K12 Inc. Report Highlights Achievement Gains at Louisiana Virtual Charter Academy

HERNDON, Va., April 15, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- K12 Inc., America's leading provider of K-12 online school programs, released a new report showing improved academic outcomes of Louisiana Virtual Charter Academy (LAVCA), a statewide online public charter school.  The full report can be found, here.

The report describes academic and leadership initiatives that helped LAVCA raise both its accountability rating and its academic performance levels between the 2012-13 and 2013-14 school years, as well as a comprehensive summary of the school's test data. LAVCA is a statewide online public charter school that uses K12's curriculum and academic services. The school serves 1900 students in kindergarten through high school. 

"LAVCA is a K12 partner school that made a notable jump in its academic results over a one-year period," said Dr. Margaret Jorgensen, K12's Chief Academic Officer. "Working closely with the school's teachers and administrators, we took a closer look at the data and gained insights into how the school succeeded in effectively raising student achievement."

Between the 2012-13 and 2013-14 school years, in elementary and middle school, LAVCA increased the percentage of students proficient in English Language Arts in all grades except 5^th grade (which remained unchanged), with an overall gain of seven percentage points.  In Math, the percentage of LAVCA students at or above proficiency increased in 4^th, 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th grades, with an overall increase of six percentage points.

LAVCA is closing the gap between school and state performance, and in 2013-2014, outperformed the comparable RSD-East Baton Rouge school district in four of six grade levels.

In high school, LAVCA improved in end-of-course tests in Algebra I, US History, and English III.  LAVCA outperformed the RSD-East Baton Rouge district in each end-of-course assessment by as much as 26 percentage points.  And for students in grade 8 taking Algebra I and the end of course test, 96% were at or above the proficiency cut score. Moreover, in 2013-14, LAVCA students outperformed the state in English II and English III.  

The report attributes LAVCA's academic improvements to its focus on tested standards, differentiated instruction, and an emphasis on providing comprehensive services for students, including student mentor and family support programs. LAVCA is also credited with creating a school culture that supports education leaders at every level, as well as an emphasis on promoting high expectations, student learning, and respect for every individual.

The K12 report on LAVCA is a first in a series of white papers that will highlight K12 partner schools and programs that have demonstrated improved results and raised student academic achievement, especially in comparison to the state and similar districts. K12 plans to release additional white papers, along with its 2015 Academic Report, in the coming weeks.

"K12 is committed to a high level of accountability and transparency," said Mary Gifford, Senior Vice President of Education and Policy. "We are continuously investing in innovation – piloting new instructional models, measuring the effectiveness of everything we do, and expanding what works.  We are seeing some positive incremental gains that are very encouraging. Our teachers and school leaders continue to work hard to help every student achieve."

About K12 Inc.

K12 Inc. (NYSE: LRN) is driving innovation and advancing the quality of education by delivering state-of-the-art, digital learning platforms and technology to students and school districts across the globe. With nearly a half-billion dollars invested in developing award winning curriculum, K12 serves over 2,000 schools and school districts and has delivered more than four million courses over the past decade. K12 is a company of educators with the nation's largest network of K-12 online school teachers, providing instruction, academic services, and learning solutions to public schools and districts, traditional classrooms, blended school programs, and directly to families. For more information on K12 Inc., visit www.K12.com

SOURCE K12 Inc.

Related Links

http://www.K12.com