Located 30 miles north of Dayton, Ohio, Arcanum Virtual Academy (AVA) is a
virtual education program that serves 65 students in grades 6–12 who want to
learn in an alternative educational setting. The school uses Imagine Edgenuity’s
online courses for its core curriculum and students receive targeted, one-on-
one support from Imagine Edgenuity’s online teachers. Principal Jim Gray says,
“Students learn in different ways and I wanted to create a school where students
could interact with rigorous content in different ways. Imagine Edgenuity® not
only allows students to master challenging curricula, but the company also builds
really positive and powerful relationships between teachers and students.”
AVA looks and feels nothing like a typical middle or high school. Instead of
traditional classrooms, students learn in a large room that resembles a cybercafé,
with comfortable chairs, high-top tables, Chromebooks, and power outlets. When
students arrive between 8 and 9 a.m., they work at their own pace on Imagine Edgenuity courses. “Students are empowered
to take control over their own learning. If they need more time, they can get it. If they are mastering a topic quickly, they
can go faster,” Gray notes. As students progress through their courses, they receive e-mails and phone calls from Imagine
Edgenuity’s virtual instructors, who answer content-related
questions and motivate students. After each hour of work,
students take a 15-minute exercise break to rejuvenate and
restore their energy. The academic day ends at 2:30 p.m.,
after which students can stay at school to participate in
extracurricular activities or social events.
Recent state test results indicate that the school’s
innovative design is working. Data show that the majority
of AVA middle and high school students achieved
proficiency on the 2019 Ohio State Tests in English
language arts (74 percent), mathematics (61 percent),
science (74 percent), and social studies (81 percent). In
addition, 100 percent of students passed the Ohio State
Tests in 6th Grade English, 10th Grade English, 6th Grade
Math, 7th Grade Math, and American History.
Research Brief | Students Demonstrate Strong Performance on Ohio State Test
Arcanum Virtual Academy, OH
Arcanum Virtual Academy Instructional
Service Students Demonstrate Strong
Performance on 2019 Ohio State Test
ARCANUM VIRTUAL ACADEMY
Demographics Percent
White 94%
Asian 1%
Two or more races 3%
Pacific Islander <1%
Hispanic 1%
Black <1%
AVA Middle and High School Students
Percentage of Students Achieving Proficiency on the 2019
Ohio State Test
ELA
(N=27)
Science
(N=19)
Mathematics
(N=23)
Social Studies
(N=16)
% of Students 75%
100%
0%
25%
50%
74% 74%
81%
61%
“Edgenuity not only allows students to master challenging curricula, but the company also builds really positive and
powerful relationships between teachers and students.”
- JIM GRAY, PRINCIPAL | ARCANUM VIRTUAL ACADEMY
virtual education program that serves 65 students in grades 6–12 who want to
learn in an alternative educational setting. The school uses Imagine Edgenuity’s
online courses for its core curriculum and students receive targeted, one-on-
one support from Imagine Edgenuity’s online teachers. Principal Jim Gray says,
“Students learn in different ways and I wanted to create a school where students
could interact with rigorous content in different ways. Imagine Edgenuity® not
only allows students to master challenging curricula, but the company also builds
really positive and powerful relationships between teachers and students.”
AVA looks and feels nothing like a typical middle or high school. Instead of
traditional classrooms, students learn in a large room that resembles a cybercafé,
with comfortable chairs, high-top tables, Chromebooks, and power outlets. When
students arrive between 8 and 9 a.m., they work at their own pace on Imagine Edgenuity courses. “Students are empowered
to take control over their own learning. If they need more time, they can get it. If they are mastering a topic quickly, they
can go faster,” Gray notes. As students progress through their courses, they receive e-mails and phone calls from Imagine
Edgenuity’s virtual instructors, who answer content-related
questions and motivate students. After each hour of work,
students take a 15-minute exercise break to rejuvenate and
restore their energy. The academic day ends at 2:30 p.m.,
after which students can stay at school to participate in
extracurricular activities or social events.
Recent state test results indicate that the school’s
innovative design is working. Data show that the majority
of AVA middle and high school students achieved
proficiency on the 2019 Ohio State Tests in English
language arts (74 percent), mathematics (61 percent),
science (74 percent), and social studies (81 percent). In
addition, 100 percent of students passed the Ohio State
Tests in 6th Grade English, 10th Grade English, 6th Grade
Math, 7th Grade Math, and American History.
Research Brief | Students Demonstrate Strong Performance on Ohio State Test
Arcanum Virtual Academy, OH
Arcanum Virtual Academy Instructional
Service Students Demonstrate Strong
Performance on 2019 Ohio State Test
ARCANUM VIRTUAL ACADEMY
Demographics Percent
White 94%
Asian 1%
Two or more races 3%
Pacific Islander <1%
Hispanic 1%
Black <1%
AVA Middle and High School Students
Percentage of Students Achieving Proficiency on the 2019
Ohio State Test
ELA
(N=27)
Science
(N=19)
Mathematics
(N=23)
Social Studies
(N=16)
% of Students 75%
100%
0%
25%
50%
74% 74%
81%
61%
“Edgenuity not only allows students to master challenging curricula, but the company also builds really positive and
powerful relationships between teachers and students.”
- JIM GRAY, PRINCIPAL | ARCANUM VIRTUAL ACADEMY
imaginelearning.com/instructional-services
877-725-4257 • solutions@imaginelearning.com
Gray attributes students’ academic success to the school’s high degree of personalization. Before enrolling in the program,
Gray meets with students and their families to determine whether the prospective student will be a good fit for the program.
During the meeting, Gray reviews state testing requirements and school rules, and tailors students’ academic targets
based on skill, needs, and interests. Depending on a student’s unique goals, course options might change. For example,
some students might have pretesting enabled, where they take a quiz before each lesson. If they pass with greater than
70 percent, they can skip the material they have already mastered and focus on the content where they need additional
instruction. These features enable students to work only on content in which they need additional instruction and practice.
In partnership with the Instructional Services team, the school also closely monitors student learning. Students are expected
to complete at least 7 percent of overall activities each day in their online courses. AVA relies on Imagine Edgenuity
Instructional Services teachers to use data from Imagine Edgenuity’s Learning Management System to track how efficiently
students are working in the program. Students are required to describe how they are meeting daily or weekly progress goals.
To engage students, teachers regularly host pacing contests, where educators track how far ahead of pace students can
get in all their courses. Students who master content and stay ahead of pace receive rewards. If a student falls behind, Gray
meets with them and their parents in person to resolve the issue.
The relationship the student has with the virtual instructor is critical to keeping students motivated and on track. Imagine
Edgenuity Instructional Services teachers closely observe student performance trends. When students struggle, Imagine
Edgenuity instructors reset assignments, offer additional online tutoring sessions, and follow up with phone calls and video
chats. They provide demonstrations and simulations and teach students multiple approaches to solving problems or tasks.
Students are asked to document how they used new learning strategies that were taught to them. “Edgenuity instructors are
critical to motivating and engaging students. They keep clear, open lines of communication with students. This establishes
trust and accelerates learning,” says Gray.
The program has been so popular that in summer 2019, there was already a wait list for the 2020–2021 school year.
1578834797 2502
877-725-4257 • solutions@imaginelearning.com
Gray attributes students’ academic success to the school’s high degree of personalization. Before enrolling in the program,
Gray meets with students and their families to determine whether the prospective student will be a good fit for the program.
During the meeting, Gray reviews state testing requirements and school rules, and tailors students’ academic targets
based on skill, needs, and interests. Depending on a student’s unique goals, course options might change. For example,
some students might have pretesting enabled, where they take a quiz before each lesson. If they pass with greater than
70 percent, they can skip the material they have already mastered and focus on the content where they need additional
instruction. These features enable students to work only on content in which they need additional instruction and practice.
In partnership with the Instructional Services team, the school also closely monitors student learning. Students are expected
to complete at least 7 percent of overall activities each day in their online courses. AVA relies on Imagine Edgenuity
Instructional Services teachers to use data from Imagine Edgenuity’s Learning Management System to track how efficiently
students are working in the program. Students are required to describe how they are meeting daily or weekly progress goals.
To engage students, teachers regularly host pacing contests, where educators track how far ahead of pace students can
get in all their courses. Students who master content and stay ahead of pace receive rewards. If a student falls behind, Gray
meets with them and their parents in person to resolve the issue.
The relationship the student has with the virtual instructor is critical to keeping students motivated and on track. Imagine
Edgenuity Instructional Services teachers closely observe student performance trends. When students struggle, Imagine
Edgenuity instructors reset assignments, offer additional online tutoring sessions, and follow up with phone calls and video
chats. They provide demonstrations and simulations and teach students multiple approaches to solving problems or tasks.
Students are asked to document how they used new learning strategies that were taught to them. “Edgenuity instructors are
critical to motivating and engaging students. They keep clear, open lines of communication with students. This establishes
trust and accelerates learning,” says Gray.
The program has been so popular that in summer 2019, there was already a wait list for the 2020–2021 school year.
1578834797 2502