The Challenge: Enrollment Decline in a Rural Community

When Decatur County Schools, a small rural district in Tennessee, saw enrollment steadily declining after the pandemic, leaders faced a stark reality when it came to their finances. 

“With a small school district, every student counts because that’s every dollar that counts,” explained Dr. Scott King, alternative learning director for Decatur County Virtual Academy (DCVA).

The district noticed that neighboring communities were launching virtual schools and drawing families away. By 2023, more than 50 local students had already left for competing online programs, taking the district’s resources and funding with them.

“Either we continued losing kids, or we created a new option to keep them here,” Dr. King observed.

The Solution: A Virtual Academy Powered by Edmentum

In May 2023, Decatur County launched its own virtual academy, DCVA. Leaders thought that 10 students might sign up that first year. Instead, 38 enrolled immediately, with another 9 returning from competing districts. By the second semester, the program had nearly doubled to 73 students.

“We ballooned,” Dr. King recounted. “We’re starting this year with 80 kids, and I had to cut [enrollment] off to maintain quality.”

Choosing the Right Partner

From the beginning, Edmentum Courseware was the foundation for the DCVA program.

“I looked at other providers, and the rigor just wasn’t there,” Dr. King remarked. “With Edmentum, it scaffolds and builds all the way up. It’s solid, and I can’t find a better product.”

He also highlighted the ease of implementation: “Edmentum makes it simple. I don’t have to spend hours building everything from scratch. It’s already aligned and ready to go. That saves me time I can spend on kids.”

Equally important has been the ongoing partnership. 

“The support has been phenomenal,” Dr. King declared. “Anytime I had a question, Edmentum was quick to respond. I never felt like I was doing this on my own.”

As the program expanded from secondary grade levels to serve all grades K–12, Edmentum’s curriculum gave leaders confidence that they could deliver a consistent, high-quality experience districtwide.

A Model Staffed by Local Teachers

Unlike many rural districts that use Edmentum’s EdOptions Academy, a customizable virtual program that pairs curricula with state-certified virtual teachers, DCVA leaders chose to staff the program internally.

“We run everything ourselves,” Dr. King stated. “It’s just me and Mr. Mathis. I handle the high school, and he handles middle and lower grades. We grade everything, follow up with kids, and keep a tutorial line open all day.”

This approach allowed the district to keep strong connections with families and tailor support to the community. 

Still, Dr. King noted that every district must choose what works best for its context: “For some, EdOptions Academy makes sense. You can scale quickly with their certified teachers. For us right now, this works, but every district has to figure out what’s best.”

The Results: Student Success and District Stability

Meeting Students Where They Are

DCVA has opened doors for families who might otherwise have left the district altogether. Many older students balance jobs with coursework, completing assignments at night after working shifts in local factories. Others needed flexibility for health, family, or learning needs.

Dr. King recalled one especially powerful example:

We had a 14-year-old come in who hadn’t been to school in two years. I didn’t know where to start, so I placed him in 6th grade. After one year in our program, he completed 6th, 7th, and 8th grades. He’s now reading in the 99th percentile. This kid would have quit at 17. Now, he’s on grade level and talking about welding and mechanics. That’s only possible because of Edmentum and our virtual academy.

Another DCVA success involved two students who were only three credits shy of graduation. 

“They were going to drop out,” Dr. King shared. “I set a plan. Four months later, both finished ahead of schedule and walked across the stage with a diploma. Without the virtual academy, they wouldn’t have.”

Academic Rigor and Accountability

DCVA’s model balances flexibility with high expectations. Teachers require Courseware’s guided notes for core subjects, offer one-on-one tutorials, and maintain an open-door policy.

“If a student gets two days behind, they come spend the day with me until they’re caught up,” Dr. King illustrated. “We’re flexible, but we also hold them accountable. Parents love that balance.”

The district also leverages Exact Path, Edmentum’s adaptive intervention program, to close foundational gaps and reteach difficult material. 

“The goal isn’t just to finish—it’s to truly learn,” Dr. King emphasized.

Financial Impact

The program has not only kept students engaged but also stabilized district finances.

“Over the past few years, we lost more than 100 kids—that was close to half a million dollars gone,” Dr. King revealed. “Last year alone, our virtual academy generated $493,000. About a quarter of that was from new kids we brought back into the district.”

For Dr. King, the flexibility and variety that Edmentum provides is essential for rural schools: “As a small district, we couldn’t offer this kind of variety without Edmentum. Courseware gives us options we never had before.”

Decatur County Schools and its Decatur County Virtual Academy are also expanding into career and technical education (CTE) courses, boosting opportunities for students. 

“Anytime we can throw in CTE, it’s a win-win,” Dr. King added. “Edmentum’s new CTE offerings—cosmetology, cybersecurity, coding—they open doors our small district couldn’t offer otherwise.”

Advice for Other Rural Districts

Dr. King encouraged other small districts to move boldly but thoughtfully: “Educate your community first. Have a spokesperson who believes in the program and can explain why it’s needed. Be transparent. When you mess up, own it, fix it, and move on. People will support you if you’re honest.”

Above all, Dr. King stressed that virtual learning—whether staffed internally or run through EdOptions Academy—isn’t just about enrollment numbers or funding. 

“The virtual academy is changing the lives of kids who otherwise might have been forgotten,” Dr. King reflected. “Somebody believed in me once, and now I get to believe in these kids. That’s what this is all about.”