The top reported proficiency rate is 39% in Science. The lowest is 18% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Treca Digital Academy
TRECA Digital Academy is a statewide online charter school serving kindergarten through twelfth grade, with its headquarters in Marion. The school operates entirely through remote instruction, serving students across Ohio. Because it is a tuition-free public charter school that admits students directly rather than through a traditional geographic catchment area, the demographics and profile differ from place-based public schools.
The school's enrollment skews heavily toward the high school grades. Elementary grades through middle school hold a small presence, with the grade distribution narrowing sharply until ninth grade, where enrollment rises substantially and then remains in the several-hundred range through twelfth grade. The student body is predominantly white, with a meaningful representation of Black students and a smaller but present Hispanic population. Detailed data on free-or-reduced-price lunch participation and on special education and English learner rates were not available.
State test results for the school show a mixed academic picture. Across grades three through eight in English language arts, roughly two out of five students scored at proficient or above. In mathematics across the same grades, fewer than one in five students met that standard, a weaker result. Science proficiency for tested grades was in the high thirties by percentage. In the all-grades aggregate, social studies had the highest proficiency rate at just under one half. These numbers place TRECA at the bottom of the comparison group within Marion County districts on overall proficiency. A parent evaluating this school should understand that state proficiency levels are not the whole picture of an online school's impact, since online instruction works differently from in-person settings and can serve students with different learning needs or life circumstances; however, the math result especially warrants a direct conversation with the school about how and why that outcome arises, what interventions exist, and what families should expect.
Only one year of state test data was available, so trend direction cannot be assessed. The school participates in state testing at high rates, suggesting sound test administration logistics.
As a fully online charter school, TRECA operates under a pedagogical model distinct from traditional brick-and-mortar schools. The school has integrated generative AI tools into coursework and assessment through its Brightspace learning management system since fall 2023, with teachers generating assessment items and instructional content using these tools. This represents an active shift in how the school builds curriculum. The school also operates TRECA Tech, a career technical education program open to all students in grades eight through twelve (and to seventh graders with parental permission) without an application barrier. Students in TRECA Tech can earn college credit through Ohio public institutions while also earning high school credit, often with no additional fees, and many pathways align with industry certifications. This stands as a meaningful opportunity for students looking to dual-enroll or pursue workforce credentials alongside their high school diploma.
The online format means that housing location is irrelevant to school access. Students can enroll from anywhere in Ohio. For families in Marion specifically, the school represents a free public alternative to both the traditional Marion City Schools and to private or out-of-district options. Because TRECA is funded directly by the state under Ohio's 2021 school funding structure rather than by drawing dollars through a resident district, enrollment in TRECA does not draw per-pupil state funding from Marion City Schools.
Marion itself is a small manufacturing city in north-central Ohio with a strong industrial heritage and a downtown core undergoing selective revitalization. Home values have risen modestly, and new residential subdivisions are appearing. Manufacturing remains the largest employment sector, anchored by Whirlpool's dryer production facility and Nucor Steel. The city is investing in trails and downtown streetscape improvements. For parents considering TRECA, the place context is secondary to the online structure; the relevant question is whether the school's pedagogy, course offerings, and student support align with their child's needs.
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