1
What tradition at Rural Virtual Academy should never be changed?
Community prompt from u/allk12. Replies below.
Enrollment
2,259
Combined
DISTRICT 856 · STATE 272
SCHOOL COMMUNITY·MEDFORD AREA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT·NCES 550894002598
Rural Virtual Academy
624 College St, Medford, WI 54451 · (715) 748-2400 · Taylor County
GRADES PK–12COMBINED41-RURALCHARTERVIRTUALREGULAR SCHOOL2,259 STUDENTS
·
allk12 Grade
Not graded
Virtual schools are not graded, because they enroll students from across the state rather than a local area. How grades work
Student : Teacher
26.7:1
85 FTE teachers
DISTRICT 15.1:1 · STATE 25.6:1
Free / Reduced Lunch
31%
699 students
DISTRICT 40% · STATE 42%
Community
1
0 members
Enrollment and student:teacher ratio compared against other combined schools. Free/Reduced Lunch and demographics compared against all schools.
Enrollment by grade, 2024-25
| Grade | Students | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-K | 43 | 2% |
| Kindergarten | 84 | 4% |
| Grade 1 | 101 | 4% |
| Grade 2 | 107 | 5% |
| Grade 3 | 119 | 5% |
| Grade 4 | 116 | 5% |
| Grade 5 | 156 | 7% |
| Grade 6 | 170 | 8% |
| Grade 7 | 196 | 9% |
| Grade 8 | 242 | 11% |
| Grade 9 | 201 | 9% |
| Grade 10 | 238 | 11% |
| Grade 11 | 266 | 12% |
| Grade 12 | 220 | 10% |
This year's kindergarten class (84) is 65% smaller than its 8th grade class (242).
Student demographics
27%Diversity index
The chance that two students picked at random belong to different racial or ethnic groups.
DISTRICT 23% · STATE 54% · US 70%
Student head counts by race/ethnicity from federal NCES enrollment data. District, state, and US figures are each group's share of all public school students in that area (US excludes territories). Very small groups may be suppressed in the source, so categories do not always sum exactly to total enrollment.
Gender split
4-year change
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25Enrollment
2,259
+815 (+56%) vs 2020
+7968% since 2010-11, when it was 28
Student : Teacher
26.7:1
was 31.4:1
Source: NCES Common Core of Data
Enrollment and staffing by year
| School year | Students | Teachers (FTE) | Students per teacher | Free and reduced lunch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 2,259 | 84.5 | 26.7:1 | 31% (699) |
| 2023-24 | 2,125 | 81 | 26.2:1 | 35% (740) |
| 2022-23 | 1,850 | 78.5 | 23.6:1 | 37% (687) |
| 2020-21 | 1,444 | 46 | 31.4:1 | 42% (609) |
| 2017-18 | 540 | 18.3 | 29.5:1 | 26% (138) |
| 2015-16 | 254 | 8 | 31.8:1 | 24% (62) |
| 2010-11 | 28 | N/A | N/A | 14% (4) |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data. Rows are the federal collections on file for Rural Virtual Academy.
Since 2017-18: students up 318% (540 to 2,259); teachers up 362% (18.3 to 84.5).
About Rural Virtual Academy
The public combined-grade school Rural Virtual Academy is located in Medford, Wisconsin. It covers pre-K through 12, with a total enrollment of 2,259 students. Statewide, combined schools in Wisconsin average about 272 students each.
The district, Medford Area Public School District, has 4,282 students enrolled across 5 schools.
At Rural Virtual Academy, White students make up 85% of the student body. Other students are 7% Hispanic and 5% multiracial. By comparison, Taylor County residents are about 94% White. The chance that two students picked at random at Rural Virtual Academy belong to different racial or ethnic groups, known as the diversity index, is 27%.
Federal staffing data show 84.5 full-time-equivalent teachers at Rural Virtual Academy and a ratio of 26.7:1. The average ratio among combined schools in Wisconsin is 25.6:1, lower than at this school. The count of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch equals 31% of enrollment.
Census estimates describe Taylor County this way: median household income is about $69,350, about 17% of adults have at least a bachelor's degree, and roughly 6% of residents are in poverty. Federal data list 11 public schools in Taylor County, with a combined enrollment of about 5,123.
The nearest public school is Medford Middle, at about 0.7 miles. There are 4 other public schools within five miles.
The NCES locale for Rural Virtual Academy is Rural: Fringe, which covers schools in rural territory close to an urban area. Rural Virtual Academy is a public charter school. Federal records classify Rural Virtual Academy as a virtual school.
Rural Virtual Academy reported 1,444 students in 2020-21 and 2,259 in 2024-25. Changes that large sometimes follow a school adding or dropping grades, so the two figures may not cover the same grades. Over the same period, the student-to-teacher ratio fell to 26.7:1, from 31.4:1.
To ask about school safety, transportation, and start times, start a discussion on this page. Posting is open to anyone connected to the school.
Taylor County at a glance
View full county profilePopulation
20,024
Census ACS
Median income
$69,350
Household, ACS
Bachelor's+
17%
Adults 25+
Poverty rate
6%
Below federal line
Schools in county
11
5,123 students
Quick facts
Related schools
Other schools in Medford Area Public School District
- Medford HighHigh · 667 students
- Medford ElementaryElementary · 587 students
- Medford MiddleMiddle · 566 students
- Stetsonville ElementaryElementary · 203 students
Other schools in Medford
- Medford HighHigh · 667 students
- Medford ElementaryElementary · 587 students
- Medford MiddleMiddle · 566 students
Nearby schools
- Medford Middle0.7 mi · 566
- Medford High1.7 mi · 667
- Medford Elementary1.8 mi · 587
- Stetsonville Elementary3.6 mi · 203
- Abbotsford Elementary12.4 mi · 374
- Abbotsford Middle/Senior High12.4 mi · 414
Frequently asked questions
About Rural Virtual AcademyHow large is Rural Virtual Academy?
Rural Virtual Academy enrolls approximately 2,259 students in grades PK-12.
Is Rural Virtual Academy an elementary, middle, or high school?
Rural Virtual Academy is a combined-grade school covering grades PK-12.
How many teachers does Rural Virtual Academy have?
Rural Virtual Academy employs 85 FTE teachers, for a student-to-teacher ratio of 26.7:1.
How diverse is Rural Virtual Academy?
Rural Virtual Academy reports a student body of 85% White, 7% Hispanic, 1% Black, 1% Asian, 5% Two or more.
What district is Rural Virtual Academy in?
Rural Virtual Academy is part of Medford Area Public School District.
Data sourceSchool profile facts are sourced from the NCES. Community content is posted by allk12 members.