What Georgia Cyber Academy (GCA) does

Georgia Cyber Academy (GCA) is a nonprofit, tuition-free, online K-12 public charter school operating under a charter from the State Charter Schools Commission of Georgia. Founded in 2007 and structured as its own Local Educational Agency (LEA), GCA delivers fully virtual public education to students in all 159 Georgia counties. The school enrolled approximately 9,966 students as of October 2024 — down from a peak of more than 15,000 — and is supported by 1,062 faculty and staff. GCA is Cognia-accredited (since 2012, renewed March 2022) and operates under a charter term running July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2029 with a maximum enrollment cap of 14,700 students.

The platform is built on Canvas LMS (Instructure) for live instruction, course management, and analytics, with Google Workspace, Infinite Campus (student information system), Clever SSO, Sora digital library, CLASS assessment, NetTutor online tutoring, and Hazel Health telehealth integrated into the instructional stack. Instruction is organized into four grade-band programs (K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12) and supplemented with specialized services including Special Education (1,663 students), Gifted & Advanced (512 students), CTAE career pathways, dual enrollment (2,370 credits earned by Class of 2025), work-based learning, Title I support (4,453 students), and college counseling. The structured school day combines synchronous live teacher-led sessions, asynchronous independent work, personalized learning, and targeted small-group support. Academic outcomes in 2025 included a 77.3% graduation rate, a 5% dropout rate (down from 18% in 2019), and 520 graduates with an average GPA of 3.011.

GCA generates no tuition revenue. Funding flows from state per-pupil allocations under the QBE formula and federal education funding (Title I, IDEA), with per-pupil rates set by Georgia policy and the school unable to turn away eligible in-state residents. Customer acquisition is direct-to-consumer statewide through georgiacyber.org, social channels (@GCAchampions on Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn), community events, and family referrals, with lottery-based admission when applications exceed capacity. The school is governed by an independent Board of Directors chaired by Kenneth Asher, with Michael Kooi serving as Executive Director.

Name

Georgia Cyber Academy (GCA)

Legal name

Georgia Cyber Academy, Inc.

Website

https://www.georgiacyber.org/

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Georgia Cyber Academy is a nonprofit, tuition-free online K-12 public charter school serving approximately 9,966 students across all 159 Georgia counties. It delivers fully virtual public education via Canvas LMS with live teacher-led instruction, funded by state per-pupil and federal education allocations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Online K-12 Public Charter School Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Virtual & Blended Learning Programs (District-Run) (EDAJAAAI)

Keywords

• Online K-12 education
• Virtual charter school
• Public charter school
• Distance learning programs
• Tuition-free education

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Public Education Funding: As a public charter school and LEA, GCA receives per-pupil state and federal funding based on enrollment. No tuition is charged to families. Funding supports instructional programs, technology, staffing, and operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Georgia Cyber Academy (GCA) is a tuition-free, statewide online public charter school serving students in grades K-12 across all 159 Georgia counties. It delivers a structured virtual school day combining live teacher-led instruction, asynchronous learning, personalized learning, and targeted support, with grade-band programs (K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12) and specialized services such as Special Education, Advanced & Gifted, CTAE pathways, Dual Enrollment, and Work-Based Learning.

Product overview

Georgia Cyber Academy (GCA) is a statewide, tuition-free, online, accredited public charter school serving students in grades K-12. GCA operates as a unified virtual school platform combining live teacher-led instruction via Canvas LMS, asynchronous learning, personalized learning paths, and targeted support. The school offers grade-band specific programs (Primary K-2, Elementary 3-5, Middle 6-8, Secondary 9-12) along with specialized services including Special Education, Advanced & Gifted programs, CTAE pathways, Dual Enrollment, Work-Based Learning, Title I support, Hazel Health telehealth services, and college counseling. Student and parent portals (Champion Portal, Parent Portal) provide access to academic resources, while tools like NetTutor, Sora library, and Hazel Health extend learning and support services. The school serves approximately 9,966 students across all 159 Georgia counties.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Primary Grades K-2 Program Early learning program for kindergarten through 2nd grade students focusing on building foundational skills through structured routines, live instruction, and close Learning Coach support.
• Elementary Grades 3-5 Program Elementary program for grades 3-5 that builds foundational skills while developing increasing independence through live instruction, asynchronous and personalized learning, and targeted support.
• Middle Grades 6-8 Program Middle school program for grades 6-8 supporting increased independence and accountability through a structured daily schedule with multiple instructional periods.
• Secondary Grades 9-12 Program High school program for grades 9-12 with a structured course schedule supporting graduation and postsecondary readiness, including live teacher-led classes, targeted support, and academic guidance.
• Special Education Services Comprehensive special education program including eligibility determination, the LIFE Program (Learning Is For Everyone), special education forms, and a dedicated staff directory for students with special needs.
• Advanced & Gifted Program
• CTAE (Career, Technical and Agricultural Education) Career and technical education pathways preparing high school students for workforce and postsecondary education with industry-relevant skills and certifications.
• Dual Enrollment Program Program allowing high school students to earn college credits while completing high school requirements; Class of 2025 earned 2,370 dual enrollment credits.
• Work-Based Learning Program Program connecting high school students with employer partners to gain real-world work experience while in high school, with dedicated resources for employers and students.
• Title I Program Schoolwide Title I educational program providing additional academic support and resources to eligible students, currently serving 4,453 Title I students.
• College Counseling Services Comprehensive counseling services including college preparation, application support, financial aid guidance, and postsecondary planning for high school students.

Quantifiable outcome

• 77.3% graduation rate (2025)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

AI capability3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CogniacoreOthersGCA is accredited by Cognia, a global nonprofit and an internationally recognized educational improvement organization. Cognia accreditation validates that GCA has demonstrated quality through compliance with standards, commitment to continuous improvement, and effective learner outcomes. GCA has been a Cognia member since 2012 with five-year accreditation renewed in March 2022.
• State Charter Schools Commission of Georgia (SCSC)coreOthersGCA operates under a charter contract with the State Charter Schools Commission of Georgia. The SCSC grants the charter and monitors school performance through the Comprehensive Performance Framework. Current charter term runs July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2029.
• Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE)coreOthersGCA operates as its own Local Educational Agency (LEA) under GaDOE oversight. The school follows Georgia Standards of Excellence, participates in state assessments (Georgia Milestones), and complies with all state and federal accountability requirements including ESSA.
• Georgia Charter Schools AssociationminorOthersGCA is a member of the Georgia Charter Schools Association, which supports and advocates for charter schools in Georgia.
• Canvas (Instructure)coreTechnology or IntegrationGCA utilizes Canvas as its primary Learning Management System (LMS). The school is seeking vendors for online curriculum that integrates seamlessly with Canvas LMS including SSO, LTI integrations, and compatibility with Canvas modules, assignments, gradebook, and analytics tools.
• Hazel HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGCA partners with Hazel Health to provide no-cost virtual health care services to students, including doctor visits and therapy sessions beginning Fall 2024.
• Georgia Student Finance CommissionminorOthersGCA maintains a relationship with the Georgia Student Finance Commission for student access to state financial aid and college planning resources.
• Souper JennyminorOthersGCA Beta students participated in community service including soup distribution for Souper Jenny organization.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• National Heritage Academies: Large charter school management organization operating tuition-free public charter schools across multiple states. Broad incumbent in the charter school space with overlapping K-8 enrollment segments.
• Stride Inc. (formerly K12 Inc.): Largest U.S. online K-12 education provider, operating the Connections Academy network of virtual charter schools including Georgia Connections Academy. Competes with GCA via scaled curriculum, technology, and marketing infrastructure.
• Charter Schools USA: National charter school management company operating public charter schools across multiple states. Broader incumbent in the public charter K-12 sector with potential overlap in Georgia or expansion markets.

Direct peers

• Insight PA Cyber Charter School: Pennsylvania K-12 cyber charter school offering tuition-free online public education. Comparable statewide cyber charter model with similar instructional staffing and per-pupil funding structure.
• Texas Connections Academy: Stride-operated online public charter school serving Texas K-12 students. Mirrors GCA's operating model (tuition-free public virtual charter with statewide enrollment) under a different state authorizer.
• Ohio Connections Academy: Stride-operated tuition-free online public charter school serving Ohio K-12 students. Comparable virtual charter model with similar curriculum platform and per-pupil public funding structure.
• Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School: One of the largest cyber charter schools in Pennsylvania serving K-12 students online. Operates a directly comparable tuition-free public cyber charter school model with statewide enrollment.
• Agora Cyber Charter School: Pennsylvania-based K-12 cyber charter school with statewide online enrollment. Directly comparable cyber charter operating model, serving similar families seeking tuition-free virtual public education.
• Georgia Connections Academy: Stride-operated tuition-free online public charter school serving Georgia students K-12. Directly competes with GCA for the same statewide virtual charter enrollment pool under the same SCSC authorization framework.

Regional players

• Florida Virtual School (FLVS): Statewide public virtual school serving Florida K-12 students with similar full-time and supplemental online course offerings. Operates a comparable publicly-funded virtual school model in a different state.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/GCAchampions
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@GCAchampions
• Facebookfacebook.com/GCAchampions
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/35488768
• Instagraminstagram.com/GCAchampions

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Georgia Cyber Academy (GCA)