Ohio Connections Academy Students Kick Off 2025-2026 School Year
Today, September 2, 2025, faculty and staff at Ohio Connections Academy, are excited to welcome new and returning students to the virtual classroom. The statewide, tuition-free, online public school serving grades K-12 combines traditional courses with industry-leading, career-focused options and real-world interactions to help students gain confidence, develop necessary skills and earn industry credentials coveted by employers.
Ohio Connections Academy Programs & Offerings
The 2025-26 academic year marks the school’s second year of its successful College and Early Career Readiness program for middle and high school students. Building on last year's foundation, this refined offering integrates traditional academic subjects with industry-leading, career-focused options like IT, business, health sciences and marketing. This program equips students with durable skills like leadership, critical thinking and teamwork. Students can participate in career exploration and industry networking opportunities to build confidence, make connections and find direction to prepare for their future.
Ohio Connections Academy Parent Satisfaction Survey
Students are returning to school shortly after the release of the 2025 Parent Satisfaction Survey, an annual third-party survey that provides families with the opportunity to review their experience with Ohio Connections Academy. According to the 2025 Parent Satisfaction Survey results:
- 97% of parents believe their child is receiving a quality education with Ohio Connections Academy
- 97% of parents agree the Ohio Connections Academy program gives them greater opportunity to be more involved with their child's education
- 96% of parents say they feel supported by their Ohio Connections Academy teachers and school staff
- 95% of parents agree the Ohio Connections Academy curriculum is high quality
- 95% of parents agree the Ohio Connections Academy program prepares their child for future success
For more than two decades, Ohio Connections Academy has offered a comprehensive virtual school experience that keeps students motivated and engaged with a strong circle of support and a deep sense of belonging. The school's team of supportive and experienced educators, specially trained in online instruction, establish meaningful connections with students helping them achieve their full potential and reach their goals. Parents and caregivers are involved in the learning journey as their child's Learning Coach, serving as their mentor and guide through the school day.
In describing the benefits of enrolling at Ohio Connections Academy, Superintendent Marie Hanna cites how the learning experience is often tailored to the specific needs of the individual student. The school’s students are diverse and come from different backgrounds and educational histories. Some students are academically advanced and struggle in a traditional school setting, while some prefer to learn at their own pace. Other students may be experiencing health challenges or bullying, while others are athletes or performers who require a flexible learning schedule.
“Parents are always searching for the school environment that best fits their child’s learning needs,” said Hanna. “It’s an important decision for a family to make, and Ohio Connections Academy is here to assist. Our faculty and staff are always ready to discuss the many ways that a comprehensive virtual classroom setting can enhance a student’s overall education experience.”
Kaila Slaughter, of Ravenna, will be an eighth grader at Ohio Connections Academy this year. A competitive and accomplished barrel racer, Kaila and her twin sister first enrolled in the online school during the COVID-19 pandemic before briefly going back to their local brick-and-mortar school.
“They returned to their local school, but we observed that they thrived academically in the online environment Ohio Connections Academy provides,” said their father, Jarrell Slaughter. “Additionally, Kaila began competing in junior high rodeo, which the local school does not recognize as a sport. Ohio Connections Academy offered the flexibility and support needed to accommodate both their learning styles and Kaila’s rodeo commitments.”
The Slaughter sisters are now excelling in their academic pursuits, and Kaila’s rodeo career and love of horses continues to take shape. After graduation from Ohio Connections Academy, Kaila aspires to attend The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Media to become a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine specializing in equine care.
Enrollment for the 2025-26 school year is still open. Families interested in Ohio Connections Academy are encouraged to attend an online information session to learn more, ask questions and discover if virtual school is the right fit for their student.
Survey Methodology
Connections Academy conducts the annual Parent Satisfaction Survey to find out how parents, guardians and Learning Coaches grade the program in several key areas. The 2024-2025 School Year survey was conducted from January 15 to February 26, 2025 by Shapiro + Raj, an independent market research company that created the questionnaire, collected the data and tabulated the results. Parents and caretakers of all students enrolled at the time of the survey were invited to complete the survey online.
About Ohio Connections Academy
Ohio Connections Academy is a unique, tuition-free, online public school for K-12 students. Every day, we create a high-quality educational experience that keeps students motivated and engaged in a safe, virtual learning environment. In addition to academics, teachers focus on building fundamental life skills, working closely with families to help students learn how they learn best. Here, students gain the skills and confidence they need to direct their own educational journey, learning to thrive in the real world by first learning how to be resourceful and resilient.