West Virginia Hope Scholarship Program
Our Tier 1 tuition plan costs $7,000–meaning your middle or high schooler can receive a world-class, accredited Holston Academy education for a low price with your Hope Scholarship program funds!
The importance of providing a high-quality education to all children is a high priority in the state of West Virginia. With that in mind, the state developed the Hope Scholarship program, which gives West Virginia families the freedom to make school choices that are right for their educational needs. The Hope Scholarship program offers qualifying West Virginia parents the state portion of their education funding so their K-12 students have the opportunity to receive an individual learning experience that works best for their needs. The financial assistance may be used for tuition, homeschool curriculum, and other qualifying expenses.
Complete our form to speak with someone about using your ESA funds to enroll in Holston Academy.
More Information About Education Savings Accounts (ESAs)
What Is the West Virginia Hope Scholarship Program?
The Hope Scholarship Program is an education savings account (ESA) program that allows parents and families to utilize the state portion of their education funding to tailor an individualized learning experience that works best for them. The Hope Scholarship amount will vary annually depending on the amount of state aid funding per pupil provided to county boards of education for public school students. The scholarship amount for the 2024-25 school year will be approximately $4,900. Any remaining Hope Scholarship funds will roll over into the new school year as long as your student remains eligible for the program.
Frequently Asked Questions
To qualify for the Hope Scholarship, a student must be a West Virginia resident and be either:
- Eligible to be enrolled in kindergarten for the year for which they are applying for the Hope Scholarship.
- Enrolled full-time in a West Virginia public elementary or secondary school for the entire instructional term of the academic year preceding the academic year for which the student is applying to participate in the Hope Scholarship program.
- Enrolled full-time and attending a public elementary or secondary school in West Virginia for at least 45 consecutive calendar days during the current instructional term at the time of application. The student must remain enrolled and attending the public-school program until a decision is reached on the Hope Scholarship application.
Families can spend their Hope Scholarship funds directly through the Education Market Assistant (EMA) platform with participating schools, education service providers, and vendors for qualified educational expenses, including:
- Tuition and fees for private school, non-public online programs, or alternative education programs
- Services provided by a public school (extracurricular, individual courses)
- Tutoring services
- Fees for standardized or advanced placement exams
- Fees for preparation courses
- Educational services and therapies
- Supplemental materials (supplies, textbooks)
- Transportation fees
- Any other qualified expense as approved by the Hope Scholarship Board
If approved, parents will need to create an EMA account to access and spend their Hope Scholarship funds. Click here to learn more about the EMA.
Absolutely. Holston Academy students from West Virginia qualify for the Education Freedom Account as we are considered a “non-public online learning program.” You can apply for the West Virginia Hope Scholarship program here.
Parents in West Virginia must apply for the Hope Scholarship program between March 1 and June 15 annually to be eligible for 100% of scholarship funds. Below are the application windows for new applicants for the 2024-2025 school year as well as the corresponding funding amounts are outlined in the chart below.
| Application Window | Funding Amount |
|---|---|
| Mar. 1, 2024 to June 15, 2024 | 100% of scholarship |
| June 16, 2024 to Sept. 15, 2024 | 75% of scholarship |
| Sept. 16, 2024 to Nov. 30, 2024 | 50% of scholarship |
| Dec. 1, 2024 to Feb. 28, 2025 | 25% of scholarship |
| After Feb. 28, 2025 | No funding for current year but may apply for subsequent school year. |
There are a few other requirements when it comes to the application and renewal processes.
- Submit a renewal application for each child annually, between January 3 and June 15 each year; students who fail to submit a renewal application by the deadline can apply as a new applicant but will be subject to the eligibility requirements for new applicants.
- Provide proof of West Virginia residency each year with the renewal application; birth certificate is only required with new applications.
- Submit a Notice of Intent to their county’s board of education for their student’s first year of participation in the program.
- For students attending a participating school under the Hope Scholarship Program, the participating school must send an annual notice of your child’s attendance at their school to the county superintendent of your county of residence by no later than June 8th.
- For students in the Individualized Instructional Plan (IIP) pathway, there are two options to demonstrate appropriate academic progress to the county superintendent of the county of residence by no later than June 8 annually.
- Nationally normed standardized achievement test of academic achievement in accordance with West Virginia Code §18-31-8(a)(4)(A); or
- A certified teacher conducts a review of the student’s academic work annually.
- Students must meet continuing eligibility requirements, with one option being a nationally normed standardized test. For this option, the student must be tested in reading, language, mathematics, science and social studies.
You can apply for the West Virginia Hope Scholarship program here.
Families can access their Hope Scholarship funds directly through the Education Market Assistant (EMA) platform with participating schools, education service providers, and vendors for qualified educational expenses. Hope Scholarship funds are not sent to the parents.
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How Holston Academy Can Help West Virginia Families
Holston Academy is an approved education provider for the West Virginia Hope Scholarship program, meaning families with middle- and high school students can put this money toward an amazing education with us.
With a focus on personalized education, Holston Academy empowers students in grades 6-12 to excel academically and develop the skills they need to thrive in a future path they define. Our Tier 1 tuition plan, which includes four core courses, a foreign language course, phys ed/health, one elective at a college prep or honors level, a transcript, diploma, and more, costs $7,000–meaning your middle or high schooler can receive a world-class, accredited Holston Academy education at a significantly reduced rate! Visit our tuition page to learn more about our Tier 1 and Tier 2 tuition plans.
Ready to take the next step?
For more information on Holston Academy and how to use your West Virginia Hope Scholarship Program funds for enrollment, please fill out the form below.