Raider Virtual Academy

Raider Virtual Academy is a small virtual high school in Flushing, MI, serving just 98 students in grades 9-12 as part of the Flushing Community Schools district.

This school is designed as an alternative pathway for students who may have struggled in traditional classrooms, but the data shows significant challenges. The most pressing concern is that only 45.6% of students graduate—compared to 86.3% for the district and 84.0% statewide. The dropout rate of 19.5% is more than triple the district rate, and chronic absenteeism affects a staggering 90% of students, meaning 9 out of 10 are not consistently engaged. Academic performance also lags: just 23.5% of students are proficient in SAT reading/writing versus 52.3% at the nearby Flushing High School, and social studies proficiency is 16.1% versus 44.4% at that same school. The contrast is stark because both schools serve similar economic demographics, yet outcomes diverge dramatically. The school spends only $4,917 per student—less than half of what Flushing High School spends—and reported an extreme student-to-teacher ratio of 721:1 in 2023-2024, suggesting minimal direct instructional support.

Compared to other alternative schools in the region, Raider Virtual Academy performs better than some—its graduation rate exceeds Flex High North Flint (10.0%) and The Learning CoOp (7.1%), and its dropout rate is far lower than Academy West Alternative Education (46.8%). However, its 90% chronic absenteeism rate is among the highest of any school in the comparison set. For parents considering this option, the fundamental question is whether the virtual model can provide enough engagement and support. While it may serve as a last-resort safety net for some students, the current outcomes suggest that fewer than half of enrolled students will earn a diploma, and significant intervention—more counseling, stronger engagement strategies, and better resource allocation—appears urgently needed.