How It Works
Online High School
Who can attend?
The Georgia Digital School (GDS) high school program serves students in grades 9–12 who reside in Georgia.
What are the costs?
Because GDS is a public school, it’s tuition-free. Enrolled families receive the K12 curriculum, and qualified students receive a loaner computer.
What is my role as a parent?
High school students work more independently and communicate directly with their teachers, but parent involvement remains an important part of student success. We recommend that Learning Coaches plan to spend approximately 10 hours each week supporting their student.
As a Learning Coach, you will:
- Help your child stay on track with assignments and deadlines
- Encourage good study habits and time management
- Communicate with teachers when questions or challenges arise
- Celebrate your child’s progress and achievements
Working with Your Teacher
Teachers provide support through live online classes, small-group instruction, and one-to-one assistance. Students are expected to attend all required live classes and meet with their teachers for instruction, academic support, and tutoring as needed. The number of live classes varies by grade level and is determined by the teacher.
Expectations for Completing Schoolwork
High school courses follow a semester-based schedule, and students are expected to earn passing grades on assignments, assessments, and online lessons. Teachers assign due dates to help students stay on pace and make steady progress throughout the semester.
While most online coursework can be completed at flexible times during the day, students are required to attend scheduled, teacher-led live classes. These sessions provide direct instruction, opportunities to ask questions, and meaningful interaction with classmates.
Regular attendance, active participation in live classes, and staying on track with coursework are key to helping your student succeed in an online learning environment.
Attendance
Attendance is logged Monday through Friday according to a traditional school calendar; however, academic progress can be achieved during the weekends as well.
Time Commitment
High school students are expected to spend 6 hours per course per week. A student who takes 5 courses and spends 6 hours per week on each one is devoting approximately 30 hours per week to their coursework.
High School
- 6 hours daily
- Most work is online
Email is the primary form of communication between the school and families. It’s important for both students and Learning Coaches to check and respond to emails each school day.
State Testing
Yes. As public school students, all students enrolled in GDS are required to participate in state-mandated testing. These assessments must be taken in person at designated testing locations, so families should plan for travel to a testing site. Participation is mandatory for all enrolled students.