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SVUSD Virtual Academy (Alternative)

Q: Is SVUSD Virtual Academy (Alternative) a good school?

SVUSD Virtual Academy (Alternative) ranks 705 th of 2761 California alternative schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public, Virtual, Alternative Grades K-12

705^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,761 California Alternative Schools

Better than 74% of California alternative schools

Summary

SVUSD Virtual Academy (Alternative) is a K-12 online school serving 149 students within the well-regarded Saddleback Valley Unified district in Mission Viejo, offering a flexible, virtual education model with a 12-to-1 student-teacher ratio.

The school presents a mixed picture for families: while students perform strongly in English Language Arts, exceeding state averages, math proficiency is a significant challenge, falling well below both district and state levels. Most notably, the school struggles with chronic absenteeism, with rates over three times higher than the district average, suggesting unique difficulties in keeping students engaged in a fully online environment. Furthermore, key metrics like graduation and dropout rates show considerable year-to-year swings, indicating the school may serve a student population with changing needs or circumstances.

When compared to other local alternative programs, interesting contrasts emerge. For instance, Tustin Connect achieves higher and more consistent academic results, while Excel Academy Charter maintains near-perfect attendance. Despite having substantially higher per-student funding than many of these peers, SVUSD Virtual Academy's outcomes in engagement and math highlight the specific challenges of virtual schooling and raise questions about how resources are used to support student success in this format.

149

Students ?

12.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$27,494

Per pupil spending ?

42.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

25952 Cordillera Dr.
Mission Viejo, CA 92691-3118

(949) 830-3400

District: Saddleback Valley Unified

Racial breakdown:

White:

40.3%

Hispanic:

30.9%

Asian:

17.4%

See top rated California elementary schools

Compare SVUSD Virtual Academy (Alternative) to nearby alternative schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 78th percentile in 2022 → 60th in 2025

Strengths

✓Above the California median (74th percentile)

Worth a look

!Graduation rate below the California average (79% vs 88%)

!High chronic absenteeism (42% vs 19% California)

!Ranking has slipped — down 18 percentile points since 2022

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school41%

District avg54%

California avg41%

Middle school

705^th of 2,761

California public middle schools ?

Top 26%▼ down 6 pts since 2019

From top 19% (2019) to top 26% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

High school

875^th of 2,162

California public high schools ?

Top 40%▼ down 8 pts since 2015

From top 33% (2015) to top 40% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

377^th of 1,543Saddleback Valley Unified among California districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	77.0	1288 of 5869	78.1%	★★★★☆
2022	77.5	1310 of 5883	77.7%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	75.0	1320 of 5663	76.7%	★★★★☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	68.6	705 of 2761	74.5%	★★★★☆
2024	51.2	1132 of 2783	59.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	60.3	891 of 2781	68.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	62.9	832 of 2740	69.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	78.4	520 of 2715	80.8%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	42.3	1307 of 2533	48.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	30.5	1655 of 2551	35.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	41.2	1296 of 2531	48.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	59.3	827 of 2509	67.0%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	46.3	1204 of 2542	52.6%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	55.1	933 of 2527	63.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	77.2	483 of 2407	79.9%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	39.3	924 of 1520	39.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	20.0	1253 of 1537	18.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	49.5	771 of 1555	50.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	66.3	524 of 1602	67.3%	★★★☆☆

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	58.1	875 of 2162	59.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	86.5	293 of 2159	86.4%	★★★★☆
2023	57.5	808 of 2170	62.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	78.7	399 of 2123	81.2%	★★★★☆
2021	83.1	214 of 1290	83.4%	★★★★☆
2019	79.2	380 of 2133	82.2%	★★★★☆
2017	91.3	166 of 2021	91.8%	★★★★★
2016	51.4	984 of 2039	51.7%	★★★☆☆
2015	65.4	651 of 1994	67.4%	★★★☆☆
2013	62.5	470 of 2426	80.6%	★★★★☆
2012	49.8	807 of 2354	65.7%	★★★☆☆
2011	57.2	613 of 2367	74.1%	★★★★☆
2010	47.9	817 of 2281	64.2%	★★★☆☆
2009	38.2	1084 of 2238	51.6%	★★★☆☆
2008	49.3	699 of 2117	67.0%	★★★☆☆
2007	57.5	505 of 2063	75.5%	★★★★☆
2006	53.0	595 of 1968	69.8%	★★★☆☆
2005	69.2	265 of 1901	86.1%	★★★★☆
2004	61.3	321 of 1653	80.6%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	35.0	1238 of 1906	35.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	57.1	734 of 1915	61.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	64.6	596 of 1915	68.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	74.5	404 of 1858	78.3%	★★★★☆
2019	68.3	492 of 1833	73.2%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	19.0	1525 of 1900	19.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	58.3	650 of 1861	65.1%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	35.1	1319 of 2013	34.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	80.1	334 of 2026	83.5%	★★★★☆
2023	46.7	1025 of 2030	49.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	78.9	300 of 1943	84.6%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	82.1	331 of 1942	83.0%	★★★★☆
2024	96.6	80 of 1948	95.9%	★★★★★
2023	43.3	1019 of 1963	48.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	78.1	361 of 1916	81.2%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	44.7	675 of 1155	41.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	80.4	197 of 1173	83.2%	★★★★☆
2023	21.7	954 of 1193	20.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	69.6	330 of 1204	72.6%	★★★★☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Elementary school

Male (2022)77th percentile~ school

Middle school

Male (2022)63rd percentile-7 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)53rd percentile-22 vs school

Female (2025)48th percentile-26 vs school

White (2025)39th percentile-35 vs school

High school

Male (2025)83rd percentile+23 vs school

White (2025)42nd percentile-18 vs school

Female (2025)35th percentile-24 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)34th percentile-25 vs school

Hispanic (2025)20th percentile-40 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy58%+9 vs state

Science34%~ state avg

Mathematics30%-7 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Sunday, April 25, 2021

Great school! We like the flexibility and the pace versus local elementary schools. Great for the shy child and the child who needs more time. We are a remote family, so this gives us the flexibility to travel. Close Quote

Schools Near SVUSD Virtual Academy (Alternative)

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Immunizations Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking ()				Ranking ()				CAST Science (2025)					Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy (2025)								Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2025)								% Completely Immunized (2022)	% Polio (2022)	% Hepatitis B (2022)	% Varicella (2022)	% DTP (2022)	% MMR (2022)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score ()	Statewide Rank ()	State Percentile ()	SchoolDigger Rating ()	Average Standard Score ()	Statewide Rank ()	State Percentile ()	Rank Change from Previous Year	CAST Science 5th Grade	CAST Science 8th Grade	CAST Science 11th Grade	CAST Science 12th Grade	CAST Science All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 11th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 11th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics All Grades	% Completely Immunized KG	% Polio KG	% Hepatitis B KG	% Varicella KG	% DTP KG	% MMR KG	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
SVUSD Virtual Academy (Alternative)	Public, Virtual, Alternative	K-12	25952 Cordillera Dr.	Mission Viejo	92691	Orange County	Saddleback Valley Unified	No	(n/a)	Yes	(n/a)	(949) 830-3400	149	12	12.5	42.3%	60 (40.3%)	2 (1.3%)	46 (30.9%)	26 (17.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.7%)	12 (8.1%)								(n/a)		29.2	37.5		33.9				72.7	66.7	62.5	65.8	57.7				45.5	50.0	33.3	13.2	29.8	91.7	91.7			91.7		$27,494	$1,361	$26,133
Excel Academy Charter	Public, Virtual, Charter, Alternative	K-12	1 Technology Dr.	Irvine	92618	Orange County	Excel Academy Charter District	Yes	(n/a)	Yes	(n/a)	(949) 387-7822	660	66	9.9	50.2%	182 (27.6%)	19 (2.9%)	298 (45.2%)	86 (13.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.6%)	70 (10.6%)								(n/a)	51.5	56.7	40.9		52.0	47.1	51.7	51.5	54.0	67.3	71.7	54.6	57.1	39.2	42.4	36.4	40.0	59.6	63.3	54.6	47.2	48.0	54.7	73.3	49.3	50.7	54.7	$9,791	$562	$9,229
Excel Academy Charter	Public, Virtual, Charter, Alternative	K-12	1 Technology Dr.	Irvine	92618	Orange County	Excel Academy Charter District	Yes	(n/a)	Yes	(n/a)	(949) 387-7822	1,069	76	14.1	41.7%	412 (38.5%)	31 (2.9%)	327 (30.6%)	183 (17.1%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.3%)	113 (10.6%)								(n/a)	52.9	61.5	57.8		57.3	55.4	56.0	65.7	66.7	66.3	70.5	73.3	64.2	63.9	56.0	49.0	53.6	58.8	69.2	60.0	58.1	42.1	60.7	60.7	43.8	42.1	45.5	$9,574	$626	$8,948
California Online Public Schools Southern California	Public, Virtual, Charter, Alternative	K-12	33272 Valle Rd.	San Juan Capistrano	92675	Orange County	California Online Public Schools Southern California Distri	Yes	(n/a)	Yes	(n/a)	(800) 906-5166	3,933	173	22.6	54.2%	1,213 (30.8%)	416 (10.6%)	1,460 (37.1%)	244 (6.2%)	27 (0.7%)	11 (0.3%)	533 (13.6%)								(n/a)	25.7	37.8	39.7	41.3	37.0	38.9	35.4	34.1	32.5	47.0	41.3	56.3	43.9	40.2	25.5	21.7	27.3	33.2	33.9	39.8	33.2	54.8	58.2	73.0	56.7	57.8	56.7	$14,031	$945	$13,086
California Online Public Schools Central Coast	Public, Virtual, Charter, Alternative	K-12	33272 Valle Rd.	San Juan Capistrano	92675	Orange County	California Online Public Schools Central Coast District	Yes	(n/a)	Yes	(n/a)	(800) 906-5166	105	4	28.6	48.6%	51 (48.6%)	1 (1.0%)	38 (36.2%)	1 (1.0%)	2 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (11.4%)								(n/a)		35.7	55.0		46.3						50.0	65.0	48.5						14.3	33.3	26.1							$12,837	$140	$12,697
Alternative Education-San Joaquin High	Public, Virtual, Alternative	K-12	3387 Barranca Pkwy.	Irvine	92606	Orange County	Irvine Unified	No	(n/a)	Yes	(n/a)	(949) 936-7440	88	11	8.0	36.4%	32 (36.4%)	5 (5.7%)	14 (15.9%)	29 (33.0%)	1 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (6.8%)								(n/a)			36.0		40.5					64.7		64.0	63.3					52.9		36.0	42.9							$28,784	$224	$28,560
Occs:chep/Pchs	Public, Alternative	K-12	14262 Franklin Ave. Ste. 100	Tustin	92780	Orange County	Orange County Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 245-6500	290	11	26.3	44.1%	83 (28.6%)	0 (0.0%)	139 (47.9%)	40 (13.8%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.7%)	23 (7.9%)								(n/a)		25.0		45.8	39.6	58.3			30.8	90.9	40.0	80.8	58.6	33.3			15.4	45.5	25.0	37.5	28.9							$40,651	$8,823	$31,828
Suncoast Preparatory Academy	Public, Virtual, Charter, Alternative	K-12	3857 Birch St. #297	Newport Beach	92660	Orange County	Suncoast Preparatory Academy District	Yes	(n/a)	Yes	(n/a)	(949) 994-6724	1,459	48	30.1	38.3%	827 (56.7%)	40 (2.7%)	323 (22.1%)	68 (4.7%)	11 (0.8%)	4 (0.3%)	181 (12.4%)								(n/a)	26.3	38.2	40.0		32.2	36.8	46.9	45.0	34.2	44.9	43.8	55.2	42.7	37.7	44.7	29.1	32.1	40.3	25.8	40.0	35.5							$10,341	$85	$10,256
Tustin Connect	Public, Virtual, Alternative	K-12	1151 San Juan St.	Tustin	92780	Orange County	Tustin Unified	No	(n/a)	Yes	(n/a)	(714) 430-2052	268	11	23.7	47.4%	92 (34.3%)	5 (1.9%)	106 (39.6%)	44 (16.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (7.5%)								(n/a)		76.5	39.7		44.8					78.6	88.2	69.0	74.0					57.1	70.6	31.0	48.7							$15,639	$1,287	$14,352
Orange County Special Education	Public, Alternative	K-12	200 Kalmus Dr.	Costa Mesa	92628	Orange County	Orange County Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 966-4129	331	47	7.0	47.1%	75 (22.7%)	13 (3.9%)	169 (51.1%)	52 (15.7%)	4 (1.2%)	5 (1.5%)	11 (3.3%)								(n/a)				0.0	0.0							0.0	5.6							0.0	5.6							$140,416	$16,411	$124,005

Frequently Asked Questions about SVUSD Virtual Academy (Alternative)

How many students attend SVUSD Virtual Academy (Alternative)?

In the 2024-25 school year, 149 students attended SVUSD Virtual Academy (Alternative).

What district is SVUSD Virtual Academy (Alternative) in?

Saddleback Valley Unified

What is the racial makeup of SVUSD Virtual Academy (Alternative)?

Students at SVUSD Virtual Academy (Alternative) are 40% White, 31% Hispanic, 17% Asian, 8% Two or more races, 1% African American, 1% Not Specified.

Is SVUSD Virtual Academy (Alternative) a good school?

SVUSD Virtual Academy (Alternative) ranks 705^th of 2761 California alternative schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Rate SVUSD Virtual Academy (Alternative)!

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the California Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.