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Higley Virtual Academy

Q: Is Higley Virtual Academy a good school?

Higley Virtual Academy ranks 104 th of 271 Arizona alternative schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public, Virtual, Alternative Grades K-12

104^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 271 Arizona Alternative Schools

Better than 62% of Arizona alternative schools

Summary

Higley Virtual Academy is an alternative public virtual school serving grades K-12 in Gilbert, Arizona, with an enrollment of 102 students. As part of the Higley Unified School District, which is ranked 68 out of 289 districts in the state and has a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger, Higley Virtual Academy has seen a steady increase in its four-year graduation rate, from 76.6% in 2021-2022 to 96.9% in 2023-2024, significantly higher than the district and state averages.

However, the school's dropout rate has fluctuated between 3.1% and 6.1% over the past few years, which is higher than the district and state averages. Additionally, Higley Virtual Academy's test scores in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science are generally lower than the Higley Unified School District and the state of Arizona, with only 50% of 11th-grade students proficient or better in ELA in 2024-2025, compared to 61% in the district and 40% statewide. The school also has a relatively low percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, at 16.94% in 2022-2023, lower than the district and state averages.

Compared to nearby virtual schools, such as Arizona Connections Academy and Astravo Online Academy, Higley Virtual Academy's performance is generally on par or slightly better. However, it still lags behind some of the higher-performing charter schools in the area, like American Leadership Academy and Heritage Academy Gateway. The school's high student-teacher ratio, ranging from 25.3 to 62 over the past few years, may contribute to the challenges it faces in providing a high-quality educational experience for its students.

162

Students ?

162.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

16.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

2935 S Recker Rd
Gilbert, AZ 85295-7846

(480) 279-7000

District: Higley Unified School District

Racial breakdown:

White:

63.0%

Hispanic:

19.8%

Two or more races:

6.2%

See top rated Arizona elementary schools

Compare Higley Virtual Academy to nearby alternative schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Recently slipping — 86th percentile in 2023 → 62nd in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Arizona average (39% vs 30% meeting standards)

✓94% graduate in 4 years — above the Arizona average (77%)

✓Above the Arizona median (62nd percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped from its 86th-percentile peak (2023) to 62nd (2025)

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

!Large classes — about 162 students per teacher

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school39%

District avg49%

Arizona avg30%

104^th of 271

Arizona public high schools ?

Top 38%▼ down 24 pts since 2023

From top 14% (2023) to top 38% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Arizona High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

68^th of 289Higley Unified School District among Arizona 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	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	63.5	407 of 1245	67.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	40.2	536 of 1000	46.4%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	74.9	269 of 1219	77.9%	★★★★☆
2022	31.0	596 of 824	27.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	90.6	58 of 1170	95.0%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	62.3	406 of 1216	66.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	48.0	434 of 830	47.7%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	38.9	622 of 1024	39.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	42.6	480 of 800	40.0%	★★☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	76.4	150 of 854	82.4%	★★★★☆
2022	21.4	461 of 605	23.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	87.3	68 of 806	91.6%	★★★★★
2022	36.9	299 of 494	39.5%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	65.2	223 of 810	72.5%	★★★★☆
2022	44.7	243 of 476	48.9%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	54.6	271 of 675	59.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	14.0	410 of 446	8.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2025	54.9	104 of 271	61.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	52.5	112 of 270	58.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	82.2	68 of 469	85.5%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	60.1	63 of 201	68.7%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2025	66.8	62 of 207	70.0%	★★★★☆
2023	81.9	55 of 406	86.5%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	88.5	25 of 379	93.4%	★★★★★
2022	47.7	161 of 441	63.5%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2022	91.0	16 of 168	90.5%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2025	50.9	93 of 223	58.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	76.8	85 of 429	80.2%	★★★★☆
2022	36.5	228 of 455	49.9%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2025	47.4	84 of 178	52.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	29.3	134 of 184	27.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	76.5	64 of 371	82.7%	★★★★☆

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

Hispanic (2023)95th percentile+28 vs school

Female (2023)78th percentile+11 vs school

Male (2023)67th percentile~ school

White (2023)39th percentile-28 vs school

Middle school

Female (2023)92nd percentile+9 vs school

Male (2023)72nd percentile-10 vs school

White (2023)60th percentile-23 vs school

High school

Hispanic (2023)93rd percentile+8 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2022)90th percentile

Female (2025)70th percentile+8 vs school

African American (2023)69th percentile-17 vs school

Male (2025)58th percentile-3 vs school

White (2025)53rd percentile-9 vs school

By subject vs Arizona (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts50%+10 vs state

Mathematics44%+14 vs state

Science22%+3 vs state

★

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Schools Near Higley Virtual Academy

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking ()				Ranking ()				AASA English Language Arts (2025)							AASA Mathematics (2025)							AzSCI Science (2025)			Per Pupil Expenditures (2022)
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	AASA English Language Arts 3rd Grade	AASA English Language Arts 4th Grade	AASA English Language Arts 5th Grade	AASA English Language Arts 6th Grade	AASA English Language Arts 7th Grade	AASA English Language Arts 8th Grade	AASA English Language Arts 11th Grade	AASA Mathematics 3rd Grade	AASA Mathematics 4th Grade	AASA Mathematics 5th Grade	AASA Mathematics 6th Grade	AASA Mathematics 7th Grade	AASA Mathematics 8th Grade	AASA Mathematics 11th Grade	AzSCI Science 5th Grade	AzSCI Science 8th Grade	AzSCI Science 11th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures: Total	Personnel Spending from Federal Funds	Non-Personnel Spending from Federal Funds	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Personnel Spending from State and Local Funds	Non-Personnel from State and Local Funds	Sub-total Spending from State and Local Funds
Higley Virtual Academy	Public, Virtual, Alternative	K-12	2935 S Recker Rd	Gilbert	85295	Maricopa County	Higley Unified School District	No	(n/a)	Yes	No	(480) 279-7000	162	1	162.0		102 (63.0%)	7 (4.3%)	32 (19.8%)	9 (5.6%)	2 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (6.2%)								(n/a)							50.0							44.0			22.0		$00			$00
American Leadership Academy of Applied Technologies	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	7729 E. Pecos Road	Mesa	85212	Maricopa County	American Leadership Academy Inc.	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(480) 420-2101	628	68	9.2		387 (61.6%)	32 (5.1%)	165 (26.3%)	5 (0.8%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (5.9%)								(n/a)					35.0	40.0	51.0					16.0	19.0	33.0		42.0	22.0
American Leadership Academy Gilbert North K-12	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	1070 S Higley Rd	Gilbert	85296	Maricopa County	American Leadership Academy Inc.	Yes	(n/a)	No	No	(480) 344-9892	2,357	192	12.2		1,651 (70.0%)	49 (2.1%)	456 (19.3%)	48 (2.0%)	12 (0.5%)	10 (0.4%)	131 (5.6%)								(n/a)	57.0	61.0	74.0	63.0	57.0	48.0	63.0	62.0	57.0	80.0	56.0	33.0	32.0	53.0	69.0	34.0	23.0	$5,729	$61	$172	$294	$4,023	$1,472	$5,495
Heritage Academy Gateway	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	19630 E.Germann Road	Queen Creek	85242	Maricopa County	Heritage Academy Gateway Inc.	Yes	(n/a)	No	No	(480) 461-4400	1,556	64	24.3		1,294 (83.2%)	11 (0.7%)	153 (9.8%)	13 (0.8%)	2 (0.1%)	10 (0.6%)	73 (4.7%)								(n/a)	60.0	79.0	59.0	69.0	71.0	78.0	70.0	77.0	74.0	71.0	72.0	57.0	55.0	66.0	48.0	64.0	45.0		$00			$00
American Leadership Academy Virtual	Public, Virtual, Charter, Alternative	K-12	6913 E Rembrandt Ave	Mesa	85212	Maricopa County	American Leadership Academy Inc.	Yes	(n/a)	Yes	No	(480) 420-2101	660	29	22.6		463 (70.2%)	12 (1.8%)	139 (21.1%)	3 (0.5%)	5 (0.8%)	10 (1.5%)	28 (4.2%)								(n/a)					44.0	50.0	52.0						28.0	33.0		30.0	16.0	$7,197	$3,023	$199	$6,245	$2,155	$1,819	$3,974
San Tan Charter School	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	3959 E Elliot Rd	Gilbert	85234	Maricopa County	San Tan Montessori School Inc.	Yes	(n/a)	No	No	(480) 222-0811	914	22	41.5		542 (59.3%)	43 (4.7%)	222 (24.3%)	23 (2.5%)	11 (1.2%)	3 (0.3%)	70 (7.7%)								(n/a)	42.0	47.0	54.0	46.0	58.0	39.0	51.0	31.0	37.0	43.0	27.0	40.0	37.0	35.0	45.0	33.0	27.0		$00			$00
Freedom Prep Academy - Mesa	Public, Virtual, Charter, Alternative	K-12	465 N Bluejay Dr	Gilbert	85234	Maricopa County	Freedom Preparatory Academy	Yes	(n/a)	Yes	No	(480) 256-2642	448				314 (70.1%)	23 (5.1%)	82 (18.3%)	11 (2.5%)	6 (1.3%)	8 (1.8%)	4 (0.9%)								(n/a)		40.0	28.0												26.0				$00			$00
Leading Edge Academy Online	Public, Virtual, Charter, Alternative	K-12	633 E Ray Rd Ste 132	Gilbert	85296	Maricopa County	LEAD Charter Schools	Yes	(n/a)	Yes	Yes	(480) 257-5362	70	9	7.5		30 (42.9%)	14 (20.0%)	21 (30.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (5.7%)								(n/a)																			$00			$00
Arizona Connections Academy	Public, Virtual, Charter, Alternative	K-12	335 E Germann Rd Ste 140	Gilbert	85297	Maricopa County	Arizona Connections Academy Charter School Inc.	Yes	(n/a)	Yes	Yes	(480) 782-5842	1,891	98	19.3		798 (42.2%)	161 (8.5%)	677 (35.8%)	16 (0.8%)	62 (3.3%)	9 (0.5%)	168 (8.9%)								(n/a)	28.0	46.0	29.0	36.0	47.0	34.0	40.0	22.0	22.0	13.0	14.0	18.0	8.0	15.0	26.0	22.0	13.0		$00			$00
Virtual School of Arizona	Public, Virtual, Charter, Alternative	K-12	2500 S Power Rd Ste 215	Mesa	85209	Maricopa County	Arizona Education Solutions	Yes	(n/a)	Yes	No	(602) 641-8254	849				299 (35.2%)	80 (9.4%)	388 (45.7%)	14 (1.6%)	36 (4.2%)	8 (0.9%)	24 (2.8%)								(n/a)					14.0	17.0										9.0		$9,054	$00			$00	$9,054	$9,054

Frequently Asked Questions about Higley Virtual Academy

What is the racial makeup of Higley Virtual Academy?

Students at Higley Virtual Academy are 63% White, 20% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races, 6% Asian, 4% African American, 1% American Indian.

How many students attend Higley Virtual Academy?

In the 2024-25 school year, 162 students attended Higley Virtual Academy.

Is Higley Virtual Academy a good school?

Higley Virtual Academy ranks 104^th of 271 Arizona alternative schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What district is Higley Virtual Academy in?

Higley Unified School District

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Latest Arizona data All new data »

2024–25 dropout ratesDec 2, 2025

2024–25 graduation ratesNov 7, 2025

2024–25 AASA & AzSCI test scoresOct 10, 2025

2023–24 dropout ratesJun 30, 2025

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