Aspire Online Academy

Aspire Online Academy is an alternative public virtual school located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, serving grades K-12 with a total enrollment of 123 students. The school is part of the Harrison School District No. 2, which is ranked 70th out of 115 districts in Colorado and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Aspire Online Academy stands out for its diverse student population, with a higher percentage of Hispanic (49.59%) and African American (25.2%) students compared to nearby schools. This diversity is a key differentiating factor, as most of the nearby schools have a higher percentage of white students. Academically, the school outperforms the district and state in English Language Arts (ELA), with 57.4% of students proficient or better, compared to 40.4% and 43.7%, respectively. However, in Mathematics, Aspire Online Academy underperforms the district and state, with only 23% of students proficient or better, compared to 25.3% and 32.9%, respectively. The school's low student-teacher ratio of 7.6 suggests a more personalized learning environment.

While Aspire Online Academy's strong ELA performance is noteworthy, it is interesting to note that some of the nearby charter schools, such as Liberty Tree Academy and Banning Lewis Ranch Academy, also have strong ELA performance, suggesting that the school's virtual model may not be the sole driver of its academic success. The nearby schools also have lower student-teacher ratios, which could indicate a more personalized learning environment, similar to Aspire Online Academy. By leveraging its strengths and addressing its weaknesses, Aspire Online Academy can continue to provide a quality education to its students and serve as a model for other virtual schools in the region.