FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is HOPE Academy a homeschooling co-op?
No. HOPE Academy is a private Christian school registered in North Carolina. Our classes are led by paid, experienced, professional educators prayerfully screened and selected by our Administration. All students who enroll must attend classes three to four days per week based on grade level and class schedule. Unlike a co-op, parents will not be asked to teach or devote a certain number of hours in the classroom in exchange for the right to attend. However, we appreciate parent volunteers in other areas.
Are the Common Core Educational Standards used at HOPE Academy?
National and state standards are used as a guide for academic planning and curriculum development. HOPE Academy is not required by law, nor are we tied financially to state or national standards. However, as a school, we have deemed using such standards as a guide valuable. Our students are assessed using a standardized, third-party assessment each year, aligned with the Common Core National Standards. All academic decisions are based on prayer, research, and our students’ developmental and academic needs to be globally competitive.
Common Core standards only encompass the subjects of English Language Arts and Mathematics.
Do you serve students with special needs/ 504 Plans/I.E.P.s?
Yes. God has specifically called us to serve students with various special needs. These students are best served in our school’s Learning Support Program for a minimum of their initial year and on review for subsequent years.
To maintain balanced classrooms, HOPE Academy has limited openings for students in our Learning Support Program in each grade. To qualify for consideration at HOPE, students must be able to function independently in the classroom with little to no assistance. Our Learning Support Director and Administration determine program eligibility through our standard inquiry and application process. Our team carefully reviews all testing and accommodation paperwork in addition to the standard application, reference, and required documents to move through the application process. Additional testing may be needed to gain a comprehensive understanding of how best to serve the student’s needs. Any costs associated with additional testing will be the parent’s responsibility. Further fees related to this program will be assessed throughout the school year for ongoing support services.
What days and times are classes in session?
Elementary School: Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays 8:00 am – 2:45 pm
Middle School: Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays 8:00 am – 3:10 pm
High School: Mondays -Thursdays (occasional classes on Fridays for Juniors & Seniors) 8:00 am – 3:10 pm
My child is academically gifted. Are you able to meet their needs?
HOPE Academy differentiates learning both in the classroom and at home. We continually assess students’ understanding and provide differentiation through small group instruction. At home, parents have the opportunity to challenge their students’ learning through teacher-designed extensions of home study assignments and parent-initiated independent study opportunities. If there are areas of concern our faculty and Director of Learning Support are happy to discuss opportunities for your student.
How do you select teachers?
HOPE Academy’s faculty selection process is very rigorous. All of our faculty and staff must demonstrate an active relationship with Jesus Christ and be engaged in a local Christian church. A proven history of excellence in the classroom is a key criterion for faculty hiring consideration. All teachers must be certified (or eligible for certification) to teach in North Carolina or be highly qualified in their field of expertise.
Do you provide training and support to new co-teachers?
Yes, HOPE provides extensive training and ongoing support through workshops and class meetings. Find out more about how we are partnering with and supporting parents on our Parent Programs page HERE.
How long can we expect to work on homestudy days?
Parents should anticipate 2-4 hours of work (plus breaks/lunch) for Elementary students, 4-5 hours for Middle School students, and 6-8 hours for High School students. Parents with multiple elementary-aged children at HOPE should anticipate a 5-6 hour school day at home.
Both parents work full-time outside of our home. Would HOPE be a good fit for us?
One of the most significant benefits of HOPE Academy’s University Model is that it allows parents more time with their students than the school does. We believe that parents are created to be the primary influence in their children’s lives and to be successful in this form of education, one parent must devote uninterrupted time to their student’s academics on at-home learning days, especially in the elementary and early middle school years.
Will this model allow us more flexibility to travel?
To maintain the integrity of the school, parents are asked to adhere to the published school calendar. HOPE Academy follows NC state attendance standards, so voluntary school absences must be minimal. Additionally with our focus on Project-Based Learning student absences significantly impact the work of their group and classmates so attendance is important. While the model does allow some flexibility, it is the expectation that students complete homestudy assignments on time and avoid appointments and vacations that impact these days of learning whenever possible.
If you have another question that is not addressed here, please feel free to contact us at admissions@hopek12.com.