Colorado Virtual Academy

This is an amazing school because the teachers really do care, they are always striving to keep students involved and keep parents involved, they have various clubs and school activities aside from school work itself. No school is easy, so I'm not sure why one person is bickering on the work load. This school is amazing because students are entitled to a flexible schedule that works personally for them, while even if they miss out on class meetings they can still view recordings of them. Teachers and staff here work very hard to help students become the best they can be whether that be through k-mails or phone calls, they really do genuinely want the students to succeed.

My children have been enrolled at COVA for 9 years. The curriculum is rigorous and challenging and will give your child an excellent education - but it takes hard work on the part of the child and the parents. In the last two or three years and now that my kids are in high school, the staff has tried to be much more hands on and group participation is required. This is not our style so we will be looking for something else next year. If you put some effort in and are willing to work within the rules - your child will get a superior education at COVA.
—Submitted by a parent

COVA is by far the best choice when reviewing virtual schools in Colorado. Do not be confused or fooled by the statistics reference above, as a majority of kids (like mine) choose to attend COVA when they have tried making it work their regular school. What these websites should post is the number of times my son was bullied, beat up, or came home from school in tears last year compared to this year now enrolled in COVA. I can tell you, you'd be reading a very different overview of what this school continues to do for families like mine. My son is not afraid anymore. He enjoys interracting with his classmates. You should be ashamed of yourselves if you support the requset to deny a supporting charter, as you are denying the 4600 students who came to COVA for situaions like my son's. In addtion, I'd totally agree with those who state "you get what you put in". For High School students who are used to easier open book multiple choice exams, this isn't comparable. The curriculum is rigorous, and challenges both my son and I on a daily basis - in a good way.
—Submitted by a parent

After doing this school with 2 of my sons, one in middle school and one in high school, I can tell you it is NOT going to provide them an education. It will give your student an excessive workload, and basically prevent them from getting an A in anything because of faulty test questions that you have to complain to the teacher about to get the grade corrected (if you get lucky enough to have a teacher who will take the time and has the cognitive ability to review the question for correctness - good luck with that). Did this happen once? Yes at least once on EVERY quiz and test. This school is not for anybody.
—Submitted by a parent

This is my first year with COVA, and so far, it has been a major disappointment and an overall headache. I am a junior in the program and I can honestly say that this is one of the worst schooling programs that I have ever been involved with. I have been to private schools and public schools, as well as being homeschooled, and COVA is at the bottom of the heap. All throughout high school, I was an A student. I was in honors classes, I was excelling, and I genuinely loved school. This all changed when I started COVA. The teachers are not helpful, let alone friendly, and the majority of them seem to not even know what they're teaching. Many of the "computer scored" tests are faulty and the Spanish language program is an absolute joke. This curriculum has caused more grief between my parents and me than anything else in my life. I went from straight A's (and one B) to mostly B's. The workload is stifling. This is especially bad because this is my junior year and this is the year that colleges are looking at. I pray that this all works out. Please go with some other program, I beg you. I would NOT recommend COVA to anyone. This is absolutely my final year.

I am a Junior at COVA, and I would like to share my experience with you. I have always been a top student (graduating my freshman and sophomore years with a 4.0 in other online schools), and I have always enjoyed school. COVA has changed all that. I start school at 7:30, and work until around 4-4:30. I submit quality work, but I have found that it is almost impossible to get constantly good grades. I study, and work very hard, but it all seems for not. The workload is ridiculous. Countless times I've looked up from a project and thought "Why am I doing this? This isn't benefiting me". COVA is a freight train. If you fall behind, or miss a day, you're lost. And it's almost impossible to make up what you've missed, and even if you do, you get heavily penalized for being late. The social events aren't good. I have no COVA friends. And worse of all, at the end of the day, there's no time for your non-school related passions. And if there is, you're too depressed or worried about school to enjoy doing it. Find a Co-op near you, or do Sonlight. This is really not good. And you can't leave COVA without an "F" on your transcript, no questions asked. Please think about something else!!

I agree with the parents who say that you get what you put into it. We are very happy with COVA & my daughter says she is learning more now than when she went to regular public school. We end our school day way earlier than regular public school & have more time for family time & fun activities. It also allows for her to get ahead in subjects she excels in & spend some quality time working through the subjects she needs extra help in. The teacher is there for contact if you need help, though we haven't needed much. Love it. Love it. Love it.
—Submitted by a parent

As a student I hate this school a lot, it's nice that you don't have to go anywhere/get up really early, but the teachers seem like they love getting you into trouble. I don't think I've ever gotten into anymore trouble at any other school more than COVA, because I've always been a decent student/person. I also find it is making me a little depressed that I am missing out on making new friends, getting very little socialization with anyone but the teachers. I haven't even had my first relationship with anyone yet, which makes me a little worried seeing as all my other friends have. The learning is there, but it's not as good as traditional school.

After four weeks of school, my son did not have the laptop they promised at enrollment--or even a teacher. Additionally, we weren't called and emailed when we were told we would, and when we did receive communication it was largely inaccurate. COVA blamed K12 and K12 blamed COVA, but no one wanted to help solve any of the problems. As a parent, I'm terribly disappointed. As a taxpayer, I'm outraged.
—Submitted by a parent

Is there a way to give zero stars? They should make that option for COVA. The only thing we liked was the organized way the lessons are planned, but we never got a teacher to help us when there were questions or problems...and boy were there questions and problems! I would say they were mistaken about a lot of things, but when it happens that often, it feels like they're just downright lying. I think they're only in it for the money.
—Submitted by a parent

Awesome! You get out of it what you put into it, just like life. If you do the work, it is hard not to excel. Teachers always willing to help. Just like every school, I'm sure there are going to be a few bad apples.
—Submitted by a parent

We love this school! We have tons of help from the teacher and she is always available. I have been able to talk to the administration about several issues and they have been super responsive. We will be attending next year!
—Submitted by a parent

This school is horrible!!!!!!! No support at all they throw you in and it's sink or swim. If your child falls behind they don't offer you any help. There are way better schools out there. If you enroll your child here you will regret it.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is a nightmare they are disorganized. When you ask the teachers for help they act like it is a difficult task. Heaven forbid you child need special ed. No matter how much work my child does his % never go up. When I asked why haven't they offered us any resources they replied " I don't know what kind of resources you are asking for?" Hello shouldn't a school administrator know when a child is falling behind due to a learning disability. This school make me SICK they should be shut down.

We have been in COVA nearly four years. It is much deteriorated the past year. It has been an ongoing nightmare of 1) teachers violating COVA handbook grading policies to penalize students. Both of my students had teachers doing this, there is no accountability for teachers and retaliation for students requesting the handbook be followed, uncaring teachers, incompetent and narcissistic principal who bumbled the CSAP testing in 2010 which made them null and void (By the way the CSAP taken in March 2010 the results have still not been sent out) Young incompetent guidance counselors for high school, pass the buck attittude of teachers and principals, workload is overwhelming. Kids will definitely be made to feel uncared about, Both of my kids were honors and advanced students when they entered COVA. Now, both are behind and hate school.definitely not good for gifted students.School makes parents do all documentation of gifted-talented. COVA will not even send for records form previous school. You will have to fight, fight, fight. It was a good elementary school option but bad for middle and high school. Foreign language program is a joke. Parent involvement is greatly discouraged.
—Submitted by a parent

The one thing I have noticed is that COVA is having to be very reactionary to the State of Colorado's scrutiny and position towards charter schools. This has resulted in a mix of issues, some positive and some negative. . Its easy to get caught up in the humdrum and negative when change is occurring, but sometimes it takes a step back perspective to appreciate the system versus alternatives, even with its faults. Things to consider: This is hands on by the Parent - as a learning coach there is a significant time commitment The curriculum is easily 1 year ahead of our local brick & mortar. It will be difficult. You will find great teachers and okay teachers, its up to you to develop those relationships and make sure your getting the most of the education COVA is an alternative, it gives kids who are being held back a chance to excel and for special needs it helps invoke an environment that provides fundamentals and a positive learning experience. COVA is not a babysitter, it requires lots of parental interaction COVA is not perfect, K12 is a great curriculum but there are aspects that we groan over. As a parent I can extend teachings and *have* a say in what they are learning.
—Submitted by a parent

High school--bad teachers, worse curriculum. Ambiguous test questions on computer graded tests. On quizzes, your student can see the computer mistakes and you can request the teacher correct the grading. But you cannot see unit test questions, so you don't get to find out what was graded inaccurately, nor challenge bad questions/computer grading. "Teacher graded questions" on the unit tests are also a nightmare, especially Biology where you can never find out what you were graded wrong on from the teacher. Too much homework, not enough real education, very low-level Freshman algebra--equivalent to middle-school pre-algebra of the 1980s. I have found pro-global warming, pro-communist ideology taught (i.e., Geography class teaches command economies are more equal and fair than free market economies). In the mandatory "Reaching Your Academic Potential" class for freshman an exercise lets you click on certain academic choices for an example student, so you may direct his academic choices and see the results. When he dropped out of college to play in a band he became a rock star. When he pursued sports in college, he was injured and only became a low-paid high school sports coach.
—Submitted by a parent

I fully agree with everything that was posted by the parent who has been doing k12 for the past 5 years with COVA and CAVA. This is my 4th year with COVA and the change between this year and the past three years is like night and day. They are completely disorganized. The k12 curriculum on its own is quite challenging, which is why I enjoy it. My kids are both in the Barton Reading Program for Dyslexia, however, and our support staff has been completely taken away. We have enjoyed wonderful support the past 3 years, and this year due to "restructuring" they are unable to provide the one teacher we had to support that program. Very unhappy this year with COVA.
—Submitted by a parent

I have been doing K12 for 5 years now, 2 with COVA and 3 with CAVA. I have in the past greatly enjoyed both schools. This year, however, they are extremely disorganized, teachers keep changing on us, books have not been shipped on time, they made us change our daughter's math class telling us it was no longer a supported class, and there are a lot of class connects, face to face meetings, and study island requirements. As a mother of 3 it is very difficult to keep up with the children, their different schedules and all the demands being placed on them this year. I still love the K12 cirriculum and would recommend it, I just am having trouble with the demands upon the Learning Coach and the students this year by COVA.
—Submitted by a parent

We had our son go through 6th thru 9th grades.When it came to the ninth grade things changed. My son did all the lessons every day an passed the daily quizes, the same as he did the previous 3 years, but for unknown reasons the teachers failed him in most of the classes an he got a C in History an a D in Physcial Science. He made up the classes he didn't pass in summer school at Aurora Central High an was admitted for the next year for 10th grade every year he had a 4.0 grade average he graduates this Monday the 16th of May because Cova failed him he was just 1.7 fro m getting the high honors awards.We constantly were telling the teacher at Cova that he is doing the work an passing the Art, Math,an English classes it was like talking to a brick wall.We are so glad we had him go to a regular school. Cova was a grave mistake.
—Submitted by a parent