The Impacts of Virtual Charter High Schools on Secondary and Postsecondary Outcomes: Opening Up the Black Box.

This article examines the impacts of virtual charter high schools in Indiana on student outcomes including high school graduation, dropout, and college enrollment, comparing these effects to those of brick-and-mortar charter high schools. Using longitudinal administrative data and a matching cell fixed-effect design, the study finds that students who switched from traditional public schools to virtual charter high schools experienced significantly lower graduation rates, higher dropout rates, and reduced college enrollment, while brick-and-mortar charter schools showed generally null effects. Mediation analysis reveals that larger class sizes in virtual charter schools largely explain the increased dropout rates, whereas lower school-level curricular intensity—measured by course rigor and Advanced Placement (AP) course-taking—accounts for a substantial portion of the negative effects on 4-year college enrollment. The findings highlight concerns about virtual charter schooling models and suggest that policymakers consider regulating class sizes and enhancing curricular rigor to improve student outcomes.