Summary
Terra Academy is an alternative public school in Vernal, Utah, serving 595 students in grades K–12 in a rural northeastern Utah community. There are no other schools within 20 miles, so the most useful comparisons are with Utah statewide results. The school has shown meaningful improvement in graduation and dropout outcomes, but attendance and uneven academic performance remain important considerations for families.
Graduation rose from 70.2% in 2020–21 to 92.9% in 2022–23, then fell to 86.7% in 2023–24, slightly below Utah’s 88.8%. The latest school-level graduation rate was not reported for 2024–25. Dropout rates also improved substantially, declining from 27.7% in 2020–21 to 11.1% in 2023–24, although that remained above Utah’s 9.4%. The clearest concern is attendance: 43.8% of students were chronically absent in 2024–25, compared with 23.8% statewide. Terra’s student-teacher ratio also improved, from 22.3 to 19.3 between 2022–23 and 2024–25, which may support more individualized help.
Academic results vary considerably by grade and subject. Eighth grade was a standout in 2025–26, with proficiency above Utah in English language arts, mathematics, and science; fourth grade also performed well in several subjects. In contrast, fifth- and sixth-grade results were often below state levels, with sixth-grade mathematics at 26.0% versus 37.4% statewide. Ninth-grade mathematics was another major weakness, reported as 10–29% proficient compared with Utah’s 39.4%, while tenth-grade results appeared more encouraging. Overall, families may want to ask how the school supports attendance, sixth-grade transitions, ninth-grade mathematics, credit completion, and students with interrupted academic histories.
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