Bethel Virtual Academy is an alternative public virtual school serving grades K-12 in the Bethel School District in Spanaway, Washington, with a diverse student population. The school has seen significant improvements in its graduation and dropout rates, but still faces challenges in academic performance, particularly in English Language Arts.
Bethel Virtual Academy's four-year graduation rate has increased from 67.3% in 2020-2021 to 87.1% in 2022-2023, surpassing the Bethel School District's average of 61.13%. The school has also reduced its dropout rate from 26.9% to 11.5%, though this is still higher than the district's average. However, Bethel Virtual Academy's test scores, especially in English Language Arts, are lower than the Bethel School District and the state of Washington averages. The school serves a high percentage of students from low-income backgrounds, with 63.73% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, significantly higher than the district's average of 49.89%.
Compared to nearby alternative schools, such as Muckleshoot Tribal School and Puyallup Online Academy/POA, Bethel Virtual Academy's performance is generally lower, with these schools having higher graduation rates, lower dropout rates, and better test scores in both English Language Arts and math. However, Bethel Virtual Academy's student population is more racially diverse than these nearby schools, which could be a strength but may also present challenges in meeting the unique needs of different student populations.
Bethel School District
In the 2022-23 school year, 499 students attended Bethel Virtual Academy.
Bethel Virtual Academy ranks in the bottom 16.8% of Washington alternative schools.
Students at Bethel Virtual Academy are 45% White, 19% Hispanic, 17% Two or more races, 8% African American, 7% Pacific Islander, 2% Asian.