Island City Virtual Academy

Island City Virtual Academy is an alternative public virtual school serving 49 students in grades PK–12 in Cumberland, Wisconsin, part of Cumberland School District, which ranks 258th of 432 Wisconsin districts (40th percentile, 2 stars). The two nearest comparable schools are also alternative PK–12 virtual programs: Cameron Academy of Virtual Education, with 134 students, and Laker Online, with 15.

The most striking feature of the school is a split between completion and achievement. Island City reports 100.0% graduation in each of the last three school years, 0.0% dropout over the last four reported years, and 0.0% chronic absenteeism across five reported years — above its district (95.8% graduation, 5.3% chronic absenteeism) and the state (92.0% and 17.3%). Yet 10th-grade ACT proficiency is 33.33% in English language arts, 0% in mathematics, and 16.67% in science, below district and state in every subject, with the widest gap in math. Because the district itself ranks only in the 40th percentile, these low results are not simply a reflection of district performance. With just 49 students, the percentages probably come from a very small number of test-takers and may vary widely from year to year.

Compared with nearby virtual alternatives, Island City's completion and attendance record is stronger. Cameron Academy of Virtual Education reported 68.9% graduation and 8.5% dropout; Island City also leads it in ACT English language arts (33.33% vs. 25%), while Cameron is ahead in math (8.33% vs. 0%) and science (25% vs. 16.67%), with both far below state averages. Island City spends $5,756 per student, roughly half of Cameron's $11,103 and Laker Online's $10,514, and reports a student–teacher ratio of 79, versus 21.6 and 28.3; earlier years were 293.7 and 300, which may reflect how virtual staffing is counted. Its free/reduced lunch share rose from 37.04% to 42.55% to 59.18%, above Cameron's 35.82% but below Laker Online's 66.67%.