Huntsville City Schools offers fully virtual option for students this school year

HUNTSVILLE, Ala (WHNT) — During the COVID-19  pandemic, the world turned virtual.

While it was unexpected, Huntsville City Schools Chief Communications Officer Craig Williams said this laid the groundwork for schools to learn how to teach online.

“This is something that we’ve heard from parents for quite a while,” said Williams. “They’ve asked for the option for virtual learning, and of course, with COVID several years ago, we first kind of dipped our toe in the water in terms of what teaching and learning looks like virtually.”

Huntsville City Schools is making history as Thursday marked their first day of school both in person – and for the first time – virtually.

The online option is called the “Artemis Virtual Academy”

“It will work and feel kind of a lot like an in-person classroom, but of course, students will have the flexibility to learn from anywhere and everywhere in that virtual setting,” said Williams.

Williams says the virtual program is offered for K-12 students zoned in the district.

“You really have to be a disciplined student,” said Williams. “You have to be willing to log on to do the coursework and ultimately make sure you’re meeting deadlines and turning in assignments and doing the teaching and learning piece.”

While the learning is fully online, they are not restricting students from getting involved in face-to-face extracurricular activities.

“If you want to be a virtual student, but you also want to, whether it’s be in the band or play sports or engage in extracurricular activities, we have something for you as well,” said Williams.

This is the first year HCS is offering a program of this kind.

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