Five Star Online Academy is an alternative public virtual school serving grades 1-12 in the Adams 12 Five Star Schools district in Thornton, Colorado, with 510 students from diverse racial backgrounds.
While Five Star Online Academy has a lower student-teacher ratio than nearby charter schools, it significantly underperforms the district and state averages on standardized tests. In 2023-2024, only 17.9% of 11th graders were proficient or better in CMAS Science, 17.9% in CMAS English Language Arts, and 5.8% in CMAS Math, compared to the district averages of 26.6%, 41.4%, and 33.3%, respectively. The school also lags behind in SAT performance, with only 46% of 11th graders proficient or better in Reading and Writing, compared to 56% for the district. The nearby Prospect Ridge Academy, Stargate Charter School, and Westgate Community School significantly outperform Five Star Online Academy across all subject areas and grade levels.
The lack of free and reduced lunch data for Five Star Online Academy makes it difficult to assess the socioeconomic status of the student population, which could be a contributing factor to the school's performance. Additionally, the online nature of the school may present unique challenges in terms of student engagement, access to resources, and support services, which could impact academic outcomes. To improve, the school could benefit from a closer examination of its instructional practices, curriculum, and support services, as well as collaboration with higher-performing nearby charter schools to leverage their strategies and insights.
In the 2022-23 school year, 510 students attended Five Star Online Academy.
Students at Five Star Online Academy are 54% Hispanic, 33% White, 4% African American, 4% Two or more races, 3% Asian, 2% American Indian.
Adams 12 Five Star Schools
Five Star Online Academy ranks in the bottom 15.9% of Colorado alternative schools.