ACCESS Academy Students Experience College Coursework through NOVA Online
April 28, 2026
By Kristen Carter, Northern Virginia Community College
This spring, 36 Loudoun County 9th graders are embarking on their first college course. The students are enrolled in ITP 150: Python Programming through NOVA Online, highlighting ACCESS Academy’s innovative partnership between George Mason University’s College of Education and Human Development, Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS), and Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA). For many students, this is their first time navigating a fully virtual, asynchronous college course, challenging them to develop time management, self-advocacy, and collaboration skills that will be essential in their continued education.
This early exposure reflects the mission of ACCESS Academy: blending rigorous academics with future-ready, industry-aligned skills. Students are building a strong foundation in Python programming that will support their progression into more advanced coursework and IT pathways. ACCESS Academy ninth grader Ishaan Sharma shared, “Simple, common codes are a necessity for bigger coding projects,” highlighting how students are beginning to connect foundational skills to more complex applications. Sharma also noted that learning in this environment requires deeper engagement, explaining that “there are many things in each module to understand,” reinforcing the shift from traditional high school learning to a more layered, college-style experience.
A robust support network has been key to their success. The NOVA Online instructor brings both expertise and an understanding of high school learners, while George Mason graduate students serve as mentors and tutors, providing guidance and reinforcing concepts throughout the course.
One standout moment captures the spirit of ACCESS Academy: students with prior Python experience stepping up to support their peers. This peer-to-peer collaboration not only strengthens understanding, but also fosters a community of learners rooted in teamwork, leadership, problem-solving, and shared growth. As Sharma reflected, “It feels good to help other kids in ACCESS… it helps me by giving me a refresh… and allows me to tell my peers about it when I am helping them.”
As these students prepare for their 11th- and 12th-grade experiences at Fuse at Mason Square, they are already building the skills, confidence, and collaborative mindset that define the ACCESS Academy journey—gaining early exposure to college coursework while growing as future IT learners and leaders.