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Online School for Richmond Families | Forest Trail Academy
If your child is a dedicated AAU basketball or lacrosse player putting in hours at the Diamond District or traveling across Virginia for tournaments, you already know how hard it is to keep up with a rigid school schedule. Or maybe you’re a Henrico or Chesterfield County parent whose gifted student has simply outpaced what the local zoned school can offer. Either way, Forest Trail Academy gives your family a fully accredited, self-paced K-12 education that bends around your life, not the other way around.
Why Richmond Families Choose Forest Trail Academy
Richmond is not a typical city, and Richmond families don’t have typical needs. As the state capital, it draws government professionals, VCU Health clinicians working rotating shifts, and Federal Reserve Bank employees whose schedules rarely follow the school calendar. The arts and tech corridor stretching through Scott’s Addition and The Fan has also pulled in a wave of entrepreneurs and creatives who want the same kind of flexibility in their children’s education that they’ve built into their own work lives. At Forest Trail Academy, your child studies on a schedule that fits your household, not the bell schedule of a building you’d have to drive across town to reach.
Families from Henrico and Chesterfield County consistently find their way to FTA for two big reasons: gifted learners who need to move faster than a traditional classroom allows, and student athletes competing at a high level in AAU basketball and lacrosse who simply cannot sacrifice training time for a commute. When your eighth-grader is training five days a week and traveling for tournaments on weekends, FTA lets them knock out coursework at 6am before the gym or late in the evening after practice, and never fall behind. Your child’s education keeps moving whether they’re in Richmond, in a gym in Virginia Beach, or on the road.
What You Get with FTA
- Cognia Accreditation: Your FTA diploma is recognized by VCU, University of Richmond, VCU Health, Virginia Union and all US public and private universities.
- No Fixed Class Times: Study at 6am before training, after your shift, on weekends, whatever fits your Richmond lifestyle.
- Open Enrollment: Start any week of the year. No waiting for September or next semester.
- One School Through Every Change: PCS moves, relocations, and family changes don’t disrupt your child’s education at FTA.
How to Get Started from Richmond
- Call or Submit an Inquiry: Reach our admissions team at 800-890-6269, they know the Richmond area and can answer local questions.
- Submit Previous Transcripts: FTA evaluates credits from any Richmond-area school.
- Start Learning: Coursework begins within days. No waiting.
Questions About Online School in Richmond?
Q: Is FTA’s diploma recognized by Virginia universities?
A: Yes, our Cognia-accredited diploma is accepted by VCU, University of Richmond, VCU Health, Virginia Union, all Virginia public universities, and 1,000+ colleges nationwide.
Q: Can we start mid-year from Richmond?
A: Yes, open enrollment means you can start any week.
Q: How does online proctoring work for Richmond students?
A: Fully remote, webcam-based. No testing center needed anywhere in Richmond.
Part of the Virginia FTA Community
Richmond families are part of Forest Trail Academy’s broader Virginia community. Learn more about FTA for Virginia students here →
Online High School in Richmond, Grades 9 to 12
Most Richmond families who search for online school are looking for high school. Forest Trail Academy’s online high school program for grades 9 through 12 carries the full graduation-requirement sequence, Advanced Placement courses, and NCAA-approved core courses for student athletes. Enrollment is open year-round, so a student can start any week rather than waiting for a semester.
Students in Richmond who are behind on credits can use online credit recovery to make up individual courses without repeating a year. Families moving mid-year can follow the sequence on our switch schools mid-year page. Tuition runs $3,069 to $4,269 per year depending on grade level, with monthly payment plans from $236 for elementary, $286 for middle school, and $336 for high school, plus a one-time $225 registration fee. See the tuition page for the full breakdown.
Programs Available to Richmond Families
All Forest Trail Academy programs are fully online, self-paced, and open for enrollment year-round.
