Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Cobb County schools began the 2020-21 school year with remote learning only.  In October both in-person and virtual learning options became available. Some students chose to remain in the comfort of their homes with the virtual school option with a different approach. Those students proceed with the virtual experience with the Cobb Virtual Academy which comes with its perks. 

Keeping the virtual option available gives students peace of mind, and the virtual school felt and still feels like a dream come true, but in school, students attend scheduled class periods and lunch breaks, which implements a structure that online school does not have. Back to back video classes, sitting for long hours in front of a screen without adequate breaks mean students get less time to switch gears from one subject to another. 

Superintendent Chris Ragsdale announced that the district will offer a virtual learning option for students when the new school year begins on August 2, but the county made it mandatory for students who participate in any sports to resume face-to-face. As student athletes and their families choose the right placement for the next year. Students who choose the fully virtual option can not participate in sports or any activities at NC, as they become a student of the Cobb Virtual Academy and not a CCSD student. 

Making students attend in person school because they play a sport or participate in a school activity makes sense because normally athletes who attend virtual school would drive to the school premises every day for practice, by making them attend in person they do not need to drive down to the school as they can conveniently walk down to the practicing fields after school.

With remote learning, students can set their own schedules and work at their own pace, which takes them out of the noisy school atmosphere. Students and teachers continue to communicate through Zoom calls, with the students muted to eliminate background noises and distractions.

“I feel like virtual school definitely improved my grades. I like being in the comfort of my own home, and it made it so much easier to learn, while I love being and learning in my home I also miss some things about being in school and learning face to face, like seeing friends, and all the fun activities we do in school,” junior Abby Frasure said.