Harnett Virtual Academy

Harnett Virtual Academy is a small alternative virtual school in Lillington, NC, serving roughly 100 students in grades K-12 as part of Harnett County Schools. While the school provides a different educational path for students who may have struggled in traditional settings, its recent data reveals some serious challenges that parents should carefully consider.

The most striking concern is a chronic absenteeism crisis. The percentage of students chronically absent has skyrocketed from just 15.7% in 2021-2022 to a staggering 54.1% in 2024-2025, meaning more than half of the student body is now regularly missing school. This is more than double the district and state averages, and it stands in stark contrast to Pine Springs Preparatory Remote Academy, a nearby virtual alternative school that reports only 8.2% chronic absenteeism. The academic struggles are also deep, especially in math and science, with proficiency rates often in the single digits or low teens. For example, Biology proficiency was just 6.7% and Math I was 9.1%, far below district and state averages. On a more positive note, the school has shown occasional strength in English II, and its graduation rate—though volatile—has sometimes been higher than Pine Springs' reported rate. Still, HVA's graduation rate of 63.6% in the most recent data lags about 25 points behind state averages.

To be fair, HVA is a small alternative school, so its data can swing significantly from year to year as student cohorts change. Like nearby Floyd L Knight Children Center, it serves a high-need population—around 60% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Given this context, HVA is best understood as a "recovery" or "second-chance" setting for at-risk students rather than a traditional academic program. However, the low proficiency rates and persistent absenteeism suggest many students are still not finding success. For any parent considering HVA, the priority should be asking the school about its attendance intervention strategies and the specific academic support structures in place to help students catch up on credits and re-engage with their education.