Prepnet Virtual Academy, Grand Rapids MI

Original Research by School Decision on Prepnet Virtual Academy

PrepNet Virtual Academy is a tuition-free, fully online public charter school based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, serving students from kindergarten through twelfth grade. It opened in 2020, according to publicly reported information from Grand Valley State University's Charter Schools Office, which authorizes the school. National Heritage Academies manages it, and the school was created to give Michigan families a virtual college-preparatory option paired with a character education program called Moral Focus. Because it is a cyber school, students across the state can enroll, though its administrative address sits on Broadmoor Avenue in Grand Rapids.

The school serves a sizable enrollment for a virtual setting, with its largest concentrations in the middle grades. A very large share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and the student body is majority Black, with smaller White, multiracial, and Hispanic populations. Data on students with individualized education programs and English learners was not reported, so those figures are unavailable here.

On Michigan's state assessments, PrepNet's results are low across most subjects and grade levels. In math, proficiency rates range from near the very bottom of the scale in grade three to roughly the mid-teens in grade six, with grade eight on the PSAT also landing in that low range. ELA results are more varied: grade three and grade five proficiency sits in the low double digits, while grade six reaches into the low forties and grade eight on the PSAT climbs above the halfway mark. Science and social studies proficiency in the tested grades generally falls in the low single digits to the high twenties. When the school's overall proficiency is compared relative to districts in Kent County, it sits in the bottom quartile. A parent evaluating this school may want to look into these results further with the school, asking how the virtual instructional model supports students working below grade level and what interventions are in place.

No graduation rate data was available for PrepNet in the provided data. This can reflect the nature of a relatively young virtual charter school or data reporting gaps, so a parent should ask the school directly about its high school completion and postsecondary outcomes. Chronic absenteeism data was also not reported, along with discipline, course access, staffing, and attendance information, so the picture of school climate and operations is limited to what the academic and demographic data show. Program offerings such as AP courses, dual-credit pathways, or career and technical education were not included in the available data, so families seeking those specifics should consult the school's website or contact the school.

Grand Rapids, where PrepNet is administratively located, is Michigan's second-largest city and the economic and cultural hub of West Michigan. It blends a legacy furniture-manufacturing identity with a modern economy anchored by healthcare, education, and retail. Major employers include Corewell Health, Meijer, and Steelcase. The city has a walkable downtown with museums, breweries, Van Andel Arena, and the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum along the Grand River. The broader area has seen substantial investment in the health-sciences corridor known as the Medical Mile. Housing values in the school's zip code run somewhat above the state benchmark and roughly in line with national figures, with rents that are moderate for the region.

For a family considering PrepNet, the central question is whether a fully virtual, college-prep charter model fits the student. The school offers flexibility and a specific character-education framework, and it enrolls a high-need population. At the same time, the state testing data shows that most students are not yet reaching proficiency benchmarks, particularly in math and the elementary grades. Families drawn to online schooling for scheduling, health, or personal reasons may find the format appealing, but a clear-eyed look at academic outcomes should be part of the decision.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 49%

School 9% · District 9%

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

Grade 56%

School 6% · District 6%

▼ 26 pts below state median · ▼ 32 pts below county median

Grade 614%

School 14% · District 14%

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

Grade 711%

School 11% · District 11%

▼ 18 pts below state median · ▼ 21 pts below county median

Grade 813%

School 13% · District 13%

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

English language arts

Grade 310%

School 10% · District 10%

▼ 28 pts below state median · ▼ 39 pts below county median

Grade 429%

School 29% · District 29%

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

Grade 517%

School 17% · District 17%

▼ 26 pts below state median · ▼ 32 pts below county median

Grade 640%

School 40% · District 40%

▲ 7 pts above state median · ▲ 4 pts above county median

Grade 721%

School 21% · District 21%

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

Grade 854%

School 54% · District 54%

▼ 8 pts below state median · ▼ 12 pts below county median

Science

Grade 513%

School 13% · District 13%

▼ 27 pts below state median · ▼ 36 pts below county median

Grade 826%

School 26% · District 26%

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

Social studies

Grade 55%

School 5% · District 5%

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

Grade 830%

School 30% · District 30%

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

This schoolPrepNet Virtual 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.