Fewer students expected to return to Hempfield's cyber program next year, survey shows

Fewer students expressed interest in attending Hempfield’s cyber program next school year compared to those currently enrolled.

Initial results from a survey sent to parents last month show 130 students across the district are interested in attending the Hempfield Area Cyber Academy or Edgenuity, which allows students to complete courses at their own pace. This year, there are 1,044 students are participating in online-only learning.

“The survey indicates a much lower number of anticipated cyber participants for next school year,” said Superintendent Tammy Wolicki. “The lower numbers were expected as we know that many parents selected full cyber instruction for the current school year due to the pandemic.”

District leaders started collecting data in February, which will help with planning, staffing and budgeting for next school year. Data presented from the survey during Monday’s school board meeting consisted of responses from 3,268 students out of 5,289, or a 62% response rate.

“All in all, not bad,” said Matthew Conner, assistant superintendent of secondary education. “Obviously, we’d like to see a better rate of return, however, we think we can look at that and project out as to what we’ll need staffing wise as we move forward in the planning process.”

Of students interested in returning to fully remote learning next year, 40 are elementary students, 29 are middle school students and 61 are high school students. Currently, there are about 350 elementary students, 210 middle school students and 414 high school students enrolled in HACA. In addition, 70 middle and high school students are enrolled in Edgenuity.

Planning for next school year comes after the current year was largely impacted due to the covid pandemic. Hempfield students have been attending classes through a hybrid model of learning — a mix of in-person and online learning — for most of the school year.

Middle school students returned to in-person classes five days a week on Feb. 22 and high school students are scheduled to begin a phased return to full time next week.