Highlands Virtual School

Highlands Virtual School is an alternative public virtual school serving grades K-12 in Sebring, Florida, with 133 students enrolled. The school is part of the Highlands school district, which is ranked 43 out of 67 districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Highlands Virtual School has seen a steady improvement in its 4-year graduation rates, going from 62.2% in 2023-2024 to 89.7% in the most recent year, which is notably higher than the district's overall 4-year graduation rate of 83.6%. However, the school has a relatively high chronic absenteeism rate, ranging from 30.9% to 36.0% over the past few years, significantly higher than the state average of 16.3%. Academically, Highlands Virtual School's test scores are generally lower than the state and district averages across various subjects and grade levels, with proficiency rates in Algebra 1 (50%), Geometry (30%), and 10th grade ELA (41%) all below the state averages.

Compared to the nearby The Academy at Youth Care Lane, Highlands Virtual School generally outperforms the alternative school in test scores and graduation rates. However, both schools have relatively low proficiency levels compared to the state averages. The high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch at Highlands Virtual School, ranging from 50% to 51.13%, suggests that the school serves a predominantly economically disadvantaged student population, which may require additional resources and support to address their unique needs.