John Muir Charter Schools (JMCS), a free alternative charter high school serving California students for more than 28 years, is proud to announce the launch of the John Muir Virtual Career Academy, a transformational new program that brings the full JMCS experience to students virtually, removing the barriers of geography, distance, and circumstance that have kept too many young people from accessing the education they deserve.
For more than three decades, JMCS has equipped students ages 14 to 26 to earn their high school diplomas, gain real-world job training, and step confidently into careers that fit their lives. The Virtual Career Academy is the next bold chapter in that mission, and it starts right here, in Nevada County.
“Every young person deserves access to an education that conforms to their life, not the other way around. The John Muir Virtual Career Academy is how we ensure more students across California have that chance.”
RJ Guess, CEO, John Muir Charter Schools
Introducing John Muir Virtual Career Academy
The John Muir Virtual Career Academy is more than an online school, it is a fully immersive, career-focused educational experience that delivers the same outstanding programming, industry partnerships, and wraparound support that JMCS students have relied on for nearly three decades, now accessible from anywhere.
The Virtual Career Academy will initially serve students in Nevada County and the surrounding counties of Sierra, Yuba, and Placer, with plans to expand statewide. The program is designed for grades 6-12 and up to 26 years of age, and is especially powerful for those balancing work, family, caregiving, or other life responsibilities alongside their education.
Students enrolled in John Muir Virtual Career Academy will have access to:
- A full catalog of high school courses leading to an accredited diploma
- Career technical education (CTE) classes aligned with in-demand, high-growth industries
- Paid job training opportunities through JMCS’s extensive statewide partner network
- Individualized graduation planning and dedicated academic support
- Social, emotional, and life skills programming
- The full JMCS community, resources, and wraparound support—virtually delivered
For students in rural and underserved communities across the Sierra Nevada foothills and beyond, the Virtual Career Academy removes the geographic barriers that have historically made the full JMCS experience out of reach. This is flexible, accredited, career-connected education, on the student’s terms.
Coming Soon: Hunnicutt Learning Center in Grass Valley
JMCS is also excited to share that the Hunnicutt Learning Center is currently in development in Grass Valley, California. Hunnicutt Learning Center brings the full strength of the JMCS model to our local community. Our programming is designed around the whole person — academically, professionally, and personally. This center will offer a unique hybrid model, blending the flexibility of virtual learning with the energy and connection of in-person programming, breathing new life into the Earle Jamieson site, serving students in grades 6 through 12, ages 11 to 26.
The Hunnicutt Learning Center will feature enrichment-based, hands-on programming including horticulture and working gardens, science labs, culinary arts, environmental stewardship, career technical education, and the full suite of JMCS academic and social-emotional support. It will represent a bold new chapter, not just for JMCS, but for the Grass Valley community itself.
More details on the Hunnicutt Learning Center’s timeline and opening will be announced in the coming months. Stay tuned.
Enrolling Now
Enrollment is open now for John Muir Virtual Career Academy and all 32 JMCS locations throughout California. Attending JMCS is completely free.
To enroll, refer a student, or learn more, visit johnmuircs.com.
About John Muir Charter Schools
John Muir Charter Schools (JMCS) is a free alternative high school dedicated to transforming lives across California, serving students ages 14 to 26 across 32 locations statewide. JMCS equips students to earn their high school diplomas and prepare for fulfilling careers through individualized graduation plans, paid job training, and educational, social, and emotional support designed to fit into their lives. Partnering with local workforce leaders across California, JMCS offers flexible, accredited programming that meets students where they are—regardless of their background, experience, or circumstances. Because at JMCS, school conforms to the student. Not the other way around.