The top reported proficiency rate is 34% in English language arts. The lowest is 16% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Arizona Connections Academy Charter School Inc. (87407)
Arizona Connections Academy Charter School Inc. is a statewide online public charter district serving kindergarten through twelfth grade. Because it is a virtual school with no single brick-and-mortar attendance zone, the district draws students from across the state, and its character is shaped by a remote learning model rather than by a particular town or neighborhood. The district operates one school, Arizona Connections Academy, which delivers its curriculum entirely online, meaning the peer environment and classroom experience are set by the structure of virtual instruction, student self-direction, and family involvement in daily learning.
The student body is diverse, with a large white plurality, a substantial Hispanic population, and smaller shares of students who are Black, two or more races, American Indian or Alaska Native, and Asian. The district did not report the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals, nor the share of students with disabilities or English learners, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about the level of support for these groups.
On state assessments in the most recent school year, the district's proficiency rates across grades and subjects came in well below the midpoint among the county's districts, placing in the bottom quarter for overall proficiency. In math, the share of students meeting proficiency ranged from roughly a tenth of eighth graders to about a fifth of third and fourth graders, with most grade levels near or below one in five students reaching proficiency. In English language arts, the range was wider, with roughly two in five fourth and sixth graders proficient and just over a quarter of third and eighth graders. In science, just over a quarter of fifth graders and just under a quarter of eighth graders scored proficient. Multi-year data, which covers only the most recent year for this district, does not show a trend line, so it is not possible to say whether these results are stable, improving, or declining. A parent considering this school should look into these performance levels relative to their own academic expectations and the school's stated strategies for improvement.
The district's per-pupil spending falls in the lower half of the middle range among the county's districts, which is neither unusually high nor unusually low. The chronic absenteeism rate is reported as at or near zero, a figure that stands in stark contrast to the county median, but given that this is a virtual school where attendance is tracked differently than in a physical building, a parent may want to ask how the school defines and monitors attendance and whether remote students are logging in and completing work consistently. No four-year graduation rate was reported, so that measure could not be compared.
The district's website, publicly reported, presents itself as a tuition-free online public school with a full K-12 curriculum, including honors and Advanced Placement options, and the flexibility for students to learn from home. The district brief turned up no recent changes in curriculum, leadership, property tax measures, or other parent-relevant developments, so there is no news to weigh beyond the basic operating model. For families who are drawn to the idea of a fully online education, this district offers a straightforward, statewide enrollment option. The academic results on state tests are low across the board, and a family would want to have a clear picture of how the school supports students who are behind grade level before enrolling.
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