The top reported proficiency rate is 50% in English language arts. The lowest is 8% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Paramount Virtual Academy
Paramount Virtual Academy is a small alternative school serving grades six through twelve within the Paramount Unified School District. The school enrolls a small number of students, drawn almost entirely from low-income households in a community with high rates of economic need. The student body is predominantly Latino, with smaller populations of Black and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander students; detailed data on English learners and students receiving special education services are not available.
State testing data from the most recent year shows deeply mixed results. In seventh-grade English language arts, the school reported a proficiency rate that was roughly split, with half the tested students meeting grade-level standards, a solid performance for this population. In seventh-grade mathematics, proficiency was very low. For sixth and eighth grades, test results were suppressed by the state, typically because student counts were too small to report publicly. Science testing data for the most recent year were also suppressed. The reported results place this school in the bottom quartile of Los Angeles County schools on a proficiency measure, though the very small enrollment and alternative nature of this setting mean comparisons to traditional public schools are limited in usefulness.
The school's setting and structure reflect its alternative mission. It operates virtually, meaning instruction happens remotely rather than on a campus, a model often used to serve students who need flexible scheduling, are working, are recovering from academic setbacks, have experienced housing instability, or need to balance school with family responsibilities. An alternative designation also suggests the school may enroll students who struggled in traditional settings or who left a standard school and are returning. The school itself is located in Paramount, a densely settled, family-oriented working-class city in southeast Los Angeles County with an industrial economic base and a long commitment to affordable housing and community revitalization.
The district backdrop matters. In November 2024, Paramount Unified voters approved a substantial school facilities bond aimed at renovating aging infrastructure, improving security, and upgrading classroom and career-training spaces. Most district schools were built more than six decades ago. The district is also launching a Spanish dual-language immersion program at the elementary level, a long-term commitment to bilingualism that some families may view as a draw. A parent considering this school should understand that it is a virtual, low-enrollment alternative serving students from families experiencing economic hardship, with suppressed or very low tested performance, but without wider context on graduation rates, student support services, or the specific academic model the school uses.
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