FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Topics

How It Works

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How Does Acellus Academy Work?

Acellus Academy is the official accredited online school of Acellus. Acellus Academy is fully accredited by WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges).

  • Parents can enroll students through the Acellus Academy website.
  • As a private school, Acellus Academy charges tuition to cover its expenses. A scholarship program is available to help reduce the tuition costs.
  • Acellus Academy enrolls students in grades K-12.
  • Students are enrolled into courses automatically by age. Electives are chosen by the parent.
  • Since each course is self-paced, students may enroll at any time during the calendar year. Students will be required to start at the beginning of each course.
  • Acellus uses deficiency diagnostics and vectored instruction to adjust courseware rigor.
  • Parents are able to monitor student progress through the live class monitor.
  • Transcripts may be requested through the system to provide a record of the courses completed by a student.
  • Acellus Academy awards a high school diploma to students that fulfill the graduation requirements. An honors graduation pathway is available for students who choose to take more advanced coursework and meet a minimum GPA requirement.
  • Acellus Academy high school graduates are performing well and have been admitted into top universities around the country.
How much is tuition?

Please see the following link to view current tuition rates: Enrollment Pathways

The tuition covers the registration and instructional expenses to enroll a student in Acellus Academy. Students may take from one to six courses at a time.

What about state testing?

Acellus Academy is considered a private school based in Missouri. Our students are not required to participate in state testing. To ensure students are mastering the material, exams are incorporated into each course of instruction.

To make sure you are satisfying all the local requirements in your state, we recommend checking with your school district to see if any reports would be required. They should be able to advise you on the home education requirements in your state.

What records are needed to enroll?

During the enrollment process, you will be asked to provide basic information regarding your student. Parents may optionally choose to purchase a student ID card, in which case, the parent will need to upload a photo of the student. If a student wishes to import credits from other high schools, transcripts will be required before transfer credits can be awarded. These transcripts are required to qualify a student for graduation, but they may be submitted after a student has been enrolled and is taking classes.

What if I decide to transfer to another school?

Transcripts may be requested through the system to provide a record of the courses completed by a student. Incomplete courses will not be listed on the transcript and no credit will be given for a partially completed course.

Enrollment

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How do I enroll?

The enrollment process can be started online and only takes a few minutes. During enrollment you will need to enter some basic information on your student, such as their name and date of birth, and you will need to make your first monthly or annual payment.

Acellus will then recommend courses for you based off of your student’s age/grade level which you can adjust as needed. Once you have completed these enrollment steps, your student will be successfully enrolled. He can begin school work immediately; there is no waiting period.

You can begin the enrollment process at any time.  Enroll Now

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS:
If you are enrolling a high school student into Acellus Academy, we recommend that you create an Education Plan after enrolling. This plan will help you to map out your student’s high school plan of study. Please note that this plan is a guide to help you to make sure that your student is meeting our graduation requirements. As your student goes through high school he/she may and can choose to alter the original Education Plan.

What grades are offered?

Acellus Academy is available to students in grades K-12. Students who complete the high school graduation requirements are eligible to receive a diploma.

For more details on a specific grade level, please see the following resources:

(K-5) Elementary
(6-8) Middle School
(9-12) High School

How soon can my student start?

The enrollment process is completed online and only takes a few minutes. Once a student has been enrolled, he can begin immediately. There is no waiting period.

You’ll receive the student’s login information as soon as you complete the enrollment process. Enroll now!

What is the age limit for students?

Beginning at age five, students are welcome to enroll in Acellus Academy. There is no maximum age limit.

Adults are welcome to take courses through Acellus Academy and even earn a diploma. For more details on the requirements for earning a diploma, please visit: Graduation Requirements.

What if I decide to transfer to another school?

Transcripts may be requested through the system to provide a record of the courses completed by a student. Incomplete courses will not be listed on the transcript and no credit will be given for a partially completed course.

Getting Started

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Do I need to notify the previous school?

It is important to notify your previous school of your plans to enroll your child in Acellus Academy. If your student has completed any high school classes, you’ll also want to request a transcript.

Your local school district can advise you on the home education requirements for your region. In some cases, registration or reporting may be required.

How soon can my student start?

Once a student has been enrolled, they can begin immediately. There is no waiting period.

You’ll receive the student’s login information as soon as you complete the enrollment process. Enroll now!

 

What is an Education Plan?

After the enrollment process families can create an Education Plan that can help outline their student’s educational pathway. The education planning process provides families with comprehensive information, including the following elements:

PLAN OF STUDY
Creating a Plan of Study helps you to map out a chronological listing of the courses your student will take once enrolled.

GRADUATION PATHWAY
We’ll help you select a graduation pathway based on your student’s interests and goals.

COLLEGE/CAREER PLANNING
Receive personalized recommendations to help your student achieve post-secondary goals.

TUITION & FEES
The Education Plan includes a listing of the costs associated with enrollment in Acellus Academy.

Ready to Enroll?

 

How can I obtain verification of enrollment?

Once you have enrolled your student, we’ll send you an enrollment confirmation by email. This can be used as proof of enrollment.

From your parent account, you may also order an official student ID card.

Tuition and Payments

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How much is tuition?

Please see the following link to view current tuition rates: https://www.acellusacademy.com/enrollment-pathways/

The tuition covers the registration and instructional expenses to enroll a student in Acellus Academy.

How can I update my payment information?

Parents can update their billing information through the parent account. Need step-by-step instructions?

How do I pause or cancel my account?

You may pause or cancel your account at any time.  How to Pause/Cancel Account.

Once the student’s account is paused, you will no longer be billed for any payments. All of the student’s coursework will be archived in the Acellus system. Any information will be saved if you decide to re-activate the account.

Can I get a refund if I cancel?

Acellus Academy allows parents to cancel their account at any time. Any tuition payments processed prior to the time of cancellation are non-refundable. For more information, please see the terms and conditions of enrollment.

Parents can easily cancel the account by signing in using the Acellus App or by contacting us by phone or email prior to the processing of a payment.

What happens if I miss a payment?

Our system is set up to process payments automatically based off of the previous payment. If a payment is declined, we notify the parent by email, leave the student active and try to process the payment the following week.

(If the payment declines again, we are forced to deactivate the student due to lack of tuition. The parent is notified by email and all the student’s work and progress will be saved. As soon as the account is reactivated, the student will pick up where they left off.)

Why is Acellus Academy so inexpensive compared to other private schools?

As a not-for-profit organization, we go to great lengths to keep the cost of our program as affordable as possible.

We are also thrilled that the Roger Billings Scholarship is available for students enrolled in Acellus Academy.  Not only does it help our families financially but also provides a motivational/mentoring benefit to participating students.

Will the tuition go up as my student enters higher grades?

No, our tuition is based on a monthly or annual plan. The grade level or number of courses (1-6) does not affect the tuition rate.

Academic

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How will my student learn at Acellus Academy?

In Acellus Academy, each course incorporates self-paced video lessons taught by some of the best teachers from across the nation. The lesson videos will focus on teaching one concept at a time. After each lesson, students will be tested on their understanding of the material that was just presented. If they understand and have mastered the concept, they will move right on to the next lesson.

When a student is having trouble, they may access additional instructional resources which may include help videos, help problems, and an online lesson manual.

In this way, no student is held back from advancing and no student is left behind or pushed through the material at too fast of a pace. With this interactive teaching method, we are able to ensure that each student masters the material and will be prepared to earn a passing grade and receive credit when they complete the class.

Do students need to sign in at a certain time?

Since Acellus Academy is completely self-paced, we do not require students to sign in at specific times. We make the program available 24/7 year round so that you can set up whatever schedule works best for your student’s specific schooling environment.

This enables you to plan breaks and vacations as needed for your student. If they do not log in on a certain day we will assume that you have excused them. We give credit based on mastery of the course material.

Is the parent expected to grade the work?

Parents are not required to grade their student’s work. Acellus will automatically grade work entered into the program and provide a score which will be easily viewable to parents through the parent interface.

Because the student is working from home, parents are responsible for supervising the learning experience and for ensuring attendance and progress within the program.

How long does it take to complete a course?

This will vary depending on the student and situation. In our program, a student’s pace through the curriculum is determined based on their concept mastery. Students who struggle are allowed as much time as they require to complete each lesson.

Once a course is complete, the student is welcome to move into the next grade level in that subject area. (There are no fees for adding additional courses.  Tuition is based on a monthly or annual rate.)

Do students get time off for holidays/breaks?

Because Acellus is self-paced, you can plan breaks and vacations for your student’s schooling schedule. On days when your student does not log in, we will assume that you have excused them for that day and they will not be considered absent and their grade will not be impacted.

We give credit based on mastery of the course material. To keep your student on track, weekly progress goals are assigned in each class. It is important for your student to meet or exceed these goals so that they do not fall behind.

Your student’s attendance report will be marked green on days when they attend, and when they do not log in the attendance will be left blank.

Do students need to participate in state testing?

Acellus Academy is considered a private school based in Missouri. Our students are not required to participate in state testing. To ensure students are mastering the material, exams are incorporated into each course of instruction.

To make sure you are satisfying all the local requirements in your state, we recommend checking with your school district to see if any reports would be required. They should be able to advise you on the home education requirements in your state.

Where can I find the lecture for the Roger Billings Scholarship?

The weekly lectures are live Wednesday nights at 7:00 pm CST. Watch now!

Students can watch online and should submit comments or questions on the response form below the video feed. Be sure to have them include their Acellus ID to verify the account.

How do I adjust my student's courses?

You can adjust your student’s course list through the parent interface. For more details see: Adjusting Courses

Parent Portal

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How do I log into Acellus Academy as a parent?

If your student is enrolled in Acellus Academy, you will have a parent account to access records and transcripts, make payments, and track your student’s progress.

To access your parent account, first, download the Acellus App on each device that you will want to sign in as a parent, such as your desktop or tablet. Open the app and click on “Sign In As A Parent.” Make a new soft-token PIN on each device with the same email address that you used when first creating the parent account. It will prompt you to enter a PIN, so use a combination that you will remember.

What can I do if I forgot my password?

Parents can reset their PIN by going to sign in through the Acellus App. On the PIN Prompt, select “Forgot your PIN?” to begin this process.

Still having trouble with this? See the tutorial here.

Can I create a personal user ID and password for my student?

Yes, you can create your own user ID and password for a student account. A password that is unique to the student may be easier for them to remember. Start by launching the Acellus App and click on “Set Up Student Easy Sign In.” To create an “Easy Sign In,” you will first need to enter your student’s original 10-digit Acellus ID and password.

The “Easy Sign In” will need to be configured on every device that the student will be using to sign into the Acellus App. This will ensure security for the student account.

What are Special Lessons?

Many of our courses include Special Lessons. Students can find these assignments under the Special Lessons tab in their account.

Acellus Academy requires that students submit any assigned Special Lessons in order to receive credit for completing a class. We recommend that students stop and take time to complete the Special Lessons as they are assigned, rather than waiting until the end of the course.

 

Where can I find my student's Acellus ID?

Upon registration into our online school, your student will be assigned an Acellus ID and password. You will receive this login information by email.

If your student forgets their login information, you can retrieve it through the Acellus App by logging in as a parent. Need more help finding this?

Once a course is complete, the student is welcome to move into the next grade level in that subject area. (There are no fees for adding additional courses.  Tuition is based on a monthly or annual rate.)

How can I pause/cancel my account?

If you decide to pause or cancel your Acellus Academy account, follow these steps: Pause/Cancel Account

Once the student’s account is paused, you will no longer be billed for any payments. All of the student’s coursework will be archived in the Acellus system. Any information will be saved if you decide to re-activate the account.

How can I update my payment information?

If you need to make a change to your billing information, follow these steps:

  1. Log into your parent account through the Acellus App.
  2. Click “Manage Account.”
  3. Click “BILLING DETAILS”
  4. Here, you will have the option to update your payment information.
How can I make sure my student is on track?

You can easily view your student’s progress through their courses from the parent interface (see below). By viewing your student’s progress regularly, you can make sure that they are progressing at the necessary speed to be finished by whatever completion date you would like (a general completion date would be the end of the school year, i.e. the start of summer).

Following the minimum goal that we provide will help students to finish up in a regular school year. If your student starts later in the year or gets behind, you can have them work more each day or even during evenings or weekends to complete the desired amount of coursework.

To view student’s progress:

  1. Log in through the Acellus App
  2. Select a Student
  3. Select the ‘Score’ tab
  4. View progress

Accreditation

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Is Acellus Academy accredited?

Yes, Acellus Academy is regionally accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACS WASC). Regional accreditation is the most widely accepted form of accreditation in the United States. Your student will earn a high school diploma through Acellus Academy upon completion of all high school requirements. For more information, please see Accreditation and Affiliations.

What is the difference between regional & national accreditation?

Regional accreditation is the most widely accepted form of accreditation in the United States. Regional accreditation is granted by seven regional accrediting agencies, which operate in the following six regions: New England, Middle States, North Central, Southern, Western and Northwest. These accreditation agencies are among the oldest in the nation.

National accreditation is not as widely accepted as regional accreditation. National accreditation typically refers to accreditation bestowed by an agency other than the seven regional accrediting agencies. National accreditation agencies often focus on specific groups of schools, such as schools affiliated with a common religious denomination.

Acellus Academy is regionally accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACS WASC). This accreditation helps to ensure reciprocity of credits earned at Acellus Academy and acceptance of our graduates by colleges and universities.

High School

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Will my student receive a high school diploma from Acellus Academy?

Yes, students who complete the graduation requirements will receive an Acellus Academy high school diploma.

Acellus Academy offers two high school diploma paths:

  • The Standard High School Diploma pathway aligns to the minimum credit requirements for graduation set by the State of Missouri. This option is recommended for students who plan to attend a community college or directly enter the workforce after high school.
  • The High School Graduation with Honors pathway is a more rigorous program of study which is recommended for students who plan to apply to competitive four-year colleges with more stringent admissions requirements.

For more information, please see our Graduation Requirements.

How do I know what my student needs to complete in order to graduate?

If you have a high school student enrolled in our school, we recommend that you create a High School Education Plan. This plan will help you to map out your student’s high school plan of study. Please note that this plan is a guide to help you to make sure that your student is meeting our graduation requirements. As your student goes through high school, he or she may choose to alter the Education Plan as their interests broaden and career goals come into focus.

Ready to start your plan? Sign in and go to Manage Account. This option will be available by the student’s name if they are 13 or older.

 

How do I submit my student's transcript?

You may submit your student’s transcripts to us by uploading them into your student’s Education Plan.

  1. If you have already created a plan, you can edit the plan and upload the transcripts through your parent interface under the Manage Account section.
  2. If you have not yet created an Education Plan for your student, you can do so through the parent portal. You’ll need to enroll the student before this can be completed.

Need help creating the plan?

If you have any additional questions about uploading the transcripts, please call (866) 684-6127.

Is there a higher fee for AP or Advanced courses?

The cost of enrollment will not change based on which classes your student is taking; the tuition is per student rather than per class. Students can take 1-6 classes a time with no difference in tuition.

View our available courses

Do you accept high school transcripts from other countries?

International transcripts will need to be reviewed before they can be accepted. After you have enrolled, you are welcome to set up an Education Plan and then contact us once you have uploaded the transcript. If you prefer you may email us a copy.

Will you accept transfer credits from another school?

Credits earned while attending another accredited high school may be transferable. An official transcript will be required for the transfer of credits. Only credits with a grade of C- or greater are eligible for transfer. Acellus Academy reserves the right to decline the transfer of credit(s).

Please note: To graduate through Acellus Academy, students must complete the entire 12th grade through Acellus Academy (minimum of 6 credits) and be enrolled for a minimum of twelve months.

How does my student apply for graduation?

If your student is ready to apply for graduation, please fill out the application form online.

Can Acellus Academy students take the PSAT?

Since Acellus Academy is a distance education school, we do not administer the PSAT. However, students may register to take the PSAT through a local school. Please use the following link to find a school in your region that is offering the PSAT: https://ordering.collegeboard.org/testordering/publicSearch

When registering to take the PSAT, please enter the CEEB code for Acellus Academy (260071).

There are only a handful of days each year when the test is offered. We recommend registering to take the exam as early as possible so that you do not miss the deadline for taking the PSAT.

Does Acellus Academy offer A-G Approved courses?

Acellus Academy is a private school based in Missouri and does not offer A-G Approved courses through UC Doorways.

Does Acellus Academy offer a GED?

Acellus Academy does not offer a GED, rather students are able to earn an accredited high school diploma upon completion of our graduation requirements.

College

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How do I request a final transcript from Acellus Academy?

Colleges often require a transcript with a graduation date listed in order to verify that a student has completed high school. Once your student has graduated from Acellus Academy, you may request a final transcript listing all credits earned and your student’s graduation date.

You may request this from our Records Department which will be in contact with you after you submit your student’s graduation application.

How can my student take the SAT?

Although students may take the SAT any time starting freshman year, most take it for the first time in the spring of their junior year and possibly retake it in the fall of their senior year.

It is important to plan ahead because there are scheduled periods in the year when the SAT may be taken. For more information, please see the following link: https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat

During the registration process, you will be prompted to enter your school’s CEEB code. Acellus Academy’s CEEB code is 260071.

Will Acellus Academy accept college credits?

Courses completed at a college may be counted toward Acellus Academy’s graduation requirements, provided that the student has earned a grade of C- or above and that the course appears on an official transcript.

Transcripts from a college may be uploaded to a student’s Education Plan in the same section where you would upload high school transcripts.

Will colleges accept a diploma from Acellus Academy?

Acellus Academy graduates have been welcomed into colleges and universities throughout the United States and around the world.

Acellus Academy is regionally accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACS WASC). Regional accreditation is the most widely accepted form of accreditation in the United States and is recognized by all major colleges and universities.

Completion of high school does not guarantee acceptance into college. When evaluating an applicant, colleges will look at many factors including the student’s score on a standardized college entrance exam (e.g. SAT or ACT). It is also important to take the time to prepare a well-written college application.

As a first step, we recommend that students create a list of colleges/universities they are interested in attending. You may contact these universities directly to learn more about their admissions process and requirements for students who attend an accredited virtual school, such as Acellus Academy.

 

How can I obtain letters of recommendation for college applications?

Letters of recommendation are required by many colleges for freshman applicants. Acellus Academy can help coordinate with a student’s teachers to arrange for letters of recommendation.

The first step is to contact Acellus Academy by telephone and ask to speak to someone in the Guidance Department. The guidance team can help to coordinate with your teachers and request letters of recommendation.

We recommend planning ahead and requesting letters of recommendation no later than 4 weeks prior to any application deadlines.

Can my student receive college credit for completing an AP course in Acellus Academy?

Students may take AP (Advanced Placement) courses through Acellus Academy to gain high school credit. In order to receive a college credit recommendation for an AP course, your student will need to earn a passing score on the associated AP exam at a testing center approved by the College Board. AP exams are not administered by Acellus Academy.

If your student plans to take an AP exam, we recommend planning well in advance since there are specific testing windows that must be followed. The College Board provides information on their website about how virtual school students may register to take an AP exam. Please see the following link for details: https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/exam-administration-ordering-scores/ordering-fees/ordering-exam-materials/special-ordering-circumstances/home-schooled-student

There are other benefits of taking AP courses in addition to the opportunity of earning college credit. Since AP courses are more rigorous than coursework typically taken in high school, having AP classes listed on a high school transcript signals to colleges that a student is ready to succeed at college-level coursework.

Can Acellus Academy students take the PSAT?

Since Acellus Academy is a distance education school, we do not administer the PSAT. However, students may register to take the PSAT through a local school. Please use the following link to find a school in your region that is offering the PSAT: https://ordering.collegeboard.org/testordering/publicSearch

When registering to take the PSAT, please enter the CEEB code for Acellus Academy (260071).

There are only a handful of days each year when the test is offered. We recommend registering to take the exam as early as possible so that you do not miss the deadline for taking the PSAT.

Technology

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Does Acellus Academy provide a computer to students?

A GoldBook Pro laptop is included in the Premium tuition plan.  Parents are also welcome to purchase a locked down Acellus device for their student from the Acellus Store, but this is not a requirement.

A special discount on Acellus devices is available to families that have enrolled a student in Acellus Academy. To locate the discount code, please sign in as a parent and select “Manage Account.”

Does my student need a computer to take classes at Acellus Academy?

Each student will need an Internet-connected device to access Acellus Academy courses. We support a variety of devices, including specific mobile phones, tablets and computers.

For a list of supported devices, please see our technical support page. 

Will everything for the program be provided online?

All of our course content is delivered online. There is no need to purchase additional textbooks.

Please note that students will need a computer or device that has Internet access. Parents should also purchase basic school supplies, such as pencils, paper, etc.

What devices are compatible with Acellus?

The Acellus program is compatible with many different devices including Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android. For a complete list of supported devices, please visit: Technology Support.

Where can I find the Acellus App?

The Acellus App is available in the App Store for most devices. You may also download it here: Acellus App

Can my student use more than one device?

Students may access their account on multiple devices. However, there are some limitations:

  • Students cannot sign in on more than one device simultaneously. If they are logged in on one device and sign in on another, the first session will be logged out.
  • If the student is using an Easy Sign-In, they will need to add this to any new device or location where they plan to use the program.
How may I assist you today?