Summary:
The analysis focuses on a single high school within the Arkansas Virtual Academy district: Arkansas Virtual Academy High School, a large virtual public charter school in Little Rock serving grades 9 through 12 with 2,567 students.
This school presents a mixed picture. Its standout metrics are concerning: the dropout rate is a very high 13.7%, and the graduation rate of 78.5% is well below the state average of 90.1%. However, there are bright spots. While overall test scores in English, reading, and algebra lag behind state averages, 11th graders show remarkable strength, scoring 31% proficient in Geometry (nearly triple the state average of 10.4%) and 43.8% proficient in Biology (beating the state average of 32.2%). The school also has a favorable student-teacher ratio of 12.1:1 and moderate per-student spending of $8,310.
Key takeaways include a volatile ranking history—dropping from the 47th to the 36th percentile recently—but a consistent 2-star rating. A positive trend is year-over-year improvement in all core test subjects, especially math. The most critical challenge is student retention: despite decent resources, the high dropout rate and low graduation rate suggest the virtual model struggles to keep many students engaged through to completion. For parents, this school offers potential for self-motivated older students in specific subjects, but the overall risk of a student not graduating is significant.
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