Pecos Cyber Academy is a free, public, online, and virtual school for students who reside in New Mexico. The school was chartered in 2016 by Carlsbad School District as Pecos Connections Academy. Pecos Cyber Academy (PCA) is currently referred to as a district charter school. Carlsbad School District is the authorizer of PCA. In short, the school district provides oversight on budget and student academic progress. Yet PCA does operate independently of its authorizer.
Pecos Cyber Academy was started as another choice for students and parents in NM. Pecos Cyber Academy is a public school that does not charge tuition. Pecos Cyber Academy is an online school. Classes are held virtually via a platform provided through our curriculum provider. PCA has a highly challenging curriculum with an excellent delivery system. All teachers, counselors, and other staff are credentialed under the regulations and licenses set forth by the NMPED and reside in New Mexico. All employees of PCA are onboarded with excellent training to help gain (refresh) the skills necessary to teach (operate) in the virtual setting. Mentoring is provided throughout the employees’ term of employment at PCA.
At the start, Pecos Cyber Academy began with seven employees and 250 students, grades K through 8, and operated under the name Pecos Connections Academy. After 4.5 years PCA has grown to just under 2,000 students in grades K to 12. Pecos Cyber Academy has been instrumental in offering an online school for students and parents during the pandemic.
Kindergarten classes are held in a Live Lesson classroom Monday through Thursday 9 am to 10 am, consisting of 30 minutes of reading and 30 minutes of math. Twice a week support/interventions are offered. Once a week for an hour science and social studies are offered.
Special Education Student services are provided in the inclusion setting with the Special Education Teacher working collaboratively with the General Education Teacher; in the student's Live Lesson classroom Monday through Friday. Then in the afternoons, the Special Education Teacher provides support/interventions with the special education student in a Live Lesson classroom either in a one-to-one or small group for re-teaching of skill or enrichment. Special Education teachers also create and maintain Individualized Education Plans (IEPs).
The social-emotional well-being of a student is of utmost importance to PCA. Homeroom teachers make contact with each student a minimum of twice a month. Homeroom teachers are available to assist families and students navigate the virtual school and be successful.
In the 2022-2023 school year, Pecos Cyber Academy moved from a district charter school to a state charter school that has been authorized by the Public Education Commission. For the 2024-2025 school year, the Public Education Commission also approved PCA's student enrollment cap to increase to 2,500. Pecos Cyber Academy is proud to be the largest virtual charter school in New Mexico!
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