In just one year, the Vicksburg homeschool co-op has gone from a small group of nine students to 40 students in kindergarten through sixth grade taking classes twice a month.

The group meets two Thursdays a month at the Lower Mississippi History Museum in downtown Vicksburg and offers extracurricular classes such as art, P.E. and more challenging activities for gifted students.

“We had first through third grade and I said why not expand it to their younger siblings, the ones in kindergarten, and maybe some older ones too,” co-op founder Amanda Boone said. “We added a few classes and this year we grew.”

The co-op offers classes from August through May and hosts field trips and other events on the weeks that there isn’t class.

“It is a good place to meet other kids and have elective classes,” Boone said. “It is not anything that is going to replace what you are doing at home, but it is to add to your curriculum.”

Students that participate in the co-op pay on a per class basis and each teacher has the freedom to set his or her own prices.

Boone said the classes typically range from $10 to $20, plus a registration fee that helps to cover expenses and materials.

“Mainly we hire retired schoolteachers, or moms that stay at home now that used to be teachers,” Boone said.

The co-op is working to expand its offerings for next year and will also be changing its time from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. to ending at 3:30 p.m.

In the morning, kids will be able to take classes including history, science, sewing and gifted.

After a break for lunch and recess, afternoon classes will include math club, a Bible study, cooking, STEM and a combined art and P.E class that will rotate its subject each week.

Each class has a limited number of seats available, which is set by the individual teacher.  Students were able to register for next year’s classes starting on Thursday.

For more information on the schedule and pricing for next year or to register, you can call Boone at 601-218-1619.