Vanguard Academy

Q: Is Vanguard Academy a good school?

Vanguard Academy ranks 17 th of 138 Utah high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Vanguard Academy is a public charter high school located in West Valley City, Utah, serving grades 7-12 with a total enrollment of 538 students. The school consistently outperforms the state average in various standardized test scores, including RISE and Utah Aspire Plus assessments. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, 62.8% of 10th-grade students at Vanguard Academy were proficient or better in Utah Aspire Plus Mathematics, compared to the state average of 27.5%.

Despite having a high percentage of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, with 66.54% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch in the 2022-2023 school year, Vanguard Academy ranks 4th out of 93 Utah high schools for low socioeconomic status students. This suggests that the school has implemented effective strategies to support and engage its economically disadvantaged students. In comparison, nearby schools like Utah International Charter School and Taylorsville High have lower academic achievement.

One notable aspect of Vanguard Academy is its lack of racial diversity, with 98.33% of students identifying as white in the 2022-2023 school year. This is in stark contrast to the more diverse student bodies of the nearby schools. Further investigation into the school's recruitment and support strategies for students from diverse backgrounds could provide valuable insights for improving equity and inclusivity.

Detail:

Public, Charter 7-12

2650 South Decker Lake Lane
West Valley City, UT 84119

(801) 327-8724

District: Vanguard Academy

SchoolDigger Rank:
17^th of 138 Utah High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $7,134

Student/teacher ratio: 19.3

Number of students: 538

Racial breakdown:

White:

98.3%

Hispanic:

1.3%

Two or more races:

0.4%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 66.5%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Vanguard Academy ranks better than 72.9% of middle schools in Utah. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 69.56. (See more...)

Compare Details Vanguard Academy ranks better than 87.7% of high schools in Utah. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 78.99. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Vanguard Academy who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

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

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Teachers

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Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Vanguard Academy is $7,134.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Vanguard Academy:

SchoolDigger ranks Vanguard Academy 57^th of 210 Utah public middle schools. (See Vanguard Academy in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

White students:

SchoolDigger ranks Vanguard Academy 17^th of 138 Utah public high schools. (See Vanguard Academy in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

White students:

Vanguard Academy:

SchoolDigger ranks Vanguard Academy 16^th of 98 Utah school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Vanguard Academy

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Rank History for all middle school students at Vanguard Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	UT State Percentile
2019	63.26	71^st	222	68.0%
2021	66.81	58^th	213	72.8%
2022	69.58	57^th	209	72.7%
2023	68.25	61^st	216	71.8%
2024	69.56	57^th	210	72.9%

See the entire list of Utah High School Rankings!

Rank History for middle school Low Socio Economic Status students at Vanguard Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	UT State Percentile
2022	91.53	7^th	133	94.7%
2023	94.07	4^th	138	97.1%
2024	98.23	2^nd	141	98.6%

See the entire list of Best Utah High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for middle school White students at Vanguard Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	UT State Percentile
2022	53.53	84^th	191	56.0%
2023	55.47	79^th	191	58.6%
2024	53.55	82^nd	183	55.2%

See the entire list of Best Utah High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Utah State Board of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Rank History for Vanguard Academy

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Rank History for all high school students at Vanguard Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	UT State Percentile
2019	77.58	24^th	136	82.4%
2021	49.78	56^th	129	56.6%
2022	59.45	41^st	131	68.7%
2023	66.36	30^th	139	78.4%
2024	78.99	17^th	138	87.7%

See the entire list of Utah High School Rankings!

Rank History for high school Low Socio Economic Status students at Vanguard Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	UT State Percentile
2022	91.44	6^th	84	92.9%
2023	92.82	5^th	93	94.6%
2024	97.45	4^th	93	95.7%

See the entire list of Best Utah High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for high school White students at Vanguard Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	UT State Percentile
2022	48.28	61^st	123	50.4%
2023	48.27	55^th	122	54.9%
2024	62.36	35^th	123	71.5%

See the entire list of Best Utah High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Utah State Board of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Utah State Board of Education

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Enrollment information for Vanguard Academy

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Year	White	Hispanic	Two or More Races	Total
2016	300	0	0	300
2017	381	0	0	381
2018	440	0	0	440
2019	451	0	0	451
2020	462	1	0	463
2021	461	1	0	462
2022	498	7	2	507
2023	529	7	2	538

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 Vanguard Academy

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2016	300	n/a	n/a	67.3
2017	381	n/a	n/a	78.7
2018	440	n/a	n/a	80.7
2019	451	22.9	19.6	82.5
2020	463	23.3	19.8	78.4
2021	462	n/a	n/a	63.6
2022	507	23.5	21.5	65.7
2023	538	27.8	19.3	66.5

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 Vanguard Academy

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2016	300	n/a	n/a	67.3
2017	381	n/a	n/a	78.7
2018	440	n/a	n/a	80.7
2019	451	22.9	19.6	82.5
2020	463	23.3	19.8	78.4
2021	462	n/a	n/a	63.6
2022	507	23.5	21.5	65.7
2023	538	27.8	19.3	66.5

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 Vanguard Academy

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$804 (11.3%)	$6,330 (88.7%)	$7,134

Data source: Utah Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Vanguard Academy

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 71^st of 222 Middle schools	Ranks 61^st of 216 Middle schools	3.7%
Ranks 24^th of 136 High schools	Ranks 30^th of 139 High schools	3.9%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
7th Grade English Language Arts (Vanguard Academy)	50.6	35.1	15.5%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Vanguard Academy)	50.6	35.1	15.5%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Utah)	44.1	41.4	2.7%
7th Grade Mathematics (Vanguard Academy)	77.2	58.3	18.9%
7th Grade Mathematics (Vanguard Academy)	77.2	58.3	18.9%
7th Grade Mathematics (Utah)	45.2	44.9	0.3%
7th Grade Science (Vanguard Academy)	50.6	40.4	10.2%
7th Grade Science (Vanguard Academy)	50.6	40.4	10.2%
7th Grade Science (Utah)	44.5	45.5	1%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Vanguard Academy)	28.6	48.1	19.5%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Vanguard Academy)	28.6	48.1	19.5%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Utah)	43.3	41.8	1.5%
8th Grade Mathematics (Vanguard Academy)	77.4	69.2	8.2%
8th Grade Mathematics (Vanguard Academy)	77.4	69.2	8.2%
8th Grade Mathematics (Utah)	42.7	38.2	4.5%
8th Grade Science (Vanguard Academy)	37.8	63.9	26.1%
8th Grade Science (Vanguard Academy)	37.8	63.9	26.1%
8th Grade Science (Utah)	49.2	48.5	0.7%
9th Grade English Language Arts (Vanguard Academy)	58.9	30.7	28.2%
9th Grade English Language Arts (Vanguard Academy)	58.9	30.7	28.2%
9th Grade English Language Arts (Utah)	48.2	40.9	7.3%
9th Grade Mathematics (Vanguard Academy)	63.7	61.6	2.1%
9th Grade Mathematics (Vanguard Academy)	63.7	61.6	2.1%
9th Grade Mathematics (Utah)	43.6	32.8	10.8%
9th Grade Science (Vanguard Academy)	36.3	33.4	2.9%
9th Grade Science (Vanguard Academy)	36.3	33.4	2.9%
9th Grade Science (Utah)	36.2	38.1	1.9%
10th Grade English Language Arts (Vanguard Academy)	57.6	46.8	10.8%
10th Grade English Language Arts (Vanguard Academy)	57.6	46.8	10.8%
10th Grade English Language Arts (Utah)	49.5	45.3	4.2%
10th Grade Mathematics (Vanguard Academy)	76.5	53.9	22.6%
10th Grade Mathematics (Vanguard Academy)	76.5	53.9	22.6%
10th Grade Mathematics (Utah)	36.3	27.7	8.6%
10th Grade Science (Vanguard Academy)	40.9	32.9	8%
10th Grade Science (Vanguard Academy)	40.9	32.9	8%
10th Grade Science (Utah)	33	32.2	0.8%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	451	538	19.3%
African American	0	0
American Indian	0	0
Asian	0	0
Hispanic	0	7
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	451	529	17.3%
Two or More Races	0	2
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	82.5%	66.5%	15.9%

Schools Near Vanguard Academy

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				Utah Aspire Plus English Language Arts (2024)		Utah Aspire Plus Mathematics (2024)		Utah Aspire Plus Science (2024)		RISE English Language Arts (2024)		RISE Mathematics (2024)		RISE Science (2024)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	Utah Aspire Plus English Language Arts 9th Grade	Utah Aspire Plus English Language Arts 10th Grade	Utah Aspire Plus Mathematics 9th Grade	Utah Aspire Plus Mathematics 10th Grade	Utah Aspire Plus Science 9th Grade	Utah Aspire Plus Science 10th Grade	RISE English Language Arts 7th Grade	RISE English Language Arts 8th Grade	RISE Mathematics 7th Grade	RISE Mathematics 8th Grade	RISE Science 7th Grade	RISE Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Vanguard Academy	Public, Charter	7-12	2650 South Decker Lake Lane	West Valley City	84119	Salt Lake County	Vanguard Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(801) 327-8724	538	28	19.3	66.5%	529 (98.3%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	79	17^th of 138 public high schools	87.7%		66.4	30^th of 139 public high schools	78.4%	13	48.1		53.9	62.8	48.7	39.3	42.1	51.8	60.4	60.8	46.8	51.8	$7,134	$804	$6,330
Roots Charter High School	Public, Charter	9-12	2250 South 1300 West	West Valley City	84119	Salt Lake County	Roots Charter High School	Yes	No	No	Yes	(801) 573-8719	211	13	16.1	61.6%	110 (52.1%)	4 (1.9%)	83 (39.3%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.4%)	6 (2.8%)	5 (2.4%)								(n/a)													$9,972	$507	$9,465
East Hollywood High	Public, Magnet, Charter	9-12	2185 S 3600 W	West Valley City	84119	Salt Lake County	East Hollywood High	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	(801) 886-8181	283	17	16.6	48.1%	165 (58.3%)	7 (2.5%)	73 (25.8%)	2 (0.7%)	6 (2.1%)	17 (6.0%)	12 (4.2%)	1.4	138^th of 138 public high schools	0.0%		4.1	136^th of 139 public high schools	2.2%	2		15.4				6.4							$9,356	$712	$8,644
Granger High	Public	8-12	3690 S 3600 W	West Valley City	84119	Salt Lake County	Granite District	No	No	No	Yes	(385) 646-5320	3,481	135	25.8	62.7%	644 (18.5%)	133 (3.8%)	2,239 (64.3%)	146 (4.2%)	37 (1.1%)	245 (7.0%)	37 (1.1%)	3.3	136^th of 138 public high schools	1.4%		4.5	135^th of 139 public high schools	2.9%	1	15.1	19.1	9.1	5.8	16.2	10.4							$9,243	$1,087	$8,155
Granite Technical Institute	Public	7-12	2500 S State	Salt Lake City	84115	Salt Lake County	Granite District	No	No	No	No	(385) 646-4350	126	37	3.3	2.4%	67 (53.2%)	5 (4.0%)	45 (35.7%)	5 (4.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (3.2%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)					38.3								$45,780	$449	$45,331
Innovations High School	Public	9-12	1700 South State Street	Salt Lake City	84115	Salt Lake County	Salt Lake District	No	No	No	No	(801) 481-4946	293	10	30.8	41.6%	108 (36.9%)	13 (4.4%)	147 (50.2%)	7 (2.4%)	3 (1.0%)	6 (2.0%)	9 (3.1%)	8.6	128^th of 138 public high schools	7.2%					(n/a)		23.4		10.4		17.7							$6,896	$971	$5,925
Salt Lake Technology Center	Public	9-12	1560 S 200 E	Salt Lake City	84115	Salt Lake County	Salt Lake District	No	No	No	No	(801) 481-4946	0	11	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Horizonte Instruction & Training Center	Public	7-12	1234 S Main	Salt Lake City	84101	Salt Lake County	Salt Lake District	No	No	No	No	(801) 578-8574	323	38	8.5	71.8%	55 (17.0%)	20 (6.2%)	196 (60.7%)	2 (0.6%)	2 (0.6%)	39 (12.1%)	9 (2.8%)								(n/a)													$12,027	$931	$11,096
Utah International Charter School	Public, Charter	6-12	350 E Baird Circle (3605 South	Salt Lake City	84115	Salt Lake County	Utah International Charter School	Yes	No	No	Yes	(385) 290-1306	236	19	12.4	1.7%	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)				0.0									$9,469	$1,355	$8,114
Taylorsville High	Public	9-12	5225 S Redwood Road	Taylorsville	84123	Salt Lake County	Granite District	No	No	No	No	(385) 646-5455	2,770	107	25.9	42.3%	1,281 (46.2%)	79 (2.9%)	1,100 (39.7%)	119 (4.3%)	28 (1.0%)	103 (3.7%)	60 (2.2%)	15.8	121^st of 138 public high schools	12.3%		15.1	120^th of 139 public high schools	13.7%	1	27.4	28.1	24.8	15.2	28.5	19.4							$9,777	$649	$9,128

Frequently Asked Questions about Vanguard Academy

How many students attend Vanguard Academy?

In the 2022-23 school year, 538 students attended Vanguard Academy.

What is the racial makeup of Vanguard Academy?

Students at Vanguard Academy are 98% White, 1% Hispanic.

What district is Vanguard Academy in?

Vanguard Academy

Is Vanguard Academy a good school?

Vanguard Academy ranks 17^th of 138 Utah high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 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 Utah State Board 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.