Desert Sage Academy

Desert Sage Academy is an alternative public virtual school located in Santa Fe, New Mexico, serving grades K-12 with a total enrollment of 313 students.

Despite facing significant challenges, Desert Sage Academy appears to be a relatively stronger alternative school option in the region. The school's 4-year graduation rate has ranged from 50% to 83.1% in recent years, which is lower than the state average of around 75%, but higher than the 76.7% rate at the nearby New Mexico Connections Academy, another virtual school. Academically, Desert Sage Academy had significantly lower proficiency rates in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science compared to the Santa Fe district and state averages, but performed better than the Aspen Community School, another alternative school in the area.

The data suggests that alternative schools like Desert Sage Academy, Aspen Community School, and Nm School for the Deaf face significant challenges in serving their high-need student populations, as evidenced by the lower academic performance and graduation rates compared to district and state averages. However, the relatively stronger performance of Desert Sage Academy compared to Aspen Community School may indicate that the virtual learning model offers some advantages for certain students. Additionally, the high free and reduced lunch rates at these alternative schools highlight the need for targeted support and resources to address the socioeconomic challenges faced by the student populations they serve.