Great River Connections Academy

Great River Connections Academy is a public charter virtual school located in Columbus, Ohio, serving grades K-12 with a total enrollment of 1,681 students. While the school provides an alternative educational option, it faces several challenges, including lower academic performance, lower graduation rates, and higher chronic absenteeism compared to state averages and nearby schools.

Great River Connections Academy's test scores on the Ohio State Tests are significantly lower than the state averages across various grade levels and subjects. For example, in 2024-2025, the school's proficiency rates in Mathematics ranged from 12.2% for 8th grade to 37.5% for 4th grade, compared to the state averages of 47.6% to 69.1%, respectively. The school's four-year graduation rate is projected to improve to 62.0% in 2024-2025, but it remains well below the state average. Additionally, Great River Connections Academy has consistently higher chronic absenteeism rates compared to the state average, ranging from 12.3% to 22.1% in recent years.

When comparing Great River Connections Academy to nearby schools, some interesting patterns emerge. Unity Academy, another alternative school, outperforms Great River Connections Academy in several subject areas, such as American Government, Biology, and Geometry. KIPP Columbus, a public charter school, demonstrates significantly higher proficiency rates across most subjects and grade levels compared to Great River Connections Academy. Additionally, Oakstone Community School and Zenith Academy, both public charter schools, also show stronger academic performance in several areas compared to Great River Connections Academy.