CLCS has been recognized as an approved Hope Scholarship School for our participation in the Hope Scholarship mission of providing high quality educational services to our West Virginia Hope Scholarship families. We are thankful for the assistance to our families that the Hope Scholarship provides and honored to now be recognized as an approved Hope Scholarship School!
Hope Scholarship is the state’s education savings account program that gives parents an opportunity to build an individual learning experience that works best for their child. The scholarship allows K-12 students to receive financial assistance that can be used for tuition, fees and other expenses.
To qualify for the Hope Scholarship Program in the upcoming academic year, a student must be a West Virginia resident and be one of the following:
Check out the Hope Scholarship FAQ Page.
Have Questions? Call the school at 304.776.5020 for more information.
February 1, 2024
There have been two recent developments that may impact students enrolling in public school to become eligible for the Hope Scholarship utilizing the 45-Day Rule pathway.  See below for more information:
West Virginia Attorney General’s Opinion on Dual Enrollment
Pursuant to an interpretation by the West Virginia Attorney General (which can be found here), children may pursue nonpublic and/or homeschool educational options at the same time they are enrolled full-time in a West Virginia public education program, so long as the student is meeting the attendance and academic requirements of the public education program.
This practice is commonly referred to as dual enrollment. The Attorney General’s opinion makes it clear that West Virginia county boards of education and other West Virginia public schools, such as charter schools, cannot prohibit a student from simultaneous participation in both a public school program and a nonpublic education. If you are considering dual enrollment in conjunction with the 45-day rule, please keep in mind that to be eligible for the Hope Scholarship, the student must meet all public school enrollment requirements, must maintain at least a 90-percent attendance rate during their public school enrollment period, and must remain enrolled and attending the public school program until they receive a final decision on their Hope Scholarship application.
Renewal Applicants
The application window for renewal applicants for 2025-26 will be open from January 3, 2025 to June 15, 2025.
New Applicants
Applications for new students will open on March 1, 2025. For new applicants, the Hope Scholarship Board will accept applications year-round, but the timing of submission of the original application for the program will determine the amount of the Hope Scholarship received for the student’s initial year of participation in the program. The application windows for 2025-26 and the corresponding funding amounts are outlined in the chart below:
Application Window | Funding Amount |
Mar 1, 2025 – | 100% of Scholarship |
Jun 16, 2025 – | 75% of Scholarship |
Sept 16, 2025 – | 50% of Scholarship |
Dec 1, 2025 – | 25% of Scholarship |
After Feb 28, 2026 | No funding for 2025-26 but |
SMART529 K-12 Tuition Options
If you have a SMART529 College Savings Account, you can spend up to $10,000 from the account on K-12 private school tuition as a qualified educational expense. Contributions to a SMART529 account result in West Virginia state tax advantages, including the ability to reduce your federal gross adjusted income by the amount contributed to a SMART529 account when determining your West Virginia Personal Income Tax.
If your child’s annual private school tuition and fees exceed the Hope Scholarship amount, contributing the difference to a SMART529 account to take advantage of these state tax benefits may be a good option for you. Please consult with your tax and investment professionals to make an informed decision. More information about SMART529 can be found at SMART529 West Virginia’s Education Savings Plan.
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