning outcomes.* That’s because smaller classes make it easier for some students to dominate class discussions, among other things. At Williamsburg, we’ve found that offering a range of class sizes gives students a mix of small-group discussion and large-group participation that helps them build strong communication, learning, and leadership skills. We also offer ways for students to get extra support outside of class, such as mentor office hours.
*In fact, in one study cited by Gladwell, researcher Caroline Hoxby found no significant impact on student achievement as a result of class size (see “The Effects of Class Size on Student Achievement”). Instead, Gladwell says, the one thing educational researchers agree on is that teacher quality matters more than class size. At Williamsburg, that’s why we search hard to hire the best teachers and rigorously train them on our Six Mentor Practices. -
Is there a minimum number of students required for live courses?
Yes. Most live-online courses require a certain minimum number of students to register or the course will have to be canceled.
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Does Williamsburg Academy of Colorado have a course withdrawal policy?
Yes, our withdrawal policy for individual courses is as follows:
Students have 28 days from the first day of the semester to determine if they want to continue with a class.- Students who withdraw between 10 and 28 days from the start of the semester will receive a “W” for that course on their transcript.
- Students who withdraw after 28 days receive an “F” for that course on their transcript.
You can also find this full policy in the “Grading Policies: Withdrawal” section of our Parent-Student Handbook.
Academics & IEPs
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Does Williamsburg Academy of Colorado support Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), 504s, Gifted & Talented, and ELL?
Absolutely! If you would like to refer your student for special services (IEP, 504 Plan, Advanced Learning Plans, Gifted and Talented (GT), and/or English Language Learners (ELL)), please contact our Director of Special Services.
If your student has an existing IEP or 504 Plan, you can share that with us during the course registration process (after you've applied for your student and their application has been accepted). Once your student is registered for courses, our SpEd team will work with you to review, evaluate, and update your student's plan as needed to reflect the online learning environment at WAC.
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If my student needs extra help with their courses, what should I do?
All of our mentors have Zoom office hours where students can log on and get help outside of regular class time.
If your student is struggling, the best place to start is by visiting their mentors’ office hours and asking mentors to customize the workload for your student. The day and time of office hours are posted on each course homepage in Canvas. You can also email mentors anytime with questions, and they will respond within one school day.
In addition, once each semester, we offer Parent-Mentor Conferences where you and your student can meet with their mentors and discuss any challenges or concerns. -
What is the grade scale at Williamsburg Academy of Colorado?
Our complete grade scale is shown in the table below. Our mentors encourage and inspire students to challenge themselves and do excellent work, so the minimum score to receive course credit is 70%.
Note: Passing grades for high school Honors courses will receive an additional 0.025 bonus point toward the grade point average (GPA).Letter Grade Description GPA Value Min % Max % Affects GPA A 4 94 100 Yes A- 3.7 90 93 Yes B+ 3.3 87 89 Yes B 3 84 86 Yes B- 2.7 80 83 Yes C+ 2.3 77 79 Yes C 2 74 76 Yes C- 1.7 70 73 Yes P Pass 0 No F 0 0 69 Yes W Withdrawal 0 No -
Does Williamsburg Academy of Colorado award diplomas, and are they accepted by colleges and universities?
Yes. All full-time Williamsburg Academy of Colorado students have a pathway to graduation, and our Academic Counselor monitors their progress. Students who fulfill our graduation requirements are awarded an accredited high school diploma that is widely accepted by colleges and universities.
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How can I view or access my student’s transcript?Parents and students can access unofficial transcripts through SIS.
- Students: Click on My Transcript.
- Parents: Click on My Students, then the name of the student, then Transcript.
For official transcripts, we partner with Parchment, a third-party digital credential service, to send transcripts securely. To request an official transcript, please visit the Parchment website and follow the steps provided.
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If my student misses a class, will a recording be available?
Yes! All live-online classes are recorded, and the links to all class recordings are made available to students in Canvas (usually within a few minutes of a class period ending).
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What is the attendance requirement at Williamsburg Academy of Colorado?
We take daily attendance through Canvas, our online learning management system. Students are required to log into Canvas every school day, including Fridays.
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Does Williamsburg Academy of Colorado accept transfer credit from other schools?
Yes, we accept transfer credit from other accredited schools. This does not guarantee that all credits earned at other schools will align with our graduation requirements or count toward graduation. Students who plan to transfer credit should send a transcript from their previous school(s) to our Registrar to find out how their credits will transfer, and what additional work will be required to graduate from Williamsburg Academy of Colorado.
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Are Williamsburg Academy of Colorado students required to take the SAT and/or ACT?
All students at Williamsburg Academy of Colorado must take the SAT during their junior year (or submit a waiver).
Our students’ SAT and (optionally) ACT scores are used as one factor to measure us against Colorado’s state graduation requirements. Students who do not achieve minimum SAT/ACT scores may complete a Capstone Project. For more information, see Colorado's graduation guidelines. -
Are Williamsburg Academy of Colorado students required to take state assessments?
Yes, because we are a public school, our students are required to participate in statewide assessments in April each year. Parents are responsible for providing transportation to an assigned testing location.
Additionally, our students complete online NWEA MAP assessments three times each year. These assessments are a great tool for helping students (and parents) measure and improve their academic progress!
Please see the CDE's website for more information. -
Does Williamsburg Academy of Colorado have an academic honor code?
Yes. We expect our students to be truthful in all they say and do and demonstrate integrity in their academics.
Plagiarism, cheating, or other falsification of research on projects, papers, or exams are not tolerated. Students agree in every course that they will not receive unwarranted help from any person and will complete all work themselves. Honor code violations may result in a failing grade and/or being permanently expelled from Williamsburg Academy of Colorado. Mentors report honor code violations to the Executive Director, and after consulting with the student and their parents, a final course of action is decided.
School Culture
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What is Williamsburg Academy of Colorado’s school culture like?
In a nutshell, we inspire students to find their love of learning and use it to build the foundation for a meaningful, successful life in our modern world. Our school culture is open, uplifting, and brings out the best in us and our students.
Williamsburg Academy of Colorado students build lasting friendships with their peers and mentors as they explore their interests and unique abilities. On top of that, our students actively challenge and support each other in doing the hard work it takes to gain a liberal arts and leadership-focused education.
Lastly, each member of the Williamsburg team has a clear area of focus to support student success and development. We live lives of meaning, purpose, and adventure while inspiring our students to do the same.
This all adds up to create a school culture that inspires students to do the best work of their lives so far—both personally and academically. -
What are Williamsburg Academy of Colorado’s teachers like?
We call our teachers “mentors” because they play the role of helping students develop as leaders (in addition to the traditional teacher role of helping students acquire knowledge).
Simply put, we have the highest standards and strongest filters in the industry when it comes to hiring talented mentors (who are also all certified teachers). On top of that, once hired, our mentors receive unrivaled professional development training to help them excel even further at bringing out students’ potential.
If you ask a Williamsburg Academy of Colorado student to tell you about their mentors, you’ll likely hear words like “engaging,” “fun,” “inspiring,” “smart,” “hilarious,” “crazy,” “caring,” and “talented.” For many students and families, our mentors are the main attraction of our entire program! -
Who are Williamsburg Academy of Colorado students?
We attract bright and dedicated students who want to study history’s great minds and learn to think critically. Our students come from diverse backgrounds including home, public, and private schools; no particular background is necessary. A strong work ethic, eagerness to learn, and a desire to serve others are the only key ingredients for success at Williamsburg Academy of Colorado.
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Is Williamsburg Academy of Colorado right for my student?
The best way to determine if we’re the right fit for your child is by scheduling a call with an Enrollment Advisor. We’ll ask a few questions to get to know your student so we can give you a strong recommendation either way.
In general, though, here are some things to consider when thinking about enrolling your child at Williamsburg Academy of Colorado:
The liberal arts and leadership-focused education we offer is challenging. Since our mission is to prepare highly motivated and independent learners for meaningful lives of leadership, we have high expectations for our students. This requires students to be self-directed and open to being challenged by their schoolwork.
In addition, we use online learning tools that give students the freedom to guide their own education. We trust our students to use that freedom wisely and appropriately. Specifically, we expect each student to:- Work, read, and study independently.
- Set daily and weekly commitments, and put in the work to meet those commitments.
- Spend several hours a day in and out of class studying, completing assignments, and reflecting on how their learnings apply to their lives.
We only suggest enrolling your child at Williamsburg Academy of Colorado if they are determined, excited, and prepared to meet these expectations. If so, our program could be the perfect fit to help your child unleash their full potential!
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What is required of parents?
In general, Williamsburg Academy of Colorado students do best when a parent or guardian is home to support and encourage them during the school day. To maximize your student’s success, the single most impactful thing you can do is use our 3-Step Parent Support Plan with your child every week. This includes:
- Helping your student create a daily checklist for each school day, listing the tasks and assignments they will complete each day.
- Helping your student anticipate which assignments they might need extra support on, such as a quick check from you before they submit it or attending their mentor’s office hours.
- Checking in with your student for a few minutes each day to make sure they’re completing the items on their daily checklist.
We promise: If you do these three things with your student consistently, they’ll be on track for their best school year ever.
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What resources does Williamsburg Academy of Colorado offer parents?
We offer multiple resources to support you in helping your child get the education they deserve! These include (but aren’t limited to):
- Our on-demand Parent Orientation videos to help you and your student get a strong start to the school year.
- Additional Parent Resource videos to support you and your student at key times throughout the school year.
- The Weekly Parent Update, which includes a summary of important action items, announcements, and upcoming events at our school.
- Parent-Mentor Conferences and Parent-Mentor Updates to keep you informed about your child’s progress each semester.
- Our proven 3-Step Parent Support Plan to help your student stay on track with all their coursework every week.
- Easy access to our Support Team every weekday to get help with any technical issues
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What is the school’s Non-Discrimination Policy?
Williamsburg Academy of Colorado does not discriminate based on race, ethnic origin, sex, or religion. We welcome diversity in our program and strive to have students of high moral character from diverse races, ethnicities, and religions. Understanding and embracing diversity is a key characteristic for leaders seeking a liberal education.