About Our School

FLEXIBLE: 

Flexible scheduling allows students to work at a pace that meets their unique circumstance.
Learners can move faster or slower each grading period based on ability level and time available.
Those with consistent interruptions to a regular school schedule find success with our Alternative Learning Experience:
  • Athletes spending multiple hours per day in the gym or on the field.
  • Students splitting time between parents in different cities.
  • Patients receiving intensive medical treatment at hospitals throughout the Northwest.

RIGOROUS:

Washington certified teachers hold live online classes 2x per week in every credit area for graduation.
Excellent instruction delivered with kindness is our goal.
Significant variety of choice available as fully asynchronous courses:
  • 23 AP courses
  • 15 English (including Honors)
  • 7 World Languages (including ASL)
  • 20 Science (including Honors)
  • 12 Math (including Honors)
  • 18 Social Studies (including Honors)
  • 58 Assorted electives like Game Design, Health Science Careers, Entrepreneurship and more!

UNIQUE:

Our students are:
  • Athletes in need of flexible scheduling
  • Young people of all ages working through major health difficulties but continuing school with hope for a better future
  • Pre-Collegiates working to graduate with advanced courses.
  • Hands-on learners who want to spend time perfecting their trade while attending school.
  • Scholars interested in part-time Tri-Tech or Running Start programs.
  • Every-day kids working through anxiety and social pressures.
  • Juniors and Seniors interested in graduating early
Pacific Crest Online Academy fosters a caring community of online learners who support each other in accomplishing their individual learning plans. We deliver flexible, dynamic, and relevant virtual learning opportunities for every learner to receive high quality instruction in a student-centered environment.
 
Pacific Crest Online Academy (PCOA) is Richland School District’s fully online, teacher-directed, tuition-free public school. Students connect online to teachers, classmates, curriculum, and resources, while learning from home with the support of their parents.
 
PCOA serves students in 6th through 12th grade. We serve all levels of students, whether at grade-level, advanced, or struggling. Learning experiences are provided both asynchronously (through online reading assignments, activities, and videos) and synchronously (through live online classes, small groups, individual support sessions, and office hours). For High School courses, students earn 0.5 credit for each course. High School courses are NCAA approved and meet graduation requirements. We offer Honors and AP courses. 
 
Pacific Crest Online Academy offers a combination of asynchronous and synchronous learning to best meet the individual needs of each student:
 
Asynchronous Learning
This type of learning can take place at any time. Your children can work at the times that they are most alert and when best fits in their unique schedules. Asynchronous learning includes reading texts, watching videos, taking notes, working on projects, and a myriad of learning activities. Our teachers provide pacing charts so you and your children know if they are track to finish on time, but you have flexibility on the moment-to-moment when the learning occurs.
 
Synchronous Learning
This type of learning takes place at a specific time. However, instead of the 6 1/2 hours that are scheduled in a traditional brick-and-mortar school, only part of the day is scheduled and the rest of the day is flexible for you to schedule in your own individualized way.
Synchronous Learning consists of live teacher-scheduled sessions. These could include:
  • live class sessions
  • small group workshops
  • 1:1 support
  • office hours
Monitoring Progress
Students have their own learning plans, with syllabi and pacing charts specific to the courses they are taking. Students must make two-way contact with each of their teachers every week. Every month, each student's progress is reviewed and determined if it is adequate to complete the course on time. If a student is not making adequate progress, then an intervention plan is developed for the student.

Building Relationships

Connecting students with themselves, their teachers and the community is critical to their educational growth and well-being. Here are ways our schools helps support those relationships.