How IAVA’s NCAA Accreditation Helps Student-Athletes

Fall in Iowa means Friday night lights, volleyball spikes, squeaky shoes on a gym floor, and wrestlers finding the perfect pin. Soon, winter athletes will take to the court and the rink with a similar determination. 

These rites of passage are a part of the virtual school experience as well. While Iowa Virtual Academy (IAVA) students learn from their homes across the state, virtual students are still able to compete in their local district’s school teams, train with club teams, and participate in the sports they love. 

For students looking to take their sport to the next level and continue playing in college, IAVA offers a state-approved curriculum that meets these high standards. This means that student athletes don’t need to worry about any academic roadblocks as they pursue their favorite sport. 

The customizable, virtual learning environment at IAVA also gives athletes the flexibility they need to compete. Whether your student is a volleyball player logging into a chemistry class from a tournament hotel room or a basketball player reviewing their social studies notes before practice, IAVA helps student-athletes succeed.  

What Does Being NCAA-Approved Really Mean?  

The NCAA is a non-profit organization dedicated to the well-being and success of college athletes. It is made up of several schools around the country that award nearly $3.5 billion in athletic scholarships annually and provide support to help student-athletes graduate.  

Schools that are NCAA approved require college-bound student-athletes to build a strong foundation of high school courses, so they are better prepared for the academic expectations in college. Student athletes must also graduate from high school and earn a minimum GPA in order to be eligible. 

Flexibility Helps Student-Athletes Succeed 

IAVA offers a variety of courses that can count toward the 16 NCAA-approved courses, and beyond that, the personalized learning and flexible pacing at IAVA helps students gain a competitive edge in sports. Because students can manage their school schedule around their training schedule, they have more time for practices, conditioning sessions, and recovery, without having to sacrifice their academics. 

Take Lauryn, for example, a senior who has turned wrestling from a fun activity to do with friends into a serious pursuit. Coming off last year’s wrestling season with an impressive 36-12 record and a trip to the state championships, Lauryn is currently ranked fifth in Iowa for her weight class, and she is training harder than ever before as she prepares for college athletics.  

During her time in a traditional brick-and-mortar school, she struggled to balance coursework with her training schedule. But wrestling gave her a new focus, and moving to the virtual learning environment at IAVA gave her the structure she needed to thrive academically. She boosted her GPA from 2.4 to 3.7. With IAVA’s flexible pacing and four-day school week, she is able to dedicate extra time to conditioning, strength training, practice, and travel for tournaments, all while she stays on track academically. She is even able to train internationally without falling behind.  

Thanks to IAVA’s NCAA accreditation, Lauryn doesn’t have to worry about whether her courses will qualify when she competes at the collegiate level. With more control over her schedule, she can train during peak practice hours, build workouts in her day, and stay academically eligible to give herself a true competitive edge. 

Beyond the Basics 

IAVA also goes beyond basic curriculum by offering students access to Honors, AP, and Concurrent Enrollment courses. For a student-athlete who has college aspirations, these options demonstrate to both admissions offices and athletic departments that they can balance rigorous academics with the demands of their sport. 

 Visit our website to discover how IAVA gives student-athletes the flexibility to train, travel, and stay on track academically.