Arkansas Connections Academy High, Bentonville AR

Original Research by School Decision on Arkansas Connections Academy High

Arkansas Connections Academy High is a full-time virtual public charter school serving kindergarten through twelfth grade, with its administrative office in Bentonville. It operates as a single school under the Arkansas Connections Academy district, which is itself a state-authorized online charter program. The school enrolls a substantial number of students, making it a large school by any measure, and it draws students from across the state who choose a fully online education.

The student body is predominantly White, with a noticeable share of Black students and smaller representations of Hispanic, multiracial, and other groups. About a third of the student population qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, a rate that falls in the middle range for a school of this type. The school's charter status means it is tuition-free and open to any Arkansas resident, which directly shapes the student body as one built by family choice rather than by neighborhood boundaries.

Academically, the state testing results from the ATLAS assessment show proficiency rates that are consistently lower than the midpoint when compared to districts in Benton County. Across the elementary and middle school grades that are tested, proficiency in math and English language arts hovers in a low range, with science performing somewhat better but still below a majority of students reaching the proficient threshold. It is important to note that these scores represent only the tested grades and subjects, and they measure a single snapshot in time. A parent considering this school may want to look into this further with the school to understand how the virtual model delivers instruction, what support is available for students who are below grade level, and how the school tracks and addresses these academic patterns over time. The data does not include a graduation rate, so we cannot speak to how many students complete high school here.

For families, the key factor in considering this school is the virtual format. Students learn primarily from home, with a curriculum delivered online and teacher support provided remotely. This structure can fit well for families who need flexibility, who travel frequently, or whose children thrive with self-paced learning and fewer traditional classroom distractions. It also requires strong parental involvement and student self-discipline to stay engaged day to day. The school does not offer a physical campus experience, so extracurriculars, sports, and face-to-face social interaction with peers come through separate local activities or other arrangements.

The school's address in Bentonville places it administratively in a city that is a major economic engine in Arkansas. Bentonville is the home of Walmart's corporate headquarters, has seen rapid population growth, and boasts cultural anchors like Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. Housing costs in the area are above national averages, reflecting the area's desirability and growth. However, since Arkansas Connections Academy High serves students from anywhere in the state, a family does not need to live in Bentonville to attend. The school's location does not dictate the housing market or community context for most of its students.

The district itself is the state-level virtual charter, and a search for recent changes found no substantial new initiatives or policy shifts to report. The model is essentially stable: a statewide online academy operating under the same basic structure it has had.

This school suits a family that has made an active choice for a full-time virtual education and understands what that requires in terms of home support. The test scores are a soft spot in the available data, and a thorough conversation with the school about how it addresses student performance would be a reasonable step for any prospective parent. The school is not likely to be a fit for families who want a traditional brick-and-mortar experience with on-site activities and a neighborhood peer group.

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Academic performance

State test results and graduation outcomes.

Graduation rate (ACGR)

70.0%Cohort of 290 students · Class of 2021

How this school compares to all schools in this state

Each dot is one school’s SY 2020-21 graduation rate, binned by integer rate. Taller columns mean more schools at that rate. This school is highlighted.

292 schools plotted. 5 additional schools' rates are federally suppressed and not shown. Data: EDFacts SY 2020-21.

Math

Grade 323%

School 23% · District 23%

▼ 14 pts below state median · ▼ 30 pts below county median

Grade 422%

School 22% · District 22%

▼ 18 pts below state median · ▼ 38 pts below county median

Grade 516%

School 16% · District 16%

▼ 17 pts below state median · ▼ 34 pts below county median

Grade 618%

School 18% · District 18%

▼ 19 pts below state median · ▼ 40 pts below county median

Grade 722%

School 22% · District 22%

▼ 15 pts below state median · ▼ 27 pts below county median

Grade 819%

School 19% · District 19%

▼ 9 pts below state median · ▼ 26 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 323%

School 23% · District 23%

▼ 10 pts below state median · ▼ 26 pts below county median

Grade 422%

School 22% · District 22%

▼ 14 pts below state median · ▼ 29 pts below county median

Grade 518%

School 18% · District 18%

▼ 16 pts below state median · ▼ 29 pts below county median

Grade 623%

School 23% · District 23%

▼ 10 pts below state median · ▼ 27 pts below county median

Grade 723%

School 23% · District 23%

▼ 6 pts below state median · ▼ 23 pts below county median

Grade 823%

School 23% · District 23%

▼ 6 pts below state median · ▼ 27 pts below county median

Science

Grade 332%

School 32% · District 32%

▼ 4 pts below state median · ▼ 17 pts below county median

Grade 434%

School 34% · District 34%

▼ 2 pts below state median · ▼ 18 pts below county median

Grade 525%

School 25% · District 25%

▼ 8 pts below state median · ▼ 20 pts below county median

Grade 630%

School 30% · District 30%

▼ 3 pts below state median · ▼ 19 pts below county median

Grade 731%

School 31% · District 31%

▼ 4 pts below state median · ▼ 22 pts below county median

Grade 833%

School 33% · District 33%

▼ 1 pts below state median · ▼ 20 pts below county median

This schoolARKANSAS CONNECTIONS ACADEMY, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 3Lower-income20%Higher-income29%9 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income14%Higher-income25%11 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income16%Higher-income34%18 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income10%Higher-income34%24 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income16%Higher-income30%14 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income15%Higher-income31%16 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income11%Higher-income27%17 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income11%Higher-income16%5 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income11%Higher-income23%12 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income7%Higher-income24%17 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income12%Higher-income24%13 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income9%Higher-income13%4 pp gap