Wauwatosa Virtual Academy

Wauwatosa Virtual Academy is a public charter virtual school serving grades K-12 in the Wauwatosa School District, with a diverse student population that is predominantly African American and White.

The school has seen significant improvements in recent years, with its four-year graduation rate increasing from 40% in 2018-2019 to 75% in 2022-2023. This is a notable achievement, as the school serves a diverse population and has faced challenges with dropout rates in the past. The school's dropout rate has decreased from a high of 17.2% in 2018-2019 to 4.5% in 2022-2023, and its chronic absenteeism rate has improved from a high of 42.7% in 2020-2021 to just 0.5% in 2022-2023. In comparison, another alternative school in the district, Vel R Phillips School, has significantly higher dropout and chronic absenteeism rates.

While Wauwatosa Virtual Academy's test scores on the Forward Exam show a mixed performance compared to the Wauwatosa School District and the state of Wisconsin, the school's diverse student population and increased spending per student (from $8,887 in 2018-2019 to $24,543 in 2020-2021) suggest that the school is working to address the unique needs of its students. By continuing to focus on improving graduation rates, reducing dropout and chronic absenteeism, and providing personalized support, Wauwatosa Virtual Academy has the potential to become a model for virtual education in the region.