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Highlands Virtual School

Summary:

Highlands Virtual School is an alternative public virtual school serving grades K-12 in Sebring, Florida, with a total enrollment of 168 students as of the 2022-2023 school year. The school is part of the Highlands school district, which is ranked 46 out of 68 districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Compared to the overall Highlands district, Highlands Virtual School has a more diverse student population, with 48.81% White, 12.5% African American, 32.74% Hispanic, 0.6% Asian, and 5.36% two or more races. However, the school has seen a significant decline in its four-year graduation rate, dropping from 93.1% in 2019-2020 to 49.1% in 2022-2023, well below the state average of 55% for the 2023-2024 school year. Additionally, the school has experienced a sharp increase in chronic absenteeism, rising from 0% in 2019-2020 to 14.6% in 2022-2023, higher than the state average of 11.9%.

Compared to the nearby The Academy at Youth Care Lane, Highlands Virtual School performs significantly better on most academic metrics, including test scores and graduation rates. However, both schools struggle with high chronic absenteeism rates. Despite the declining academic performance, Highlands Virtual School has seen a significant increase in per-student spending, rising from $3,134 in 2019-2020 to $10,362 in 2022-2023, which is higher than the district average of $9,500 per student.


Detail:

Public, Virtual, Alternative K-12

 426 School St
       Sebring, FL  33870

(863) 471-5610

District: Highlands

SchoolDigger Rank:
384th of 807 Florida Alternative Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $10,362 Help


Student/teacher ratio:  329.0 Help
Number of students:  168

Racial breakdown:

White:
48.8%
Hispanic:
32.7%
African American:
12.5%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  50% Help


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 Compare Highlands Virtual School to nearby alternative schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Highlands Virtual School is not ranked due for the most recent year due to insufficient test score data. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 60.6. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details Highlands Virtual School is not ranked due for the most recent year due to insufficient test score data. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 75.44. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details Highlands Virtual School ranks better than 52.4% of high schools in Florida. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 43.41. (See more...)
Help
The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Highlands Virtual School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.
Help
Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Highlands Virtual School has the largest alternative school student body size in the Highlands School District. Student population at Highlands Virtual School is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (48.8%), Hispanic (32.7%), African American (12.5%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 50% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the lowest percentage in the Highlands School District. (See more...)
Teachers
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Highlands Virtual School is $10,362. 1 alternative schools in the Highlands School District spend more per student.
Schooldigger Rankings:

Highlands Virtual School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.
SchoolDigger ranks Highlands Virtual School 384th of 807 Florida public high schools. (See Highlands Virtual School in the ranking list.)

Highlands:

SchoolDigger ranks Highlands 46th of 68 Florida school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Highlands Virtual School

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Compare
Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools FL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 37.41 1386th 2247 38.3%
2022 35.44 1425th 2219 35.8%
2023 60.60 824th 2240 63.2%
See the entire list of Florida Alternative School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Florida Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Rank History for Highlands Virtual School

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Compare
Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools FL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 47.41 589th 1136 48.2%
2022 65.82 349th 1148 69.6%
2023 75.44 248th 1177 78.9%
See the entire list of Florida Alternative School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Florida Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Rank History for Highlands Virtual School

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Compare
Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools FL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 33.24 457th 734 37.7%
2021 38.18 382nd 746 48.8%
2022 36.14 433rd 774 44.1%
2023 36.21 430th 792 45.7%
2024 43.41 384th 807 52.4%
See the entire list of Florida Alternative School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Florida Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Highlands Virtual School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    






Data source: Florida Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Highlands Virtual School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
2018 36 7 0 12 3 0 9 0 67
2019 41 2 0 6 0 0 4 0 53
2020 51 3 1 13 0 0 5 0 73
2021 556 212 18 534 2 1 56 0 1379
2022 130 53 4 133 0 0 9 0 329
2023 82 21 1 55 0 0 9 0 168

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Highlands Virtual School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2018 67 n/a n/a 46.3
2019 53 0.0 n/a 52.8
2020 73 0.0 n/a 5.5
2021 1379 0.0 n/a 58.4
2022 329 1.0 329.0 50.8
2023 168 0.0 n/a 50

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Highlands Virtual School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2018 67 n/a n/a 46.3
2019 53 0.0 n/a 52.8
2020 73 0.0 n/a 5.5
2021 1379 0.0 n/a 58.4
2022 329 1.0 329.0 50.8
2023 168 0.0 n/a 50

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Highlands Virtual School

Help

YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2018 $1,190 (27.5%) $3,134 (72.5%) $4,324
2019 $1,495 (41.8%) $2,082 (58.2%) $3,577
2020 $1,445 (46.1%) $1,688 (53.9%) $3,134
2021 $2,498 (40.2%) $3,718 (59.8%) $6,215
2022 $7,218 (53.5%) $6,270 (46.5%) $13,489
2023 $3,845 (37.1%) $6,518 (62.9%) $10,362

Data source: Florida Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Highlands Virtual School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
Ranks 457th of 734 High schoolsRanks 430th of 792 High schools
 8%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 % proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
10th Grade English Language Arts (Highlands Virtual School)4046
 6%
   10th Grade English Language Arts (Highlands)4340
 3%
   10th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)5349
 4%
End of Course Biology 1 (Highlands Virtual School)4058
 18%
   End of Course Biology 1 (Highlands)5457
 3%
   End of Course Biology 1 (Florida)6763
 4%
End of Course US History (Highlands Virtual School)5844
 14%
   End of Course US History (Highlands)6347
 16%
   End of Course US History (Florida)7063
 7%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
Total Students53168
 217%
African American221
 950%
American Indian00
Asian01
Hispanic655
 816.7%
Pacific Islander00
White4182
 100%
Two or More Races49
 125%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients52.8%50%
 2.8%

Schools Near Highlands Virtual School








Frequently Asked Questions about Highlands Virtual School

Students at Highlands Virtual School are 49% White, 33% Hispanic, 13% African American, 5% Two or more races.

In the 2022-23 school year, 168 students attended Highlands Virtual School.

Highlands Virtual School ranks 384th of 807 Florida alternative schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Florida Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.




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