COLLIERVILLE, Tennessee — The Tennessee Department of Education signed off on Collierville Virtual Academy Tuesday. The completely virtual, stand-alone school will be added to the Collierville Schools district this fall for students in grades 3-12. With more than 3,000 students learning remotely this past school year, Superintendent Dr. Gary Lilly said this was an obvious decision.
"We continue to have families who are interested in the virtual option so the only path forward is to have a stand-alone virtual school," Dr. Lilly said.
More than 500 students have already expressed interest in enrolling. Even though it's a by-product of the pandemic, it will now be a long-term option for families.
"At some point in the future, just like any brick and mortar school, if enrollment should continue to drop to a level that we cannot financially sustain then we would have to decide whether or not if it’s feasible to move forward with it," Dr. Lilly said.
Dr. Lilly said most of the students showing interest are in elementary or middle school.
"I think the families just enjoyed the flexibility that virtual modality offers," Dr. Lilly said.
Depending on how many families sign-up, Collierville Virtual Academy might also offer its own athletics and other extracurricular activities. Other school districts, like Germantown Municipal School District and Bartlett City Schools, are still determining if there's enough interest for a stand-alone virtual school.
NEWS RELEASE FROM COLLIERVILLE SCHOOLS:
Collierville Schools to add virtual option
Collierville Schools has received official approval from the Tennessee Department of Education to expand its district blueprint to include a standalone virtual academy next year. Beginning August 2021, Collierville Schools will formally add a tenth school to its roster. Collierville Virtual Academy, employing a virtual instructional model, will welcome students in grades 3-12 for the upcoming school year.
“I am proud of the work that went into building the virtual academy from the ground up last summer,” said Superintendent Gary Lilly, “and I look forward to seeing the long-term successes that it will offer our families now and in the future.”
If you have not registered and would like for your child(ren) to be enrolled in Collierville Virtual Academy, please reach out directly to Ms. Melissa Widner at mwidner@colliervilleschools.org with the Department of Curriculum and Accountability. All students —both in-person and virtual —please complete the “registration update,” the information was delivered to your e-mail box on Monday, May 3rd. If you did not receive the new school year registration, please contact the Department of Student Services at (901) 286-6398.
We are excited to provide the virtual instructional model for our families that desire a digital setting. It is the mission of Collierville Schools to prepare students for a life of scholarship, integrity, and service.