FAQ

Navigation

For more information about course offerings and applications, speak to your school's counselor or contact RVC School Counselor Mrs. Shonnon Buggs at sbuggs@rockdale.k12.ga.us, or Principal, Dr. Eldridge Powell at epowell@rockdale.k12.ga.us.

❓Frequently Asked Questions

Is Open Campus a school?

Open Campus is a full-time high school program within Rockdale County schools. Students remain attached to their home schools while attending Open Campus. The program operates in person Monday-Friday 8:20 a.m. - 2:45 p.m. Bus transportation is provided daily from the students’ home school. Students can participate in athletics, after-school clubs, prom and graduation ceremonies, and many other activities with their home school throughout the school year. Students who attend Open Campus cannot attend courses at Rockdale Career Academy (RCA).

What type of diploma will my student receive?

Students will receive a general high school diploma from their home school and participate in their home school’s graduation ceremony. Graduation requirements are the same as Rockdale County Public Schools.

How do I know if Open Campus is a good option for my student?

Open Campus is designed to assist students who have previously failed courses and are in jeopardy of not graduating in their cohort year. Open Campus terms are scheduled for 9-week long quarters called minimesters. Students are scheduled for 4 class periods a day. Students will take the same classes every day for the minimester. Students typically enrolled in Open Campus have a schedule which includes 3 teacher-led courses and 1 credit recovery period. The schedule allows students to focus on less classes at one time than in the traditional schools and allows the opportunity to complete up to two credit recovery classes each minimester.

Are all Rockdale County Public School students able to attend Open Campus?

Open Campus is available to all high school students registered in Rockdale County Public Schools; an application is required. Students must meet with their school counselor before applying. Students must have completed at least 1 year of high school and have earned a minimum of 5 high school credits.

How do I apply to Open Campus?

If a student is interested in enrollment, they must meet with their home school counselor. The counselor will evaluate the student’s transcript and send a referral to Open Campus for enrollment consideration. Open Campus then reviews the student attendance, behavior, and academic progress. Once the review is complete and the student is determined as being eligible, they will be provided with an application for Open Campus.

When are applications available for Open Campus?

The application window is open for the last 3 weeks of April for students applying for enrollment in the following school year. The application window is reopened during the first 10 days of the school year. There are 2 additional application windows during the school year. The application windows extend from 10 days before to 10 days after the second and third quarters (minimesters 2 and 3). The application windows and term dates for the 2025-2026 school year are as follows:

Terms	Term Start and End Dates	Application Window
MM1	Aug. 4, 2025 - Oct. 3, 2025	Aug. 4, 2025 - Aug. 15, 2025
MM2	Oct. 13, 2025 - Dec. 19, 2025	Sep. 29, 2025 - Oct. 24, 2025*
MM3	Jan. 6, 2026 - Mar. 13, 2026	Dec. 15, 2025 - Jan. 16, 2026
MM4	Mar. 16, 2026 - May. 28, 2026	No applications for MM4

* Note: The application window for Minimester 2 is intended for students enrolled after August 31, 2025, who are cohort 2026/2027students and would be best served at Open Campus to meet graduation requirements.

Is there a limit to the number of students that can attend Open Campus?

Open Campus has a maximum capacity of 170 students. Preference during each application window is given to students in the senior cohort, then juniors, then sophomores.

How are grades and credits reported?

Open campus operates on 9-week long quarters (minimesters). There are 4 grading periods during the school year. At the end of each 9-week term, students will receive final grades. Grades are posted to the students’ transcripts. Parents can view grades using the Parent Portal.

How long does a student have to remain at Open Campus?

Students must commit to at least one semester at Open Campus. Due to courses being 9 weeks long and students are scheduled for 4 class periods during the minimester it is not beneficial for students to return to their home schools, which are scheduled for 8 class periods, until the end of the semester.

Does Open Campus operate on the same district calendar?

Open Campus follows the same Rockdale County Public Schools calendar regarding holidays and breaks.

How does a student or parent communicate with the teacher?

Teachers can be contacted via email or phone. Teachers will respond to messages within 48 hours.

Are reasonable accommodations made for students who receive special education services?

Prior to applying to Open Campus, a student’s individualized education program team (“IEP Team”) will determine if the student can receive a free appropriate public education (“FAPE”) while enrolled at RVC. If necessary, the student’s IEP Team will also consider if the student needs reasonable accommodations to access the program and services.

Are reasonable accommodations made for students who receive Section 504 services? Prior to applying to Open Campus, a student’s Section 504 Team will determine if the student can receive a FAPE while enrolled at RVC. If necessary, the student’s Section 504 Team will also consider if the student needs reasonable accommodations to access the program and services.

Are reasonable accommodations made for students who receive English Language Proficiency services?
Prior to enrolling to Open Campus, students who receive English to Speakers of Other Languages ("ESOL") services will meet with the appropriate committee that is responsible for administering their plans to determine if reasonable accommodations can be met.

For additional information, please call School Counselor, Mrs. Whidbee at 770-388-5727 ext. 32117