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Georgia families have options: traditional public school, private school, homeschooling, or virtual public school. Virtual schools sound like homeschooling but they’re fundamentally different. You don’t control the curriculum, you’re enrolled as a public school student, and you’re bound by school schedules and testing requirements. This post compares the main virtual school options (GaVS, Georgia Cyber Academy, Connections Academy) to homeschooling so you understand the real trade-offs.
Key Takeaways
- GaVS: Supplemental courses only for homeschoolers (tuition-based, ~$200-$400/course)
- Georgia Cyber Academy: Free full-time public charter school (you’re a public school student)
- Connections Academy: Free full-time public charter school (different from GaVS, enrollment-based)
- Homeschooling = you control curriculum and teaching; virtual public school = school controls curriculum
- Virtual public schools require state testing; homeschooling allows alternatives
Option 1: Georgia Virtual Schools (GaVS) for Homeschoolers
What GaVS is:
GaVS is Georgia’s state-approved virtual school program for homeschoolers and private school students. It offers individual courses (not full programs) that homeschoolers can take.
Cost: $200-$400 per course (varies by subject and grade level)
How it works:
- You remain a homeschooler (you still file DOI)
- You enroll your child in ONE to SEVERAL GaVS courses per year
- Your child attends synchronous (live) or asynchronous (recorded) classes
- GaVS issues official Georgia coursework credit
- You handle the rest of the curriculum yourself
Typical use cases:
- High school math: “My child thrives in our homeschool but needs a live algebra teacher”
- Foreign language: “We want a live Spanish class three times per week”
- Science: “Lab-based courses with a live instructor”
- Enrichment: “Art, music, electives via GaVS”
Curriculum control: You control overall homeschool direction. GaVS controls the courses you enroll in (curriculum, pacing, grades, teacher).
Assessment: Your child takes GaVS assessments in GaVS courses. You choose assessment for non-GaVS subjects.
Time commitment: Varies by course. Most GaVS courses require 5-8 hours per week (live or recorded instruction plus assignments).
College credit: GaVS courses are high school level. Some GaVS advanced courses may transfer to college, but most are not college credit.
Option 2: Georgia Cyber Academy (GCA / Stride)
What GCA is:
Georgia Cyber Academy (Stride-based) is a free, full-time public charter school. Your child is a public school student in a fully online program.
Cost: Free (state-funded charter school)
How it works:
- You enroll your child as a student in Georgia Cyber Academy
- Your child follows a state-approved curriculum delivered online
- You don’t file DOI (GCA is the school)
- Your child is required to take GA Milestone assessments
- GCA provides all curriculum and instruction
Curriculum control: You have NONE. GCA controls curriculum, pacing, materials, assessment, and grades.
Structure:
- Full-time program (kindergarten through 12th grade)
- Synchronous (live) lessons and asynchronous (recorded) content
- Online instruction with parent/student support
- Official grades and transcripts issued by GCA
Time commitment: Approximately 6-7 hours per school day (similar to brick-and-mortar school)
Assessment:
- GA Milestone assessments (required for grades 3, 6, 9, 12)
- GCA formative assessments
- Grades and official transcript from GCA
Advantages over homeschooling:
- Free (no cost)
- Full-time structured program
- Official grades and transcript
- Teacher support and accountability
- No parent teaching burden
Disadvantages vs homeschooling:
- No curriculum flexibility
- Locked into GCA’s pacing and materials
- Required to participate in standardized testing
- Less personalized than homeschooling
- School calendar and schedule constraints
College credit: GCA courses are high school level. Dual enrollment for college credit not built-in (you’d need separate enrollment).
Option 3: Connections Academy (Full-Time Virtual Charter)
What Connections Academy is:
Connections Academy is a free, full-time online public charter school (different from Connections Education, a service provider). It’s a charter school serving multiple states, with a Georgia campus.
Cost: Free (state-funded charter school)
How it works:
- Very similar to Georgia Cyber Academy
- Full-time online program with state curriculum
- Parent/student-paced instruction (more flexible than GCA)
- Official enrollment in Connections Academy charter school
- You don’t file DOI (school enrollment)
Key differences from GCA:
- More flexibility in pacing (some asynchronous learning)
- Similar cost (free)
- Similar testing requirements (GA Milestones)
- Different curriculum (Connections-designed, not generic state curriculum)
Advantages:
- Free
- More pacing flexibility than some other virtual schools
- Full program (no supplementation needed)
- Structured curriculum
Disadvantages vs homeschooling:
- Still no real curriculum control (school sets standards)
- Standardized testing required
- Less personalization than homeschooling
- Less ability to accelerate or customize learning
Quick Comparison Table
| Factor | GaVS (Supplemental) | Georgia Cyber Academy | Connections Academy | Homeschooling | |——–|——–|——–|——–|——–| | Cost | $200-$400/course | Free | Free | $400-$4,500/year | | Full-time or supplement | Supplement | Full-time | Full-time | Your choice | | Curriculum control | Partial (mixed) | None | None | Complete | | State testing required | In GaVS courses | Yes (Milestones) | Yes (Milestones) | No (3x testing option) | | Official transcript | Yes (per course) | Yes | Yes | You create | | DOI filing | Yes, homeschooler | No, public school | No, public school | Yes | | Teacher instruction | Yes | Yes | Yes | Optional (your choice) | | Schedule flexibility | Mixed | Low | Medium | Complete | | Pacing flexibility | School-set in courses | Limited | Moderate | Complete | | Grades | Official (GaVS courses) | Official | Official | Your choice | | Time per week | Varies (5-8 hrs per course) | ~30+ hours | ~25-30 hours | Your design | | Parent teaching burden | Medium (non-GaVS subjects) | Low | Low | High | | Personalization | Good for chosen courses | Limited | Limited | Excellent | | Acceleration possible | Some courses | Difficult | Difficult | Easy | | Socialization | Build separate | School-based (mostly online) | School-based (mostly online) | Build separate |
Which Option Is Right for You?
Choose Homeschooling if:
- You want curriculum flexibility and personalization
- Your child learns better with customized pacing
- You want to accelerate or move slowly as needed
- Cost is a factor (homeschooling is cheaper if you’re strategic)
- You want to tailor learning to your child’s interests and needs
- You’re comfortable with the administrative burden (DOI, records, progress reports)
- Your child is self-directed or you’re comfortable managing instruction
Choose GaVS (Supplemental) if:
- You’re homeschooling but want live instruction in specific subjects
- Your child needs teacher support in one or two subjects
- You want official grades in certain courses (college transcript)
- You can afford course fees
- You want the best of both worlds: homeschool + live teacher
Choose Georgia Cyber Academy or Connections Academy if:
- You want a structured full-time program without homeschool administrative burden
- Cost is critical (free vs. $400-$4,500/year for homeschool)
- You prefer official grades and transcripts without doing it yourself
- Your child does well with online instruction
- You want school-provided teacher support
- You don’t want to manage curriculum selection and record-keeping
Common Scenarios
Scenario 1: Math-Struggling Homeschooler You’re homeschooling but your child struggles with math. Enroll in one GaVS math course (live teacher, official grade). Homeschool everything else. Cost: ~$300. Benefit: professional math instruction + homeschool freedom.
Scenario 2: High School Dual Enrollment Planning You’re homeschooling but want official high school transcripts for college. Use Move On When Ready (free college dual enrollment at 14). Skip GaVS. Start college at 14, graduate with college credits. Benefit: free + official transcripts + college credits.
Scenario 3: Parent Cannot Teach You want to homeschool but lack confidence teaching. Use Georgia Cyber Academy (free, full program, teacher-delivered). You manage logistics, school handles instruction. Cost: free. Benefit: flexibility without teaching burden.
Scenario 4: Cost-Conscious Homeschooler You’re homeschooling to save money. Stick with homeschooling (build your own program, curriculum ~$300-$1,000/year). Skip GaVS (adds costs). Benefit: lowest cost, maximum flexibility.
Testing and College Prep
Homeschooling:
- Testing: Optional (3x testing option: standardized test OR portfolio assessment)
- College prep: Use SAT/ACT as college entrance exams
- Transcript: You create (unofficial until dual enrollment or college transcript exists)
- College applications: Homeschool transcript + SAT/ACT + extracurriculars
Virtual Public School (GCA/Connections):
- Testing: Required (GA Milestones, standardized)
- College prep: SAT/ACT still required for college
- Transcript: Official from school
- College applications: Official school transcript + SAT/ACT
For college, both paths work. A homeschooler with strong test scores is equally competitive to a virtual school student. The homeschooler’s advantage: more time for enrichment, less testing burden.
Making the Transition
From Homeschool to Virtual Public School: You stop filing DOI. You enroll in the virtual school. Your child becomes a public school student. You no longer maintain your own records (school does).
From Virtual Public School to Homeschool: You withdraw from the virtual school. You file DOI with Georgia Department of Education. You start homeschool curriculum and record-keeping.
Mixing (GaVS + Homeschool): You file DOI as a homeschooler. You enroll in specific GaVS courses. You homeschool other subjects. You maintain combined records (GaVS credits + homeschool progress).
Internal Links & Resources
For homeschooling fundamentals, see How to Start Homeschooling in Georgia.
For high school and college prep options, read Homeschooling High School in Georgia.
For overall comparison, check Homeschool vs Public School in Georgia.
Bottom line: Virtual public schools offer structured programs without homeschool burden. But homeschooling offers flexibility and personalization that virtual schools can’t match. GaVS bridges the gap for families wanting both. Choose based on your priorities: flexibility, cost, official transcripts, or teacher support.