Frequently Asked Questions

Georgia Cyber Academy offers the following grades for students who reside in the state of Georgia.

• Kindergarten*
• 1st grade*
• 2nd grade
• 3rd grade
• 4th grade
• 5th grade
• 6th grade
• 7th grade
• 8th grade
• 9th grade
• 10th grade
• 11th grade
• 12th grade

*Students must be five years old on or before September 1 to enter Kindergarten and must be six years old on or before September 1 to enter first grade. 

In order to be successful in an online school environment, students must have a reliable internet connection, a dedicated computer, and printer.  Georgia Cyber Academy will provide computers, printers, and internet support to families that meet certain criteria and receive approval. 

Georgia Cyber Academy has a wide range of online courses and curriculums which are designed to meet state academic standards.  Visit our curriculum pages for more information. 

Primary Grades K-2 Curriculum

Elementary Grades 3-5 Curriculum

Middle Grades 6-8 Curriculum

Secondary Grades 9-12 Curriculum

With very few exceptions, all curriculums are 100% online with no materials needed with the exception of basic school supplies.  A school computer and printer may be provided for student use.  

Georgia Cyber Academy provides academic support tools, equipment, and assistive technology as necessary. In rare cases, GCA may also provide physical materials based on grade level.

Basic school supplies such as paper, pencils, pens, erasers, highlighters, notebooks, binders, folders, markers, crayons, colored pencils, glue/glue sticks, scissors, rulers, protractors, compass, calculators, etc. are the responsibility of our families. A suggested school list will be provided for each grade level at the beginning of the school year.

Georgia Cyber Academy is a 100% free online public school.  There is no cost to attend. 

Students with disabilities who qualify for Special Education Services can receive a free appropriate education (FAPE) based on the student’s IEP.  Georgia Cyber Academy delivers special education programming and related services in the least restrictive environment, as determined by the student’s IEP team. 

Visit our Special Education section for more information. 

Throughout the year, students are invited to participate in social engagement activities such as school clubs and school outings & events.  Parents have the opportunity to participate in closed Facebook groups through our Parent-Teacher-Student Organization (PTSO) where they can organize events within their respective regions.  Students also attend virtual class sessions where they can interact with each other and their teachers.

Clubs

Georgia Cyber Academy (GCA) elementary school teachers host student clubs each semester, allowing multiple opportunities for students to interact and pursue areas of interest.

Visit our Clubs section for more information.

Outings & Events

Throughout the year, students are invited to participate in school outings, field trips (e.g., to historical sites, museums, zoos), picnics, and other social events.

Visit our Community Partner Events calendar for more information.

PTSO Facebook Groups

Facebook Groups are closed groups for GCA Learning Coaches, Parents, and Guardians.  These groups are sponsored by parent volunteers through our GCA PTSO. They are used as a support resource for GCA families.  

Visit our Parent Facebook Groups page for more information.

Our students participate in online classes where teachers deliver instruction live just like in a traditional school model. Students that attend live classes interact with the teacher and other students. All classes are recorded, so students can refer to them if needed. Additionally, there are online live small groups, instructional support classes, and open offices. There is a combination of online and off-line work and projects to complete and turn in with due dates.

Please visit our Enrollment page or complete the form below to receive more information about enrollment.

Georgia law requires students to participate in school learning activities for a minimum of 180 days per school year and a minimum number of hours required per school day are as follows:

• Kindergarten: 4.5 hours per day
• Grades 1-3: 4.5 hours per day
• Grades 4-5: 5.0 hours per day
• Grades 6-12: 5.5 hours per day

Graduating Seniors and their loved ones have the opportunity to participate in Graduation Weekend which includes Honors Day, Prom, and a Graduation Ceremony.  

View the highlight video below then visit our Graduation page for more information.

Students who attend public schools in Georgia are required by law to take state-mandated tests such as the Georgia Milestones, G-Kids, Access for ELL, Georgia Alternate Assessment, and any additional tests as required based on student needs.

More information can be found on our State Mandated Tests page.

Georgia Cyber Academy is accredited by Cognia. Learn more about our Accreditation...

Georgia Cyber Academy participates in the education of displaced students by providing specific support and supplies to help with their education.  Learn more about our program.

Some school districts allow students who are enrolled in a Georgia Online Charter School to participate in sports or other activities within their local district.  Please contact your local school or school district directly to find out if this is something they allow.

There are various reasons that make virtual education a good option for many families depending on their situation or preferences. Students at Georgia Cyber Academy receive individualized educational support and pacing to better meet them where they are on their personal learning paths. Virtual learning offers a more flexible option for them to be able to complete their education. Some families may want more control over their students’ educational environment, peers or outside influences for safety, faith-based or cultural reasons. Other parents want to be more involved in their children’s education, spend more time with them or develop a closer bond during the most impressionable years. There are really so many reasons why virtual learning may be a better fit than a more traditional educational setting.

Our team vets and researches curriculum and technological tools constantly in order to provide the most engaging educational experience possible. We start with a curriculum that meets or exceeds the Georgia Standards of Excellence and then look for tools that are the most engaging and provide the best educational outcomes for students. One advantage of a virtual environment is that we can change tools fairly quickly if a new or better tool or curriculum becomes available; we are not locked into a curriculum choice for three to five years. We can also add or delete based on the data received for a given grade level or subject.

We have a team of nearly a hundred Family Success Liaisons that provide a touchstone for parents. They are there to facilitate communication, answer questions, provide advice and offer positive encouragement for families. They are essentially our families’ cheerleaders, and once assigned, they stay with the family throughout their tenure with GCA. This allows for closer relationships, provides for better student advocates and creates a sense of consistency from year to year. We also have developed Strong Start orientation modules for new students and Stay Strong modules for returning families. Our educational model is not static, so even our returning families benefit by going through the modules that we provide prior to the start of the new school year.

As a virtual school, we are very data driven and have many data points to rely on when determining student success. We administer assessments that measure student academic growth over a period of time and other tools that indicate mastery of standards at a given point in time. There are also the state Milestones assessments and end-of-the-year subject and course averages. We believe that at least three data points need to be available to accurately determine academic growth, mastery and proficiency. In the end, if a student improves and grows a full year or more in academic proficiency, then we have been successful in providing a strong academic foundation for that student. If, in addition to that, a student increases in confidence, develops a strong sense of self, finds their passion for learning, is kind and grows to be a positive contributor to society, then that is when we can say we have been truly successful.

That is something we work on constantly and probably is the most difficult area to address. We have virtual and in-person field trips, face-to-face events and outing days, virtual honors celebrations, lunch chats, virtual clubs, academic competitions and service learning projects. We are also exploring e-sports and may add this program in the years to come. Parents also connect with other parents through online forums organized by parent leaders. Through these communication channels, parents can plan meetups and events with other enrolled families.

We are working to integrate the best of what a physical brick-and-mortar school provides with the flexibility and individualization that a virtual educational environment can offer. Despite economic circumstances, where a student resides, personal challenges and individual needs, students have the opportunity to close academic gaps, charge ahead of their peers, access advanced and technical courses and participate in dual enrollment and work-based learning programs from the comfort of their home. Quite simply, we provide completely equitable educational opportunities for all Georgia students.