PATHWAYS
The Cherokee County
School District led the
nation in reopening for
in-person school one year
ago, continuing its path as
a K-12 leader focused on
educating the emerging
generation for success.
While the past year
tested even the most
seasoned educator, CCSD
teachers, administrators
and support staff rose to
the challenge and not only
continued to provide the
best instruction and student
services possible, but
also looked to the future.
“The world continues to
innovate and grow, and we
must do the same as we
prepare our graduates for
success in the world,”
Superintendent of Schools
Dr. Brian V. Hightower
said. “With our School
Board’s support, we overcame
the past year’s obstacles
and, true to form, we
8 CLASS ACT | 2021-2022
learned from the challenges
to improve our School
District. Our use of instructional
technology over
the past year showed us the
potential for new ways to
expand teaching and
learning. We’re excited
about this potential for our
students and our educators
as we begin a new school
year together.”
This school year, CCSD
will again open its doors on
time for in-person learning
and will continue to offer
Digital Learning for the
first semester for Grades
K-12 with an improved
program.
While CCSD Digital
Learning is a temporary
program, the pandemic
experience illuminated that
for some students, online
learning is a better choice,
allowing them to advance
at their own pace and work
from home.
New Virtual Academy
To meet that need,
CCSD has launched i-Grad
Virtual Academy, a permanent
online school choice,
which will initially serve
200 high school students
beginning this school year.
The program may be
expanded to more students
and additional grade levels
in the future.
i-Grad is a full-time
virtual school that follows
the CCSD traditional school
calendar. It’s housed on
the newly renamed ACTIVE
Academies campus at 8871
Knox Bridge Highway in
Canton, which also includes
ACE Academy
daytime alternative high
school, CCSD Transition
Academy for older special
needs students and the
planned Cherokee College
and Career Academy (C3
Academy).
Students enrolled in
i-Grad complete classwork
online at home, but come
to the campus for specific
tests and can attend optional
in-person instructional
sessions as offered.
Classes are offered in all
core academic subjects,
with AP options for more
advanced students, as well
a variety of Career Pathways
electives.
Andy Hall, who most
recently served as an
assistant principal at River
Ridge High School, is the
lead administrator. The
faculty for i-Grad’s inaugural
year includes eight
highly qualified core content
teachers and one
school counselor.
Coursework is delivered
by i-Grad teachers through
the Edgenuity online
learning platform, which is
fully accredited and NCAA
compliant. i-Grad is
considered its own high
school and is accredited as
part of CCSD; students who
complete all required
coursework to graduate will
receive a high school
diploma with the same
academic credential as they
would from a CCSD traditional
high school.
i-Grad uses an application
process, which gives
students the opportunity to
demonstrate their ability to
be successful in a virtual
environment. The application
process for next school
year will open in early
to Student Success
i-Grad Administrator Andy Hall,
left, stands outside the ACTIVE
Academies campus in Canton,
where the new virtual academy
will be housed.