Riverview Virtual Academy

Riverview Virtual Academy is a small, tuition-free virtual public school in Riverview, MI, serving just 110 students in grades K-12 through the Riverview Community School District, offering families a flexible online learning alternative in a community where about two-thirds of students come from economically disadvantaged households.

For parents considering this option, the most encouraging news is the school's remarkable recent progress in keeping students engaged. Chronic absenteeism—a common challenge in virtual programs—plummeted from a staggering 50% in 2023-2024 to just 17.6% in 2024-2025, now well below the Michigan state average of 27.9%. The school also boasts an exceptionally low dropout rate of 2.5%, less than half the state average and dramatically better than nearby alternatives like River Rouge Alternative Virtual Academy (26.9% dropout) or Downriver Digital Academy (11.7%). While the graduation rate of 71.7% trails the district's traditional schools (93.5%), it still outpaces several peer virtual programs and reflects the school's role as a safety net for students who struggled in conventional classrooms.

Academically, the picture is mixed but shows promise for older students. Ninth graders nearly matched the state average in English Language Arts (55% vs. 60.2% proficient), and 11th graders performed relatively well in Social Studies (35.7% proficient), far exceeding comparable programs like Dearborn Public Schools Virtual K12 (10%) and River Rouge Alternative Virtual Academy (6%). However, 8th-grade scores lagged significantly behind state averages. One of the school's biggest advantages is cost efficiency: at $7,540 per student, it operates on a fraction of the budget of similar programs like Lakeshore Virtual School ($14,084) or Dearborn Virtual K12 ($13,829). With a high student-to-teacher ratio of 52:1, this program is best suited for self-motivated learners who thrive with independence and parental support.