Peak Virtual Academy

Peak Virtual Academy is an alternative public school in Montrose, Colorado, serving 262 students in grades K-12 through the Montrose County School District Re-1J. Despite being an alternative school—a category often associated with students who need extra support—Peak stands out with a 90.0% graduation rate, well above the district's 83.7% and the state's 84.2%. Its dropout rate is also remarkably low at 0.9%, and students perform above state averages in English language arts, with 55.1% scoring proficient on CMAS ELA compared to 44.7% statewide.

Comparisons with nearby alternative schools highlight Peak's strengths. Just over a mile away, Outer Range serves a similar population, yet Peak's ELA proficiency (55.1%) more than doubles Outer Range's (25.0%). Peak also posts a far better graduation rate than Vision Charter Academy, a similar school about 19 miles away: 90.0% versus 65.0%. Peak also leads Vision in math and ELA proficiency, and its dropout rate (0.9%) is lower than Vision's (1.3%). However, Vision Charter Academy has a much lower chronic absenteeism rate (3.4% vs. Peak's 23.9%), suggesting that Peak still has room to grow in keeping students consistently engaged.

Peak's science scores have also been strong recently, with 11th graders beating the state by a wide margin (55.9% proficient vs. 25.0% statewide). Math remains the school's biggest challenge: 33.6% proficiency versus 37.3% statewide. Chronic absenteeism has improved, falling from 31.0% in 2023-2024 to 23.9% in 2024-2025—now better than both the district and state averages. For parents considering a virtual or alternative school, Peak Virtual Academy stands out as a structured, achievement-oriented option that consistently exceeds its district and often the state, while offering the flexibility of online learning.