Privacy Policy

Academy High School ("we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website and use our online enrollment services.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Personal Information

When you register for our services, we collect personal information that may include:

• Student Information: Full name, date of birth, grade level, previous school attended, graduation year
• Parent/Guardian Information: Full name, email address, phone number, physical address
• Adult Learner Information: Full name, email address, phone number, date of birth
• Account Credentials: Email address and encrypted password for portal access
• Academic Records: Course selections, enrollment dates, transcript requests

1.2 Payment Information

Payment transactions are processed through PayPal. We do not store complete credit card numbers or banking information on our servers. We only retain:

• Transaction confirmation numbers
• Payment amounts and dates
• Subscription status information

1.3 Automatically Collected Information

When you access our website, we may automatically collect:

• IP address and browser type
• Operating system and device information
• Pages visited and time spent on each page
• Referring website addresses

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Provide Educational Services: Process enrollments, manage course access, track academic progress
• Account Management: Create and maintain user accounts, authenticate users, reset passwords
• Billing and Payments: Process tuition payments, manage subscriptions, issue receipts
• Communication: Send enrollment confirmations, billing notifications, important updates about courses or policies
• Transcript Services: Process official transcript requests and deliver transcripts to designated recipients
• Customer Support: Respond to inquiries, provide technical assistance, resolve issues
• Legal Compliance: Maintain records as required by educational regulations and laws
• Website Improvement: Analyze usage patterns to improve our website and services

3. Information Sharing and Disclosure

3.1 We Do Not Sell Your Information

We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties.

3.2 Service Providers

We may share information with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating our website and providing services, including:

• PayPal: For payment processing
• Email Service Providers: For sending notifications and communications
• Web Hosting Services: For website operation and data storage

These service providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and use it only for the purposes we specify.

3.3 Transcript Recipients

When you request an official transcript, we will send your academic records to the specific institutions or individuals you designate.

3.4 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information when required by law, such as:

• In response to valid legal process (subpoena, court order)
• To comply with educational record laws and regulations
• To protect the rights, property, or safety of Academy High School, our students, or others

4. FERPA Compliance (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act)

As an educational institution, we comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). This means:

• We protect the privacy of student education records
• Parents/guardians have the right to access their child's records
• Adult students (18+ or attending postsecondary institution) have the right to access their own records
• We obtain consent before disclosing personally identifiable information from education records, except in specific circumstances permitted by FERPA
• You have the right to request corrections to inaccurate records

5. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your information:

• Encryption: Passwords are encrypted using industry-standard hashing algorithms
• Secure Connections: Our website uses SSL/TLS encryption for data transmission
• Access Controls: Limited employee access to personal information on a need-to-know basis
• Regular Backups: Database backups to prevent data loss
• Security Monitoring: Regular security assessments and updates

However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. Data Retention

We retain your information for as long as necessary to:

• Provide educational services to active students
• Comply with legal and regulatory requirements
• Maintain academic records (typically 7+ years after graduation or withdrawal)
• Resolve disputes and enforce our agreements

You may request deletion of your account by contacting us, subject to our legal obligations to retain certain records.

7. Your Rights and Choices

7.1 Access and Correction

You have the right to:

• Access the personal information we hold about you
• Request corrections to inaccurate or incomplete information
• Update your contact information through your portal account

7.2 Communication Preferences

You can opt out of non-essential communications, but we must continue to send:

• Enrollment confirmations
• Billing and payment notifications
• Important policy changes
• Security-related communications

7.3 Account Deletion

You may request account deletion by contacting us. Note that:

• We may retain certain records as required by law
• Academic transcripts and records are maintained permanently
• You must cancel active enrollments before account deletion

8. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to:

• Maintain your login session
• Remember your preferences
• Analyze website traffic and usage
• Improve website functionality

You can control cookies through your browser settings, but disabling cookies may affect website functionality.

9. Children's Privacy

Our services are designed for students of all ages. When enrolling students under 18:

• We require parent/guardian consent for enrollment
• Parents/guardians create accounts on behalf of minor students
• We collect only information necessary for educational purposes
• Parents/guardians have full access to their child's account and records

10. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites (e.g., PayPal). We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these external sites. We encourage you to review their privacy policies.

11. California Privacy Rights

California residents have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):

• Right to know what personal information is collected
• Right to know if personal information is sold or disclosed
• Right to opt-out of the sale of personal information (note: we do not sell information)
• Right to request deletion of personal information
• Right to non-discrimination for exercising CCPA rights

12. International Users

Our services are operated from the United States. If you access our services from outside the U.S., your information will be transferred to and processed in the United States, which may have different data protection laws than your country.

13. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. This policy is subject to change without notice. Your continued use of our services constitutes acceptance of the current policy.

14. Contact Us