Application period approaching for online academy

With its first school year almost under its belt, the Waterford Cyber Academy is getting ready to welcome applications for the 2011-12 school year.

The Cyber Academy is offering open enrollment for students in grades 9-12 in the Waterford School District and Schools of Choice students who live in Oakland County and other qualifying school districts.

Applications for Schools of Choice students will be accepted from May 1 to May 15, while Aug. 1 is the deadline for in-district student applications.

The academy’s headquarters is located in the Covert Center on Scott Lake Road, which previously housed the Kurzman Administration Office.

Mary Jacques, the Cyber Academy’s coordinator, said she is very pleased with how the program has progressed in its first year.

“Many of our students are successful and we’ll have our first graduating class on June 4,” she said.

Jacques added that at the beginning of the year, the academy started with 80 students and is now up to 105.

Out of the 105 students now enrolled, about 76 are full-time students, while the rest consist of certain students — such as athletes and home-schooled students — who want to learn outside the classroom.

Jacques said that about 12 students are from inside the district.

Five students from the academy will graduate this year.

The academy consists of 130 core, elective and Advanced Placement courses that students can take on their own scheduled time, with no daily attendance required.

Courses can be taken at home, in the Covert Center, or in a public library at a computer.

Applications should be sent to the attention of Jacques at the Waterford Cyber Academy, 1150 Scott Lake Road, Waterford, Mich., 48328; or faxed to 248-682-0641.

Applications are available online at waterford.k12.mi.us/cyberacademy.