What is required for me to enroll?

You create an account, provide student information, upload previous school records or fill out a record request from and pay the fees.

When do I have to enroll? Is there a deadline?

We offer year-round open enrollment. Your enrollment will cover you for the full 12 months, beginning either August 1 or February 1, depending on your country’s local school year. We recommend that you enroll by the time school starts in your area.

Is there a minimum or maximum age to enroll?

There is no minimum or maximum age to enroll. We recommend that you enroll your child when your state or country’s laws require children to be enrolled in a public or private school. There is no maximum age to enroll. We can even enroll adults who wish to get their high school diploma.

When does my enrollment begin?

Your enrollment begins either on August 1 or February 1, depending on where you live and when school begins in your country. Your enrollment period is for 12 months, so your country’s academic year can be accommodated within this period.

Can I enroll in the middle of the year?

Yes, you may enroll at any time of the year. If you take your child out of school mid-year, we can transfer in courses completed. Annual fees apply.

Can I talk to someone before I enroll?

We are happy to offer you a free 15-minute consultation to help you understand how West River Academy can benefit you and see if we are a fit for your family.

I have a special needs child. Can you help?

Yes! Special needs students are welcome and will find a loving environment to support their development with no stress. We offer consultations if and when necessary to help you negotiate this path with your child.

Can my child skip grades or complete two grade levels in one academic year?

No, students must enroll in the grade level corresponding to their age and advance one grade level per academic year.

To graduate from West River Academy, students must have all four years, Grades 9-12, on their final transcripts.

Contact us for more information.

Can we enroll in West River Academy if we travel from state to state or country to country?

We enroll many traveling families. Our official confirmation of enrollment letter can be presented to any state’s or country’s officials to prove enrollment in a private U.S. school to show compliance with compulsory attendance laws.

How do I withdraw my child from the previous school?

If your child has been attending a US school, you will fill out that school’s contact information while enrolling. We will then contact the school to inform them of your withdrawal from that school and request that they send us the school records. When we receive the records, either digitally or by mail, we will let you know that we have them.

As a courtesy to the school, you may wish to let them know that you are enrolling your child in a private school effective immediately or on a certain date and that they will be receiving a request to transfer records shortly. Be sure you have no outstanding fees or other loose ends to tie up or the school will not release the records.

If you live outside the US, you will be responsible for withdrawing your child from the school. We can assist by emailing the school a request to transfer records if you fill out the record request form when enrolling.

What if my child wants to transfer to another school?

We can issue a transcript that covers the time the student was with us. We will send the transcript to the next school when we receive a request for records from the new school.

What if I change my mind about enrolling after I have paid the fees?

Our refund policy states that no refunds will be issued after payment is made unless a prior agreement is in place. Please be sure to read all the FAQs and do your research before you enroll. We invite you to a free 15-minute consultation to help you decide if we are a fit for your family.

What does it cost to enroll a student for one academic year?

Our fees are:

• Onboarding Fee: $125 per student for the first year only. This fee is also applied after a gap in enrollment years.

• Annual Enrollment for Grades K-11: $450 for one student plus $75 per sibling

• Annual Enrolment for Grade 12: $945 for one student or $570 for a sibling, includes Graduation fees

What additional services do you provide?

In addition to enrollment, you may request:

• Transcripts

• Document Notarization and Apostilles

• Consultations

• Custom Documents

In addition to individual student enrollment, we offer group enrollment. You may apply to affiliate your microschool with us if you operate one. You may also request enrollment through one of our affiliated groups. Contact us for more information.

Can I enroll if I live in a country outside the U.S.?

You are invited to enroll with us from any country in the world. You can also travel from country to country and be covered by West River Academy to show proof of enrollment in a school.

We have representatives in the following countries that can help you understand more about us and local legal requirements.

• Argentina
• Bolivia
• Bosnia
• Brazil
• Bulgaria
• Canada
• Chile
• Colombia
• Costa Rica
• Croatia
• Czech Republic
• Ecuador
• El Salvador
• France
• Hungary
• Ireland
• Israel
• Italy
• Japan
• Mexico
• Peru
• Philippines
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• Serbia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Taiwan

You are responsible for understanding the laws in your country and complying with them. We can request that records be sent from your previous school to us to help you withdraw from that school.

You can enroll beginning August 1 or February 1, depending on your country’s academic year. The enrollment period is for 12 months, so your local school year can be accommodated within your 12-month enrollment period.

What documents do I have to submit when I enroll?

If you have attended a school before enrolling with us, we will need to review the school records to confirm placement in the appropriate grade.

Can my studies be certified?

At the end of the year, we can issue a transcript. It can be notarized and/or sent for an Apostille. Express Mail is required for addresses outside the U.S.

What should I do if I live outside the U.S. and want to go to a university in my country?

We cannot guarantee that your preferred colleges will accept you, as their admissions policies are up to them. However, we do have a good track record of having our transcripts accepted at private and public universities in the United States and many other countries. A list of some of the institutions our graduates have been accepted into can be found on our Graduation page.

If you live outside the U.S., your diploma and transcript can be sent for Apostilles.

After you receive your Apostilled documents, you will have to present them to the Ministry of Education of your country to request that they be validated.

What support do you provide after we enroll?

• You will attend an Orientation meeting to acquaint you with your account portal, additional services and resources.

• Each month you will receive a newsletter with information on monthly Q&A sessions and Social Hours in multiple languages.

• You may schedule calls as needed to assist with individual program development.

• Our Mentorship Program offers teens additional support with goal setting, mental health and life after graduation.

Can you recommend any resources?

After enrolling, you will find a page in your portal dedicated to Resources We Love, which we add to as we find new ones that inspire us.

How much record-keeping is required?

Students and parents should keep a record of their daily progress. An annual report must be submitted at the end of the academic year.

Will transcripts be issued at the end of each year?

Yes, transcripts can be issued as needed–annually or at the end of primary, middle or high school.

A transcript can include years from other schools if we receive official transcripts from those schools.

How do I graduate and receive a high school diploma?

To be eligible to graduate, you will need to be enrolled with us for all 4 years of high school or have on file approved transcripts for years completed at other schools.  You must be enrolled with us for at least Grade 12. Then you complete the Graduation Project.

Is there a deadline for submitting my Graduation Project?

Yes, the Graduation Project must be submitted by the last day of your enrollment period. If you are enrolled for the academic year that begins in August, the project must be submitted by July 31. If you are enrolled for the academic year that begins in February, the project must be submitted by January 31. If the project is not submitted by the deadline, you will have to pay a fee to extend the deadline.

Is my West River Academy diploma and transcript accepted by universities in every country?

Our graduates have been able to enroll in colleges and universities in a growing number of countries. A list of some of the institutions our graduates have been accepted at can be found on our Graduation page.

We recommend that you work with the university you wish to apply to before enrolling with us and that you apply to multiple colleges or universities so you have options. If you enroll in a community college and receive your Associate Degree, you can then enroll in a 4-year college as a transfer student.

What should I do if I live outside the U.S. and want to go to a university in my country?

The diploma and transcript can be notarized and/or sent for Apostilles. Please allow 4-6 weeks for this process. Then you can present them to the Ministry of Education of your country to request that they be validated. Once validated, you can present them to the university. We strongly recommend that you check with local officials before you enroll in West River Academy to check on the likelihood of your documents being validated and, if not, what your course of action would be.

Will you send my transcript to the universities I apply to?

Students applying to a US university should create an account with Parchment. We will upload your transcript to Parchment so you can have it sent to any university at any time. We can also submit it to the Common App.  If you live outside the US and the university does not accept transcripts via Parchment, we can work with you on another method.

Are you accredited?

We are accredited by the National Association for the Legal Support of Alternative Schools (NALSAS), an organization that accredits alternative schools in the U.S. Their website is nalsas.org.

Do I have to file any documents with my school district before or after enrolling in West River Academy?

We are a private international school, so by enrolling with us, you are in compliance with your state’s compulsory attendance laws and do not have to contact or inform your school district.  We will notify them and request a records transfer if applicable. If you live outside the US or need more information, please contact us.

What is your status in California?

We operate as a private school and file a Private School Affidavit with the California Department of Education each year.

What is your status in Colorado?

West River Academy is a Colorado corporation and a private school.

Are you an online school?

No. We do not offer online courses.