Summary:
The Arkansas Virtual Academy district in Little Rock, AR, serves 5,269 students across three virtual schools: an Elementary school (K-6), a Middle School (6-8), and a High School (9-12). The district ranks in the bottom 20% of Arkansas schools (18th percentile) and has a 1-star rating, with a high average of 57.95% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.
The Arkansas Virtual Academy Middle School stands out for its exceptional performance in Algebra, where 51.4% of tested students were proficient—dramatically higher than the state average of 36.9%. However, this school struggles in general math (27.7% proficient vs. 44.1% state) and has seen its ranking drop sharply from the 42nd percentile (2023-2024) to the 21st percentile (2025-2026). The Arkansas Virtual Academy Elementary has the highest per-student spending ($9,069) but also the most extreme student-teacher ratio at 43.5:1, likely reflecting the virtual model where one teacher manages many students online. This school also has the highest economic disadvantage rate at 64.6%.
The Arkansas Virtual Academy High School faces a critical crisis, with a graduation rate of just 78.5% (well below the state average of 90.1%) and a dropout rate of 13.7%. All three schools consistently score below state averages in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science. The district shows a clear downward trend in rankings, suggesting systemic issues. The Elementary school's high spending and low test scores raise questions about the virtual model's effectiveness for young, economically disadvantaged students, while the Middle School's Algebra success offers a potential bright spot to investigate and replicate.
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