Why does the Virtual High School program exist at Port Townsend High School?
As a smaller high school, Port Townsend can only offer so many electives to students.  With VHS, Port Townsend High School can increase its yearly class offerings from 50 to 200+.

What is a Virtual High School class like?
To help support students and keep them engaged in their course work, VHS classes at PTHS will actually meet each day, just like a face-to-face class and students will have access to a VHS teacher here on-site to help them through any technical problems.  Each week students get an online assignment checklist and the associated assignments, readings, projects, discussions or quizzes to complete all online. 

Each week students will interact directly with their teacher and other students in their course.  Because students are from around the world, VHS courses do not happen in real time.  Each student in a class may be doing their work at different times, or if they are in China, the middle of our night.

What about books?
Often VHS courses include old-fashioned reading materials as well, from text-books to novels.  At the beginning of your VHS class, your instructor will send you a "media packet" free of charge that includes all the books required for your course.  Like other books you check-out, if you lose it, you are responsible for replacing it. 


How are Virtual High School classes different from other online learning opportunities?
Most importantly, they are free.  Through PTHS's participation in the VHS cooperative, online classes are offered at no charge to our students.

These courses are also different from other online courses, as they have built-in small teacher-student ratios, weekly guidelines and assignments to keep students on track, as well as feature a significant interactive, discussion-based component. 

Another important difference is that you actually have a physical space to work on your course and access to an on-site teacher and site coordinator on a daily basis.  VHS classes will meet during a regular PTHS class period in a computer lab.  Students will all be in the same classroom, but possibly taking twenty-five different classes.

What does it take to be successful in an online class?
This is an important question to ask before applying to take a VHS class.  There are several qualities that make for successful learners in a virtual environment, not surprisingly, they aren't a lot different than for traditional, face-to-face classes:

How many students can take VHS classes?
Port Townsend High School has 25 "seats" in VHS classes each semester.  To keep students in close contact and interaction with their teachers, VHS classes are limited to 25 in a class section.

Why are the number of seats in VHS classes limited?
Virtual High School classes maintain their low teacher-student ratio by working as an educational cooperative.  Port Townsend High School has one teacher teach a VHS class open to twenty-five students from around the world.  In exchange, Port Townsend students get twenty-five "seats" in other Virtual High School classes. 

What classes can I take from VHS?
You can check out the VHS course catalog online.  Make sure to note any prerequisites. 

Important Note: PTHS will not enroll students in courses regularly offered at PTHS.  VHS seats are an opportunity to expand what is being offered, not replace it. 

How does credit from VHS work?
Upon completion of VHS classes, the class will be recorded on a student's PTHS transcript just like a traditional, face-to-face course.

Do I have to be a full-time student at PTHS in order to participate in VHS?
No.  VHS could be your only class you take at the high school, or it could be one of a full schedule of classes you take as a fully enrolled PTHS student.

How do I sign-up for a VHS class?
Our Site Coordinator, Marcus Sather, has informational and enrollment packets available in the PTHS counseling office.  You can contact Marcus with enrollment questions at: 306.379.4523 or msather@ptsd50.org

When do I sign-up for a VHS class?
Enrollment for VHS classes starts for the following Fall in mid-April of each year and high-demand classes fill up quickly.  Like traditional face-to-face classes, enrollment can continue through the start of the next school year.  Contact the counseling office at PTHS for more information on enrollment, and what courses are currently available.