South Texas Independent School District (Isd) Virtual Academy is a high-performing public virtual secondary school serving grades 6-11 in Mercedes, Texas, part of the highly-ranked South Texas Independent School District.
The school stands out for its strong academic performance, particularly in reading, where students often outperform state and district averages on STAAR/STAAR EOC assessments. For example, in 2023-2024, the school had 90.91% proficiency in STAAR EOC/English I Reading and 90.48% proficiency in STAAR EOC/English II Reading, compared to state averages of 53.77% and 59.82%, respectively. The school's diverse student population, with 40% White, 56.19% Hispanic, and 2.38% Asian students, is unique compared to nearby schools like Edinburg Collegiate High School (94.66% Hispanic) and Idea Owassa College Preparatory (95.46% Hispanic). Additionally, the school has a relatively low percentage of free/reduced lunch recipients at 41.43%, compared to higher rates at nearby schools.
The school's strong academic performance in a virtual setting, diverse student population, and lower free/reduced lunch rates suggest it is effectively supporting student learning and serving a more economically advantaged population compared to nearby schools. This may present challenges for neighboring districts, as Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District, Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District, and others work to match the school's impressive results, particularly in reading.
South Texas Independent School District (Isd)
Students at South Texas Independent School District (Isd) Virtual Academy are 56% Hispanic, 40% White, 2% Asian.
In the 2022-23 school year, 210 students attended South Texas Independent School District (Isd) Virtual Academy.