Manteca’s newest school opens Aug. 6 on one of the district’s oldest campuses.
The Manteca Unified Online Academy — completely independent of the three phased school year that starts in seven days with distance learning — is being based at the former Manteca Community Day School campus that was previously the Sequoia Annex. Before that it was the Yosemite School that opened in 1914 in the original two-story brick building that was burned in 1946 and then replaced with the current school on West Yosemite Avenue.
More than 1,200 of the 2,000 students that indicated they had interest in a 100 percent, tailor-made online learning experience are now formally registered for the MUSD Online Academy. Registration ends this Friday for the kindergarten through 12th grade academy. It requires a year-long commitment from families.
Unlike most other online school offerings, Manteca Unified Online Academy students are free to join school clubs, athletic teams, and other extracurricular activities belonging to the traditional high school within the student’s home address boundaries. Online Academy seniors also have the choice of walking with the graduating class of the traditional high school within the student’s home address boundaries.
As it stands now, 1 out of 20 of the district’s 24,000 students has opted to shed the traditional on-campus learning model. The enrollment is the equivalent of the largest existing elementary campus in the district. If Manteca Unified were to build a campus for that many students today it would cost at least $30 million plus ongoing maintenance and utility expenses
The teaching ratio is a bit higher at one teacher per 40 students. They will have offices, resources and support at the former Manteca Community Day School campus. That program has been combined with the New Vision High continuation education program whose campus is attached to the Weston Ranch High site.
The facilities at New Vision are more modern. The move allowed the district to reduce administrative costs and makes use of excessive capacity at New Vision.
The district has been working on launching an online months before the pandemic hit.
It is being taught by Manteca Unified certificated educators with a robust, standards-based curriculum at every grade level. Students take core classes in math, science, English language arts, and social studies. Additionally, electives meeting A-G requirements are offered to high school students.
The Online Academy has a unique modular student learning platform designed for an online (at home) learning environment designed for students who feel online learning meets their needs.
Personalized learning is based on engaging and interactive curriculum using 21st century tools and techniques.
The virtual classroom gives families the flexibility to schedule school wherever they are, at times that work best for their schedule, and at a pace that works best for their child. Some coursework and live sessions do need to take place at fixed times. Students use a district issued computing device equipped with all necessary applications that are issued at enrollment and connection to the internet.
Students have a variety of options for socialization and developing friendships. Even in a virtual classroom, students meet regularly in online live sessions, where they can share ideas, compare experiences, and learn together.
The flexibility of the program allows for students with full schedules that pursue other personal interests such as performing arts, athletics, or an early career.
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com
