BRUNSWICK COUNTY — Brunswick Virtual Academy, a program allowing students to complete their coursework online through Brunswick County Schools, has been approved to launch for the 2026-2027 school year.
The program is only open to Brunswick County residents who left BCS and enrolled in a homeschool, private school or charter school setting for the 2025-2026 school year. Currently enrolled BCS students or students from other counties are not eligible at this time.
READ MORE: Brunswick explores virtual academy to attract homeschool, charter, other students back to district
Brunswick Virtual Academy will be available to grades 1-12 with a combination of live instruction and independent coursework. BVA will prioritize enrollment for middle and high school students. Elementary students may apply; however, acceptance at the elementary level will depend on overall interest across all three grade spans and available staffing.
Assistant Superintendent Jonathan Paschal brought the idea of the Brunswick Virtual Academy before the board in January. The district already operates a virtual academy for students with extenuating circumstances or looking to make up course credit.
The expansion is geared to geared toward students who have exited public school for other virtual academies or homeschooling programs. Thus, why the first phase of the program is only open to Brunswick County residents who left BCS.
Around 10%, or 1,750, of the county’s students opt for homeschooling. By keeping the virtual academy in-house, Brunswick County Schools is able to retain its enrollment numbers, which in turn affects the amount of funding it receives, and potentially pay less money to enroll students in other virtual academies. The students brought back into the district could also participate in sports and extracurriculars.
Paschal said in January the initial cohort of the virtual academy could accommodate up to 150 students, with the district utilizing teachers through the virtual software company Edmentum.
Families interested in learning more about the virtual academy are encouraged to attend one of the district’s upcoming community information meetings. The first meeting will be held May 19 at The COAST, located at 1109 Old Ocean Highway in Bolivia. Sessions will begin at 6 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. Additional meetings are planned for May 26, May 27 and May 28 at locations throughout the county.
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