Needs Improvement
#1014 of 1,035 schools in AR
River Valley Virtual Academy
School · VAN BUREN SCHOOL DISTRICT
60 NORTHRIDGE DRIVE, Van Buren, AR 72956
Enrollment
105
Student-Teacher
2.8:1
Score
3.3
Grades
Kindergarten – 12th
Enrollment
105
Student-Teacher
2.8:1
Score
3.3
Grades
Kindergarten – 12th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Van Buren
#11 of 11
public schools
Arkansas schools
#43 of 44
In district
#11 of 11
VAN BUREN SCHOOL DISTRICT
School environment
8.0 / 10
Very strong
About River Valley Virtual Academy
River Valley Virtual Academy is a charter school located in Van Buren, Arkansas. Serving students from kindergarten through twelfth grade, the school offers a unique learning environment with an enrollment of 105 students and a student-teacher ratio of 2.8:1. With 38 full-time equivalent teachers on staff, the school aims to provide personalized attention to each student.
River Valley Virtual Academy has a MySchoolScout rating of 3.1 out of 10 and ranks as the 1000th best school out of 1044 in Arkansas, placing it in the fourth percentile for state ranking. Academically, students perform at an average level with 45% proficient or above in ELA/Reading and 31% proficient or above in Math. The school is situated in a mid-size suburb setting within Crawford County.
While academic performance shows room for improvement, River Valley Virtual Academy focuses on student development through its virtual learning approach. The community around the school provides a supportive environment for students to thrive.
What Parents Should Know
With an enrollment of 105 students, River Valley Virtual Academy is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.
With a student-teacher ratio of 2.8:1, River Valley Virtual Academy offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.
River Valley Virtual Academy is a charter school — a publicly funded school that operates with more autonomy than traditional district schools. Charter schools often have distinct educational models or specialties. Parents should understand the school's specific mission, enrollment process, and how its approach differs from nearby district options.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
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River Valley Virtual Academy — Students at River Valley Virtual Academy score 22% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 39%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
67.6%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores AR EDFACTS (2021-22)
Based on 6 test records from AR state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
↓ DecliningAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 1.1/10.
How River Valley Virtual Academy Compares
See how River Valley Virtual Academy performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 49.5% (2019) to 17% (2022). Reading/ELA proficiency has declined from 69.5% (2019) to 27% (2022).
Location
60 NORTHRIDGE DRIVE, Van Buren, AR 72956
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering River Valley Virtual Academy may also want to explore other schools in the area. PARKVIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (rated 8.3/10, 1.8 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is UNION CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (rated 7.8/10, 5.4 miles away, in nearby Fort Smith), which scores notably higher. Additionally, CEDARVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (rated 7.7/10, 6.7 miles away, in nearby Cedarville), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Van Buren, see our Van Buren schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 6.9 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| NORTHRIDGE MIDDLE SCHOOL Van Buren | 0.1 mi | 7.6 |
| OLIVER SPRINGS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Van Buren | 0.5 mi | 7.1 |
| RENA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Van Buren | 1.0 mi | 6.5 |
| VAN BUREN FRESHMAN ACADEMY Van Buren | 1.2 mi | 6.4 |
| PARKVIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Van Buren | 1.8 mi | 8.3 |
| VAN BUREN HIGH SCHOOL Van Buren | 1.6 mi | 7.6 |
| BUTTERFIELD TRAIL MIDDLE SCHOO Van Buren | 2.6 mi | 6.8 |
| KING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Van Buren | 2.7 mi | 7.5 |
| CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Van Buren | 2.7 mi | 6.0 |
| HARRY C. MORRISON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Fort Smith | 3.7 mi | 6.6 |
| SPRADLING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Fort Smith | 4.3 mi | 6.1 |
| TRUSTY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Fort Smith | 4.9 mi | 6.8 |
| SUTTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Fort Smith | 5.1 mi | 3.0 |
| DORA KIMMONS MIDDLE SCHOOL Fort Smith | 5.4 mi | 5.6 |
| UNION CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Fort Smith | 5.4 mi | 7.8 |
| SUNNYMEDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Fort Smith | 5.9 mi | 4.7 |
| JAMES R. TATE ELEM. SCHOOL Van Buren | 5.6 mi | 5.5 |
| CEDARVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Cedarville | 6.7 mi | 7.7 |
| HOWARD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Fort Smith | 6.4 mi | 3.0 |
| CEDARVILLE HIGH SCHOOL Cedarville | 6.9 mi | 7.6 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 72956 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$60,387
Median Home Value
$177,100
Median Rent
$825/mo
Population
34,102
College Educated
19%
Homeownership
69.4%
Avg Commute
20.2 min
Poverty Rate
14.7%
Median Age
37.7
Community Profile
The community surrounding River Valley Virtual Academy has a median household income of $60,387. It is a community where 19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $177,100, with a median rent of $825/month. The area has a poverty rate of 14.7%. The average commute for residents is 20 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| THE DELTA SCHOOL Wilson, AR | 4.2 |
| FORT SMITH VIRTUAL ACADEMY Fort Smith, AR | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about River Valley Virtual Academy
What grades does River Valley Virtual Academy serve?
River Valley Virtual Academy serves students in grades Kindergarten through 12th.
How many students attend River Valley Virtual Academy?
River Valley Virtual Academy has an enrollment of approximately 105 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at River Valley Virtual Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at River Valley Virtual Academy is 2.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does River Valley Virtual Academy rank in AR?
River Valley Virtual Academy is ranked #1014 out of 1,035 schools in AR.
What is River Valley Virtual Academy's MySchoolScout rating?
River Valley Virtual Academy has a composite rating of 3.3 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at River Valley Virtual Academy?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, River Valley Virtual Academy has 31.2% math proficiency and 44.8% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is River Valley Virtual Academy a charter school?
Yes, River Valley Virtual Academy is a charter school. Charter schools are publicly funded but independently operated, often with more flexibility in curriculum and teaching methods.
Is River Valley Virtual Academy a Title I school?
No, River Valley Virtual Academy is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for River Valley Virtual Academy?
67.6% of students at River Valley Virtual Academy qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
- City Safety
- High (2,524/100K)
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Van Buren). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 12th
- Enrollment
- 105
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 2.8:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 38
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 67.6%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize Suburb
- County
- Crawford County
- Phone
- (479) 471-3165
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
VAN BUREN SCHOOL DISTRICT- District Enrollment
- 5,809
- Schools in District
- 11
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $11,315
- District Rank
- #11 of 11
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
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