Decatur County Schools Virtual Academy grows to 67 students

Decatur County Schools’ Virtual Academy has grown into a real school-choice option for families who need something different from a brick-and-mortar classroom. The district said the academy opened in August with 27 students and now has 67 full-time students, a jump that points to steady demand from parents looking for flexibility, support and a local online route for their children.

The district said it first recognized the need for a virtual school in May, before the academy opened its doors. That need was tied to a broader problem: by 2023, more than 50 local students had already left for competing online programs, taking district funding with them. Dr. Scott King said the choice was clear: “Either we continued losing kids, or we created a new option to keep them here.”

Decatur County launched its own virtual academy in May 2023, and the early response was stronger than leaders expected. The district had anticipated about 10 sign-ups, but 38 students enrolled immediately, 9 returned from competing districts, and enrollment grew to 73 by the second semester. The academy later started the school year with 80 students and expanded beyond secondary grades to serve K-12 students, broadening access for families who needed a different structure for learning.

The school is listed on Tennessee School Report Cards as Decatur County Virtual Academy, with Principal Scott King. Its listed address is 2740 Hwy. 641 South in Parsons, while the district office is at 59 West Main Street, P.O. Box 369, in Decaturville. That local footprint matters in a rural county where families can face health, transportation, scheduling or family-care challenges that make a traditional schedule harder to manage.

The program has also moved beyond launch mode. A district live-feed post said seven students graduated from the virtual academy on Dec. 15, showing the model is now producing diplomas as well as new enrollments. Another post said spring registration was open and told Decatur County Middle School families to see Ms. Kodi Breeden and Riverside High School families to see Ms. Amanda Keeton. For Decatur County, the virtual academy has become a way to keep students connected to local schools, teachers and funding while giving families another path that fits their lives.