How To Enroll In

Q: Why is the virtual enrollment process different from a physical school?

Local schools serve one district. Lowcountry Connections Academy serves students from multiple districts statewide. Not all districts statewide accept the same documentation.

Lowcountry Connections Academy

Enrollment Information

First semester enrollment is closed.
Second semester enrollment is open for grades K-11; capacity is limited.
View the latest enrollment updates.

Start Enrollment

Please do not withdraw your student from their current school until their enrollment is confirmed and the semester has started.

Start Your Family’s Learning Journey

Get ready to enroll in online school at Lowcountry Connections Academy, serving grades K–12. Typically, the enrollment process takes just a few weeks to complete. But spots fill up quickly, so make sure you start as soon as you can. Here's how to get started:

1Check Eligibility

2Understand Commitment

3Prepare Documents

4Get Started

Step 1

Check Eligibility

You must meet specific state and program requirements to attend Lowcountry Connections Academy. Student eligibility requirements in South Carolina are determined by South Carolina law and by the Charter Institute at Erskine, which is the authorizing body for Lowcountry Connections Academy. Before enrolling, review the following virtual school enrollment requirements carefully to determine whether your student(s) is eligible to participate in grades K–12. Once your enrollment is confirmed, please immediately withdraw your student from their previous publicly-funded school. Students cannot be simultaneously enrolled in two public schools.

View Lowcountry Connections Academy's Enrollment and Lottery Policy

View Lowcountry Connections Academy's Sample Registration Form

Attendance, Expulsion, and Suspension

Students who are currently expelled from school, are up for expulsion, or are assigned to an alternative school in place of expulsion may not be eligible to enroll at Lowcountry Connections Academy.

Prior School Attendance Eligibility

Students who have eleven (11) or more unexcused absences, who have been out of school for eleven (11) or more days, or have demonstrated other attendance issues such as truancy, are not eligible to enroll in online school. Students who were previously homeschooled are required to have maintained membership in a homeschool association or had approval of the local school district for the duration of the homeschool period.

If the student does not meet these eligibility requirements, students will be required to attend a brick and mortar school for a minimum of one (1) semester and provide evidence of satisfactory attendance during that semester.

Age Limitations

Kindergarten: Any student enrolling in kindergarten must be five (5) years old on or before September 1 in the school year for which you are enrolling.

First Grade: Any student enrolling in first grade must be six (6) years old on or before September 1 in the school year for which you are enrolling.

Maximum Age: Any student who turns twenty-one (21) years old on or before September 1 will not be eligible to enroll in Lowcountry Connections Academy.

Geographical Limitations

Immunizations

All Lowcountry Connections Academy students must provide evidence of their immunizations or medical exemption with a copy of the South Carolina Certificate of Immunization (DPH Form 4024) or a Religious Exemption (DPH Form 1126) to enroll. The DPH 2740 (if dated before 7/1/22) will still be accepted. The DPH Form 4024 or 2740 must be completed and signed by a health care provider.

Prior Schooling Requirements

Step 2

Understand Your Commitment

Family Time Commitment

Your Role as a Parent/Caregiver

Day to Day Activities

25 HOURS Per Week

Learning and growing with their Learning Coach

5 Hours Per Day

Learning Coaches spend overseeing schoolwork

30%

of school day doing schoolwork on a computer

70%

of school day working offline

30 HOURS Per Week

Learning and growing with their Learning Coach

2-3 HOURS Per Day

Learning Coaches spend overseeing schoolwork

75%

of school day doing schoolwork on a computer

25%

of school day working independently offline

30 HOURS Per Week

Learning and growing with their Learning Coach

1-2 HOURS Per Day

Learning Coaches spend overseeing schoolwork

90%

of school day doing schoolwork on a computer

10%

of school day working independently offline

Step 3

Prepare Documents

Please have the following documents available when you are ready to begin the enrollment process.

Child's Proof of Age

A copy of one of the following documents must be provided for every student to verify age eligibility.

Official birth certificate
Certificate of live birth
Passport
Hospital certificate
Military ID
School records from previous school
Medical Records
Student's Driver's License
Government document with date of birth

To avoid unnecessary delays, provide a copy of one of these official documents along with your enrollment documents. If you do not have either of these documents, please contact the Enrollment Team at 1-833-591-0251 to discuss acceptable alternatives.

Not Sure Where to Get That?

If you need a copy of your child's birth certificate, you can order it online through the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. Please visit the Vital Records Services webpage for more information.
If your child was born in another state, please visit the CDC’s Where to Write for Vital Records webpage for more information. When using this tool, please remember to follow the CDC's Application Guidelines.
Have questions about your U.S. passport? Visit the U.S. Department of State FAQs page.

As a reminder, the age eligibility is as follows:

Kindergarten: Any student enrolling in kindergarten must be five (5) years old on or before September 1 in the school year for which you are enrolling.
First Grade: Any student enrolling in first grade must be six (6) years old on or before September 1 in the school year for which you are enrolling.
Maximum Age: Any student who turns twenty-one (21) years old on or before September 1 will not be eligible to enroll in Lowcountry Connections Academy.

Proof of Residence

A copy of one of the following documents must be provided to verify your legal residence. If you do not have any of these documents, please contact the enrollment team to discuss acceptable alternatives.

Not Sure What is Accepted as Proof?

Gas, electric, sewage, cable, home or cell phone, internet or water bill from the last 90 days that includes your name
Mortgage statement from the last 90 days or annual lease agreement
South Carolina state-issued ID
Property tax statement
Letter from a government agency dated within the last 90 days
Letter from your landlord that is signed and dated
Bank statement dated within the last 90 days

Proof of Residency Document Tips and Tricks
2 min video

Trouble uploading your proof of residency documentation for Lowcountry Connections Academy? We're here to help. Monique explains common challenges and how to fix them.

Child's Proof of Immunizations

All Lowcountry Connections Academy students must provide evidence of their immunizations or medical exemption with a copy of the South Carolina Certificate of Immunization (DPH Form 4024) or a Religious Exemption (DPH Form 1126) to enroll. The DPH 2740 (if dated before 7/1/22) will still be accepted. The DPH Form 4024 or 2740 must be completed and signed by a health care provider.

Contact numbers for county public health departments can be found on the South Carolina Department of Public Health website.

Not Sure What Immunizations Are Required?

For a complete list of immunization requirements, please review the South Carolina Required Standards of Immunization.

Where Can I Get Immunizations for My Student?

Immunizations can be obtained from doctor’s offices, clinics, or hospitals. Pediatricians and family doctors or their nurses or medical assistants can give your student the shots they need to meet the requirements for school enrollment. In addition, some large chain pharmacies offer immunizations for older children and adults.

What if I Need Assistance Paying for Vaccines?

If you need assistance paying for shots/vaccinations, you may be able to get free or reduced immunizations through this program:

Vaccines for Children (VFC) program is a federally funded program that provides vaccines at no cost to children who might not otherwise be vaccinated because of inability to pay. Children who are eligible for VFC vaccines are entitled to receive pediatric vaccines that are recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

Immunization Exemptions

Religious Exemption: A religious exemption may be granted to any student whose parents, parent, guardian, or person in loco parentis signs and has notarized the appropriate section (Statement of Religious Objection) of the South Carolina Certificate of Religious Exemption (DPH 1126). The South Carolina Certificate of Religious Exemption (DPH 1126) may be obtained at a county public health department or online. Forms cannot be e-mailed or mailed. The updated South Carolina Certificate of Religious Exemption form DHEC 1126 must be obtained from your local health department. Please note that the updated religious exemptions forms will include DPH's most recent logo which can be viewed on the dph.sc.gov website. The updated form must be completed and notarized once it has been obtained from your local health department. If you have any questions, please contact the Enrollment Team at 1-833-591-0251.

Medical Exemption: South Carolina state law recognizes exemptions to immunization for medical contraindications as determined by a licensed healthcare provider. Only an individual licensed to practice medicine, surgery, or osteopathy or his/her representative may issue a certificate of medical exemption to immunization. Only the South Carolina Certificate of Immunization (DPH 4024) meets both the certification and the medical exemption regulations (SC Regulation 60-8).

If you do not have either of these documents, please contact the Enrollment Team at 1-833-591-0251 to discuss acceptable alternatives.

Prior Academic Records

Students across South Carolina in grades K-12 are eligible to enroll in Lowcountry Connections Academy. Those who have previously attended public school, private school, or homeschool will be asked to submit academic records for placement.

Report Card

For students applying for grades K–9: Please submit a copy of the report card from the most recent school year.

The following items should be included on the report card:

Student Name
Grade Level
School Year (example: 2025–26)
School Name
Grading Scale (example: 90–100%=A)

Unofficial Transcript

For students applying for grades 10–12: Submit an unofficial transcript that includes the complete end-of-year grades from the prior school year and any academic documentation (such as a progress report/interim report, class schedule, or marking period/semester report card) issued for the current school year. Additional documentation may be requested for placement.

The following items should be included on the unofficial transcript:

Student Name
Grade Level
School Year (example: 2025–26)
School Name
Grading Scale (example: 90–100%=A)
Credits Earned

Not Sure How to Get Your Child’s Report Card or Transcript?

Contact your student's previous school and request the document, providing them with the information outlined above, OR contact your school's district office with the request.

If after attempting these steps you still cannot obtain your student's report card or transcript, please contact the academic placement services team at 1-833-591-0251 to discuss acceptable alternatives.

Have Your Child(ren) Been Formerly Homeschooled?

Prior Academic History Form

For homeschooled students applying for grades K–12: Complete the Prior Academic History Form indicating what courses were completed through a homeschool curriculum. This form will be available to you in the Enrollment Portal.

Other Documents for Special Circumstances

You may need to provide additional documentation if any of the following circumstances apply:

Custody order: If your legal guardianship is determined by a court order, please submit a copy of the order.
Attendance Report: If your student previously attended a public or private school, you will need to submit documentation that shows information about your student’s excused and unexcused absences for the 2025-2026 school year. You may be able to print an attendance report showing excused and unexcused absences using your PowerSchool login, or you may contact the current school to request an attendance report.
Homeschool Association Membership Documentation: If your student was homeschooled for the 2025-2026 school year, you will need to submit a homeschool association membership letter, notice, or receipt with the dates of the membership, or documentation showing that the homeschool was approved by the resident school district.
Notification of Expulsion: If your student is expelled, you will be asked to provide documentation showing the end date of the student’s most recent disciplinary action.

Frequently Asked Questions

View All FAQs

How should I verify that the documents I sent arrived?

After submitting your documents, you can navigate to the Submit Documents section located in the Enrollment Details. There you can see if your documents have been verified or are still waiting to be processed. The Enrollment Details will also show if your file was marked invalid and your document will be removed so that you can upload a new document. If you are unable to verify the status of your documents or have any questions, please call 1-833-591-0251 and contact the Enrollment Team using the document submission option in our phone system. We will check the system to see if the document was received. Please be prepared to provide us with the following information: student’s name, number of pages sent, the date sent, and if sent by fax, the fax number.

Why is the virtual enrollment process different from a physical school?

How does self-enrollment work if I am 18 years old, or older, or am an emancipated minor?

Students who are 18 or over must meet age eligibility requirements in their state. Students must also submit academic documentation of all courses attempted since entering the 9th grade. Academic documentation will be reviewed by a school counselor to determine the student's eligibility to complete the program requirements before meeting the age cap for enrollment. Students who cannot complete the program requirements before meeting the age cap for enrollment are not eligible to enroll.

Both emancipated minors and students 18 years and older are required to complete the Parent/Legal Guardian (Caretaker) Acknowledgement (PLCA) form and to provide all required enrollment documentation before the student can enroll. Emancipated minors must also submit court documentation for their emancipation. Please contact the Enrollment Team at 1-833-591-0251 for more information.

Give Us a Call

If you have any concerns or questions about how to enroll, our enrollment team is here to help.
Please call us at 1-833-591-0251.

Lowcountry Connections Academy admits students and conducts all educational programs, activities, and employment practices without discrimination on the basis of sex, race, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, creed, sexual orientation, disability, or any other legally protected classification.

Enrollment Support Hours:
Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. ET

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How To Enroll In

Lowcountry Connections Academy

Enrollment Information

Start Your Family’s Learning Journey

Check Eligibility

Understand Your Commitment

Prepare Documents

Get Started and Create Account

Frequently Asked Questions

Give Us a Call

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