FAQs

Q:

A:

No. If you have chosen to register yourself as a home-educating family in Tennessee by registering under an Umbrella School, you need to do that through an organization such as Home Life Academy.  Home-educating families in Virginia are not required to register through an Umbrella School.

Q:

A:

Yes!  We became a 501c3 organization in 2022.  Donations made to Bristol Academy or the Bristol Academy Scholarship Fund are tax-deductible.

Q:

A:

Bristol Academy is an explicitly Christian Organization, but students of any religious belief are welcome to take classes with us.  Teachers and leadership team members are Christians who are actively involved in a local church.  The statement of faith teachers and leaders sign is the Nicene Creed.  The church membership of each teacher is listed on his or her bio page, and parents are welcome to ask teachers about their faith.

Q:

A:

This group began in the early 2000s.  We met at a church and then at Virginia Intermont College.  We were called a co-op and then called OTHER (Outside The Home Educational Resources). 

In August of 2014, we renamed our group Bristol Academy.  We are grateful that when VI closed its doors, First Christian Church was gracious to host us for many years followed by a year at Emmanuel Episcopal.  Starting in the fall of 2025, we are meeting at NorthStar Baptist Church.  

We became a 501c3 organization in 2022.

Q:

A:

No, we currently offer classes solely for teenagers although we would be willing to conider offering courses for younger students in the future.  However, several times per year activities are arranged and families, including kids of all ages, are welcome to participate.

Q:

A:

We do not currently offer Foreign Language or Math.  In general, those classes need to be offered at least two days per week to be effective. Our purpose is to connect home-educating parents to great teachers who can help them provide a superior education to their teenagers. Toward that purpose, we occasionally poll our members regarding what classes they would like to see offered. Sometimes we have interest but cannot find a great teacher; sometimes we find a teacher but there is not enough student interest. We do not try to be a "one-stop-shop" for all of a student's high-school education needs.   If you would like to see us offer a particular class, and/or if you know a teacher who may want to join us, feel free to contact us. 

Q:

A:

We have had a few 13-year-olds participate, and rarely a few 12.5-year-olds. It is critically important that your child be able to do high-school level work. That ability, rather than a specific age, is the requirement for our classes.   Most kids gain that ability around age 14.  If you have questions about your student's preparedness, feel free to contact a teacher with questions.

Q:

A:

No. While core class instructors will email families grades within two weeks of the end of each semester, each family is expected to keep a record of student work and student grades.  

Q:

A:

Most of our teachers offer a 3-year rotation of classes. You can get a general idea of what will be offered next year by noticing what is being offered now and looking at the historical record of other classes taught by that teacher.   Each teacher's bio page lists this record of previously taught courses.

For Social Studies, we offer US History one year, Government / Economics one year, and World History the third year.   Sometimes we have electives (local or state history, philosophy, etc). 

For Science, we offer Biology about once every 3 years. We offer at least one science class per year. In the past we’ve offered Physics, Chemistry, Engineering and Anatomy.

For English, our teachers rotate through four years of courses.  All courses are suitable for any level of high school; all courses will enable students to improve their writing skills and their literature comprehension.??

Electives vary.  We generally offer a fine arts class like acting or choir and in some years we offer cooking classes. 

Q:

A:

We send an email to all students and parents by 7:00am on any day with questionable weather.  If we close in-person classes due to weather, then our core classes (non-elective) meet virtually for that day.  Each teacher will contact students with details about this.

Q:

A:

There are two fees in addition to tuition payments which are made directly to instructors.

The first is a registration fee that is paid to Bristol Academy in the amount of $55 per student, per year.  There is a discount available when registering three or more siblings.  

This registration fee is required to keep our group going.  Our biggest annual expense is liability insurance coverage which our host facility requires us to hold (whatever insurance your family has cannot replace the need for us to buy this policy).  We also use this fund to provide website hosting, needed supplies, including class sets of textbooks which can be loaned to students in lieu of students purchasing the texts.  Incidental costs, such as whiteboard markers, are also covered by this fund. 

The second fee is $20 per student, per semester, for facilities.  This fee goes to our host facility to help defray the expenses associated with hosting our group.  This fee is well below the amount that our host facility actually incurs in accomodating us.  

Q:

A:

First, our course fees are a complete bargain for the quality of instruction your child receives.  If you do the math, adding up their remuneration and dividing by their time (sixteen 90-minute classes, plus time to: plan lessons, grade papers, communicate with students and parents, travel to and from class), you'll find that our teachers receive something around minimum wage.  They are very generously teaching our kids for a remuneration rate far lower than what their time is actually worth. 

Second, we recognize that we are a bit higher than some other homeschool groups in the area. One thing different about us is that we are not a co-op, with all parents volunteering.  No parents are required to volunteer.  All parents pay, and teachers have graciously agreed to receive a per-student rather than a per-class fee.  We only partner with teachers who are exceptionally qualified to teach. 

Third, we recognize that no home-educating family has a money tree in their backyard.  We now have a scholarship fund available to assist families with financial need.  Please contact [email protected] for more information about scholarships.  The deadline to apply for scholarships is 30 days prior to the start of each semester. 

You are also welcome to bless other families by donating to the scholarship fund.

Q:

A:

Tuition payments for year-long classes are billed by the semester with half the tuition due the first day of class and the remaining balace due on the first day of the second semester.  Tuition payments for semester-long classes are due on the first day of class.  Tuition payments go directly to instructors.

Q:

A:

In August and again in January, we have a fun registration event. During this time, parents can meet some of the teachers and turn in paperwork and payments.  Families are welcome to bring kids of all ages; this will be an event with games and activities for all ages.  

We do not have regularly scheduled activities, but any family who has a field trip idea is welcome to organize it and invite others in our group to join them.  Past trips have included Steele Creek Park (studying creek ecology and owl pellets), the Abingdon Muster Grounds, Natural Tunnel State Park, and Hungry Mother State Park.  This year we have had several afternoons of games as well as a float trip.  

We usually host an end of year party as well.

Q:

A:

Yes, lunch is from 11:30- Noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  All students are welcome to stay for lunch.  Students taking Chemistry who also have a class immediately after are welcome to eat during the last 30 minutes of Chemistry.

Q:

A:

WiFi is available for all teachers.  Students may access the WiFi during study hall only for academic purposes by completing the Network Use Agreement.  Email [email protected] for a copy of the Network Use Agreement.

Q:

A:

There is a lunch break from 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM on both Tuesdays and Thursdays.  There will be a designated area where students may eat their lunches.  Students in Chemistry may quietly eat their lunch in class from 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM.