Coffee County Schools and Wiregrass Georgia Technical College (WGTC) today announced their collaboration on the Wiregrass Regional College and Career Academy (WRCCA). The WRCCA, a first-of-its-kind partnership in the region, provides a fully accredited virtual high school as well as college courses to students in eleven counties throughout southern Georgia.
WRCCA provides a student-centered, seamless, and comprehensive education experience that prepares students for college, career, and life. With the partnership, virtual students will visit the nearest WGTC campus to complete proctored and state mandated tests. The program allows students the flexibility to choose which classes they wish to attend, and which they prefer to complete online at their own pace.
“We are extremely excited to partner with Wiregrass Georgia Technical College to further our mission of preparing every student for college, career, and life beyond high school,” said Dr. Morris Leis, Coffee County’s superintendent. “The fact that we can offer a free, dual-credit program to students in eleven counties is a true testament to the dedication of our team and our community.”
Using grant funding from the Technical College System of Georgia, Wiregrass Georgia Technical College and the Coffee County School System are constructing a new, state-of-the-art facility on the Coffee Campus of Wiregrass Tech to house the Wiregrass Regional College and Career Academy, where students can earn a high school diploma and college credit simultaneously. At the new school, the WRCCA staff will support virtual and traditional classes for students enrolled in the eleven-county service area. With support from Georgia’s Move on When Ready initiative, enrollment at WRCCA is free, meaning students can earn a two-year associates degree at no cost.
Dr. Tina K. Anderson, the president of Wiregrass Georgia Tech, said, “The opportunities created by WRCCA provide students with expanded access to college programs while still in high school. This type of partnership between Wiregrass and Coffee County Schools embodies the synergy that is created when we work together for students.”
All WRCCA virtual students will do their classwork online through Odysseyware, a leading provider of customizable online courses for K-12 education. The platform aligns with state standards, ensuring that students are learning the same content as they would in a traditional classroom.
Enrollment for WRCCA is now open. For more information, please visit coffee.k12.ga.us/virtual.
About Coffee County Schools
Coffee County Schools, located in the heart of southern Georgia, is composed of eight elementary schools, one middle school, a ninth-grade academy, one senior high school, one alternative school (grades six through 12) and Wiregrass Regional College and Career Academy. Serving approximately 7,700 students, the district is currently completing its third year as a charter system. It is the goal of the Coffee County School System to provide students with a sequential, challenging curriculum that builds on a solid foundation and develops the skills and proficiencies needed for a successful career and productive life. Course offerings include language arts; mathematics; science; health/physical education; social studies; fine arts; foreign language; and career, technical, and agricultural education. With its mission statement of Destination Graduation for College, Career and Life, Coffee County Schools strives each and every day to provide an equitable and excellent education for every student.
About Wiregrass Georgia Technical College
The mission of Wiregrass Georgia Technical College, a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, is to promote community, educational, and economic development by providing a trained workforce in our eleven-county service area and throughout the state of Georgia. The college fulfills the mission by providing technical and academic instruction through traditional and distance education delivery methods, leading to associate degrees, diplomas, and technical certificates of credit; customized training for new and existing industries; professional and personal development through continuing education programs; and adult education services to meet the needs of citizens, businesses, and industry in the service area.
About Odysseyware
Headquartered in Chandler, AZ, Odysseyware is an innovative, multimedia-enriched online curriculum. Completely web-based, Odysseyware provides 21st-century educational solutions by offering the core subjects of history and geography, math, language arts, and science along with enriching electives, CTE, placement testing, diagnostics, and professional development. This curriculum is sold directly through regional education specialists. To learn more, visit Odysseyware.com or call (877) 795-8904.
– Submitted