Highpoint Virtual Academy of MIchigan

Highpoint Virtual Academy of Michigan is a sizable public charter virtual school serving grades PK-12 in Mesick, Michigan, with 2,764 students, many of whom come from lower socioeconomic backgrounds as indicated by the high percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch.

While the school has seen increased spending per student and smaller class sizes, it faces significant challenges in terms of student outcomes. Highpoint Virtual Academy has experienced a decline in its 4-year graduation rate, dropping from 81.7% in 2022-2023 to 62.6% in 2023-2024, which is significantly lower than the state average of around 80%. Additionally, the school's dropout rate has increased from 8.1% in 2022-2023 to 24.2% in 2023-2024, much higher than the state average. Highpoint Virtual Academy also has a very high chronic absenteeism rate, ranging from 30.8% to 38.7% in recent years, much higher than the state average.

Academically, Buckley Community Schools, a traditional public school in the area, outperforms Highpoint Virtual Academy across most metrics, including higher graduation rates, lower dropout rates, and better test scores. Highpoint Virtual Academy students perform significantly below the state averages in both English Language Arts and Math across all grade levels, with the school scoring 12.1% proficient in 3rd grade ELA compared to the state average of 38.9%. While the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted education and contributed to the school's test score decline, Highpoint Virtual Academy has not been able to fully recover these losses in the following years.