Student Athletes and Performers
Online School for Student Athletes
Early practices, weekend tournaments, seasons that don’t wait for the school calendar. VSA offers live classes at times that fit training, real classmates, and an accredited classical Christian education.
- NCAA-approved courses
- NCAA code 392122
- Live classes all day
- Real teachers, real classmates
- Accredited by Middle States
- Classical and Christian
You Shouldn’t Have to Choose Between School and Sport
If you’re raising a serious athlete or performer, you know the juggling act. The 5 a.m. alarm. The drive to the rink, the gym, the studio. The tournament that falls in the middle of test week. And somewhere underneath it all, a quiet worry: are we giving up too much of one to make room for the other?
That worry makes sense. Too often, families are told they have to pick: a traditional school with fixed hours that fights the training schedule, or a self-paced program that fits the schedule but leaves a child working alone.
We think your child deserves both. At VSA, students learn from real teachers in live classes, alongside classmates they know by name, at class times your family chooses around training. The academics stay serious, and the schedule finally works.
Managing the rigorous course load and sports schedule definitely has its challenges. However, the teachers and Dr. Cannon have been great working with us regarding extensions or working around his schedule.
Linda Secord, VSA parent
I have researched a lot of online schools, and Veritas is one of the top, if not the top school to get a great education with flexibility.
Which Sounds Like Your Family?
Training All Day
The Dedicated Competitor
Gymnasts, swimmers, tennis players, skaters, and dancers whose training takes up much of the traditional school day. You need class times that work around practice, and teachers who understand a competition calendar.
College in View
The Future College Athlete
Your student hopes to compete in college, and every course has to count. You need NCAA-approved courses, a transcript colleges respect, and someone who knows the eligibility rules.
Always on the Move
The Busy, Active Family
Club seasons, weekend travel, and maybe more than one athlete under your roof. You need a school that gives your family margin, without letting academics slide.
Live Classes on Your Schedule
VSA serves families around the world, so our live classes run at many times throughout the day. That means you can build a class schedule around training, rather than the other way around.
Choose Class Times That Fit
Each course is offered in several sections at different times. Morning training? Choose afternoon classes. Evening practice? Take classes earlier in the day.
The Same Class All Year
Each course meets live twice a week with the same teacher and classmates, so your athlete has a steady rhythm and a real class community, even in the busiest season.
Room for Competition Weeks
Every class is recorded. If training regularly overlaps a class time, your athlete can watch the recording and submit a short report on what they learned. Those reports count toward the participation grade. For a big meet or tournament, parents can also request assignment extensions ahead of time.
Plan the Season Ahead
Your Academic Advisor can help you plan course loads around your competition calendar, and our summer terms (June through August) add another way to spread the work across the year.
Example Week: A Figure Skater Who Trains Mornings
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morning | On-ice training | On-ice training | On-ice training | On-ice training | On-ice training |
| Afternoon | Omnibus Primary and Secondary, Algebra II (live) | Chemistry and Latin (live) | Omnibus Primary and Secondary, Algebra II (live) | Chemistry and Latin (live) | Homework, off-ice conditioning |
| Evening | Homework | Homework | Homework | Homework | Rest |
Why Live Classes Matter for Student Athletes
Athletes already know the value of a team, a coach, and a schedule. School works the same way.
A team in the classroom. Athletes who train alone or travel often can feel isolated. In a live class, they see the same classmates every week, discuss ideas together, and build friendships that last beyond the season.
Teachers who know your athlete. A live teacher notices when a student is tired, behind, or ready to be pushed, the way a good coach does. Classes are capped at 20 students, so no one disappears.
Accountability that builds discipline. Real class times and real deadlines teach the same habits that make athletes great: showing up, preparing, and managing time well. Coaches and college admissions officers notice those habits.
A Family Who Made It Work
The Esterly siblings grew up as competitive swimmers and VSA students, and all three took our most demanding diploma track. Erica went on to swim Division I at West Point. Margaret is headed to swim at Drexel University.
It’s all about time management.
Erica Esterly, VSA graduate and Division I swimmer
You have to be a student-athlete first and foremost.
Lewis Esterly, VSA student and competitive swimmer
My youngest was also a Varsity swimmer for her public school, and was able to do double practices daily, year round.
J. Dickson, VSA parent
Heading to College Sports? We’ll Help You Stay Eligible.
Students who want to compete in NCAA Division I or II need to meet the NCAA’s academic requirements, and the planning starts early. VSA offers NCAA-approved courses, and Full-Time Diploma students work with an Academic Advisor who builds a course plan with NCAA eligibility in mind.
VSA’s NCAA high school code: 392122
1Before 9th Grade: Tell Your Academic Advisor
At your annual consultation, let us know your student hopes to compete in college, so we can build a four-year plan that meets NCAA requirements.
2In 9th Grade: Register With the NCAA Eligibility Center
Create an account at eligibilitycenter.org. Full-Time Diploma students list VSA as their school (not as a homeschool). Part-time students list their primary school and add VSA as an additional school.
3After 11th Grade: Send Records
Request that VSA send a transcript (Full-Time Diploma) or grade report (part-time students) to the NCAA.
4Senior Year, From April 1: Request Amateurism Certification
Request your student’s final amateurism certification through the Eligibility Center.
5After Graduation: Send the Final Transcript
We’ll send your student’s final records to the NCAA.
The Rules at a Glance
To be eligible to compete at a Division I or II school, students need 16 NCAA-approved core courses (in English, math, science, social science, and additional academic subjects), a minimum core-course GPA (2.3 for Division I, 2.2 for Division II), and a high school diploma. Division I also requires 10 of the 16 core courses to be finished before senior year. SAT and ACT scores are no longer required for NCAA eligibility, though many colleges still use them for admission and scholarships. Rules change, so always confirm the current requirements at eligibilitycenter.org.
Division III and NAIA schools set their own academic standards. Your Academic Advisor can help you plan for those, too.
More Than a Scholarship
Athletic careers are short. Character lasts. A classical Christian education prepares athletes for both.
Students read the stories of courage, perseverance, and faith that have shaped people for centuries, from David facing Goliath to the heroes of Homer and Virgil. They learn logic and rhetoric, so they can think clearly under pressure, speak well in an interview, and recognize flattery or a bad deal when they see one. And they learn that every gift, including athletic talent, can be used for the glory of God.
Eric Liddell, whose story inspired Chariots of Fire, refused to race on a Sunday at the 1924 Olympics, then won gold in a different event days later. That’s the kind of athlete we hope to help form: excellent at their sport, and grounded in something bigger than it.
Ways to Enroll
Best for College-Bound Athletes
Full-Time Diploma
A full course plan, an accredited diploma, an official transcript, and an Academic Advisor who plans for NCAA eligibility.
$5,972 typical yearly cost for high school
Pick and Choose
Part-Time Live Courses
Take one live course or several alongside another program, like a training academy’s school or your own homeschool. Students can still list VSA courses with the NCAA.
$849 per course, per year (grades 7-12)
Questions From Athletes and Their Families
Is VSA NCAA-approved?
Yes. VSA offers NCAA-approved core courses, and our NCAA high school code is 392122. Full-Time Diploma students work with an Academic Advisor who plans their courses with NCAA eligibility in mind.
Will the class times work with my child’s training?
In most cases, yes. Because we serve families around the world, our live classes are offered at many times throughout the day, and each course has several sections to choose from. A Family Consultant can help you build a schedule around your training before you enroll.
What if my child has a competition or travels during class?
Life as an athlete includes meets, tournaments, and travel days. Parents can request assignment extensions ahead of time, except midterm and final exams, and every class is recorded so students can catch up when they’re back. Teachers understand that athletes have busy seasons.
Do you serve dancers and performers?
Absolutely. Dancers, musicians, actors, and other performers face the same scheduling challenges as athletes, and many of the same solutions apply. Everything on this page is for them, too.
Does VSA help with athletic recruiting?
Our Academic Advisors help with the academic side: building an NCAA-ready course plan, keeping students on track, and sending transcripts to the NCAA. For recruiting itself, such as contacting coaches or creating highlight videos, families usually work with their club coach or a recruiting service.
Do SAT and ACT scores matter for NCAA eligibility?
The NCAA no longer requires test scores for Division I or II eligibility. Many colleges still consider them for admission and academic scholarships, so your Academic Advisor can help you decide whether testing makes sense for your student.
What about Division III and NAIA schools?
Division III and NAIA schools set their own admission and eligibility standards. A strong, accredited transcript serves students well at every level, and your Academic Advisor can help you plan for the schools on your list.
Let’s Build a Schedule That Works for Your Athlete
A Family Consultant would love to hear about your athlete’s training, goals, and season, and help you find class times and courses that fit.
Keep Exploring
More for Athletes and Their Families
Grades 9-12
High School
Honors and AP courses, dual enrollment, and an accredited diploma.
Explore High School
Start Any Time
Switching Schools
How families move to VSA mid-year or next fall, from first call to first class.
Explore Switching Schools
Also helpful: Tuition · Educational Philosophy · Switching Schools · Diploma Program