FAQs

FAQs – (Frequently Asked Questions)

Who can enroll in Odyssey Charter Schools?

Any student residing in Clark County may enroll in Odyssey Charter Schools. All incoming ninth graders must have satisfied course completion in eighth grade to register.

Does the curriculum meet state standards?

Odyssey Charter Schools aligns all curricula to the Nevada Academic Content Standards. All of our courses have been approved by The Nevada Department of Education.

How does the elementary school program work?

In Odyssey’s Elementary School, the parents/guardians work hand-in-hand with our licensed teaching professionals to educate their children. Students complete most of their work each week in the online Learning Management System with the guidance of the parent/guardian. But, at Odyssey, we blend online work with face-to-face meetings. During the weekly meeting, the teacher(s) will direct the student’s daily assignments and educational learning objectives, review the previous week’s work, and provide the student with motivating and positive reinforcement.

How does the middle school program work?

Our model requires all students to attend school on campus once each week for a three-hour instructional class day. When on campus, students are engaged in learning activities that cannot be replicated in purely online learning programs. The student’s online lessons are delivered via a secured Internet connection to our Learning Management System. During the weekly instructional time, the teacher(s) will direct the student’s daily assignments and educational learning objectives, review the previous week’s work, and provide the student with motivating and positive reinforcement.

How does the high school program work?

Each student enrolled in Odyssey High School must attend school one day a week for a three-hour on-campus session. Attendance is vital to the success of our students, therefore we expect students to attend class on their assigned day(s) and time(s). It is important to remember that per our charter, one day of attending campus is equivalent to five days of attendance. If a student misses an assigned day, it is equivalent to missing an entire week of school. When on campus, students are in a classroom with licensed teachers and can also get help from the teachers of their individual subjects.

What about socialization?

Odyssey Charter School offers various social opportunities- both within the school day and during the evenings- throughout the year to supplement the academic curriculum and provide an opportunity for positive social interaction between students. These events include dances, rallies, movie nights, game nights, ‘senior’ events, and events in the community as well as events that include the whole family, such as picnics and festivals. Odyssey High School and Middle School have active Student Councils that plan student events and theme days. Odyssey High School also has an active chapter of the National Honor Society. In addition, Odyssey High School has over a dozen different student-led clubs (Thursdays) for students to enjoy! As a program of blended education, socialization can be more limited than in traditional schools. Odyssey encourages parents and guardians to supplement by seeking positive social interaction opportunities for their students within the community.

What about State Testing?

All students at Odyssey Charter School must be present and participate in all state-mandated testing per NRS 389.015. Students and parents will be told in advance when the various tests will be scheduled. In addition to the state-mandated testing, students must take other tests periodically throughout the school year. Some of these tests are designed to identify student strengths and weaknesses and are used by the teachers to assist in designing a student’s instructional program and to document student growth. Parents are encouraged to discuss the importance of testing with their children to help ensure that the students do their very best.

Is all of the schoolwork for grades K-8 done on the computer?

The online curriculum is very similar to an interactive textbook and many of the daily learning activities are assigned utilizing the computer. The teacher may also direct various assignments, lessons, and activities to be completed when the student is not online using the computer. The program is highly individualized and the actual time spent on the computer varies by students, according to the daily learning activities directed by the teacher.

Is all of the high school schoolwork done on the computer?

Odyssey’s focus is online instruction; therefore, all content-area lessons and activities are to be completed via the Internet. This allows students to access and complete work during times that fit their individual needs. Students MUST have access to a reliable computer with high-speed Internet in order to be successful.

How do I learn to navigate online programs utilized at Odyssey?

At the beginning of each fall and spring semester, Odyssey requires orientation sessions for our enrolled students and their families. During this scheduled time, at least one parent is required to attend a session for each child in order to review policies and procedures. The orientation sessions include instruction in the following areas:

– How to access and complete assigned work.
– How to maneuver through the assigned coursework websites.
– How to use the system to check student grades.
– How to communicate with the assigned content teachers.
– How to access personnel at the school if there is a technology problem.

How many hours each day is my child required to work?

Odyssey Charter School adheres to all state regulations and requirements pertaining to daily attendance. Based on the student’s grade level, these instructional requirements range from 610 minutes per week for kindergarten students, up to 1650 minutes for 7th – 8th grade students. Although minimum time requirements must be met, there is no maximum number of minutes that a student may work. The online curriculum is available to our students seven days a week, 24 hours per day, and 365 days a year.