Commonwealth Charter Academy is a large, public, cyber charter school. The school serves all school-aged children in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania regardless of where the child lives. The Academy's headquarters is located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Serving 29,320 students in grades Kindergarten-12, Commonwealth Charter Academy Charter School ranks in the bottom 50% of all schools in Pennsylvania for overall test scores (math proficiency is bottom 50%, and reading proficiency is bottom 50%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 17% (which is lower than the Pennsylvania state average of 38%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 53% (which is lower than the Pennsylvania state average of 55%).
The student-teacher ratio of 16:1 is higher than the Pennsylvania state level of 13:1.
Minority enrollment is 42% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is higher than the Pennsylvania state average of 40% (majority Hispanic and Black).
Quick Facts (2026)
- School Type: Online School/Charter School
- Grades: Kindergarten-12
- Enrollment: 29,320 students
- State Accredited: No
- Live Instruction: No
- Rolling Enrollment: No
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:1
- Minority Enrollment: 42%
- Graduation Rate: 64% (Btm 50% in PA)
- Overall Testing Rank: Bottom 50%
- Math Proficiency: 17% (Btm 50%)
- Reading Proficiency: 53% (Btm 50%)
- Science Proficiency: 45% (Btm 50%)
- Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), PA Dept. of Education
Top Rankings
Commonwealth Charter Academy Charter School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Pennsylvania for:
Category
Attribute
Diversity
School Overview
Commonwealth Charter Academy Charter School's student population of 29,320 students has grown by 78% over five school years.
The teacher population of 1,809 teachers has grown by 244% over five school years.
School Type
Grades Offered
Grades Kindergarten-12
(Exclusively virtual)
(Exclusively virtual)
Total Students
29,320 students
Total Classroom Teachers
1,809 teachers
Year Founded
2003
State Accredited Program
No
Personalized Content
No
Live Instruction
No
Rolling Enrollment
No
Flexible Class Schedule
No
Accelerated Offerings
No
Classes for Credit/Part Time Options
No
Dedicated College Counselor
No
Tutoring/Mentoring
No
Community Clubs/Activities Offered
No
School Calendar
School Motto
Our mission is to deliver a personalized learning experience that engages the entire family and prepares learners to succeed in school and in life.
Average Class Size
15 students
School Rankings
Commonwealth Charter Academy Charter School ranks within the bottom 50% of all 2,733 schools in Pennsylvania (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).
The diversity score of Commonwealth Charter Academy Charter School is 0.61, which is more than the diversity score at state average of 0.60. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Overall Testing Rank
#1988 out of 2733 schools
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
17%
38%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
53%
55%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
45%
57%
Student-Teacher Ratio
16:1
13:1
American Indian
n/a
n/a
Asian
1%
5%
Hispanic
18%
16%
Black
15%
14%
White
58%
60%
Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
Two or more races
8%
5%
All Ethnic Groups
Graduation Rate
64%
87%
Eligible for Free Lunch
44%
59%
Eligible for Reduced Lunch
3%
2%
School Statewide Testing
School District Name
Commonwealth Charter Academy Charter School District
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), PA Dept. of Education
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Commonwealth Charter Academy Charter School's ranking?
Commonwealth Charter Academy Charter School is ranked #1988 out of 2,733 schools, which ranks it among the bottom 50% of public schools in Pennsylvania.
What schools are Commonwealth Charter Academy Charter School often compared to?
Commonwealth Charter Academy Charter Schoolis often viewed alongside schools like Pennsylvania Leadership Charter School by visitors of our site.
What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?
17% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 38% PA state average), while 53% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 55% PA state average).
What is the graduation rate of Commonwealth Charter Academy Charter School?
The graduation rate of Commonwealth Charter Academy Charter School is 64%, which is lower than the Pennsylvania state average of 87%.
How many students attend Commonwealth Charter Academy Charter School?
29,320 students attend Commonwealth Charter Academy Charter School.
What is the racial composition of the student body?
58% of Commonwealth Charter Academy Charter School students are White, 18% of students are Hispanic, 15% of students are Black, 8% of students are Two or more races, and 1% of students are Asian.
What is the student-teacher ratio of Commonwealth Charter Academy Charter School?
Commonwealth Charter Academy Charter School has a student ration of 16:1, which is higher than the Pennsylvania state average of 13:1.
What grades does Commonwealth Charter Academy Charter School offer ?
Commonwealth Charter Academy Charter School offers enrollment in grades Kindergarten-12 (Exclusively virtual).
What school district is Commonwealth Charter Academy Charter School part of?
Commonwealth Charter Academy Charter School is part of Commonwealth Charter Academy Charter School District.
School Reviews
5 10/10/2025
I have used CA for my DD (now 7), since K. We are now half way through 2nd grade, and I am very satisfied with it. I chose CA due to my ex wanting DD to go to a public school and me wanting to home school. CA is the perfect mix of the two, and I will highly recommend it for any parent who is bound by court orders and bull-headed exes.
The curriculum is a little easy so I supplement with other activities. But DD at the age of 6 was playing chess and learning Spanish, this year we are learning French and music. The school sends us all the books and equipment needed, and our teacher is wonderful. We are in contact almost every day either by email or call.
We are required by state to have 5 hours of 'educational instruction' and the school is very flexible with what this includes. We have counted roller-skating, farmer's market trips, grocery shopping, cooking, and many other things as school.
I will say that we do not have as much freedom as traditional homeschooling. I can't switch programs if I don't like it, we can't jump ahead to what she already knows and go from there. However, I also have the freedom that comes with not going to a bricks & mortar school. We can breeze through ten lessons in an hour if she understands it already, no sitting through the whole class.
The teachers are very good at finding something that does not click with us. We didn't like their typing program, so we asked for a substitute. We got one and this one clicked! The teachers are good at letting us know what is needed for finishing out the year. They are also good at accommodating different religions and beliefs, as the lessons are taught by the parents or learning coach.
CA also offers many opportunities for field trips and clubs for the students. Socialization is not a problem.
All in all, I'm glad I found CA and will recommend it to anyone!
5 10/10/2025
I am a parent of a high school student at Commonwealth Connections Academy. This school has helped by daughter gain more confidence and independence with her school work. At her previous school district, social distractions dominated over academic skills and success. The teachers are excellent and very helpful. My daughter is earning better grades and being prepared for college. I would highly recommend Commonwealth Connections Academy!
5 10/10/2025
When my son was in 1st grade at a brick and mortar school, he had a terrifying experience that would shape the way he felt about learning. He came home with bruises after being bullied. The school did nothing. After that day, my son hated school and I worried about my son's safety. To me, that is not how a child's learning experience should go.
Two years ago, as we considered various educational opportunities, we came across Commonwealth Connections Academy while researching online public schools on the internet. We were impressed by the various clubs and activities, numerous field trips, and wide array of elective courses. Not once, have I regretted our decision to enroll with Connections Academy. They have truly been a blessing in our lives. My timid son has come out of his shell and looks forward to visiting friends during field trips. He is excelling!
The staff, from enrollment to teachers and learning support to computer technicians, is knowledgeable and friendly. When I requested testing for learning disabilities, my request was dealt with quickly and efficiently. Throughout the entire process, I knew they had my son's best interests at heart! I have also found the teachers to be accessible and quick to respond to questions. They allow my son the extra time he needs to complete assignments and have worked together with me to find ways for him to express his thoughts in ways in which he excels.
The flexible schedule is another invaluable part of the Connections Academy learning experience. It allows us to take a break when my son gets frustrated with a lesson or to switch to another subject for awhile. As someone who has pain on a daily basis from fibromyalgia, it allows me to be a part of my son's learning experience without having the stress of lesson planning and documentation for the state that would be necessary for homeschooling.
It is the professionalism, knowledge, and dedication to their students and ensuring that the students have the tools they need to learn and grow that continues to keep us with CCA. Thank you, CCA for your dedication to quality education that allows children to soar! We look forward to the years ahead as we continue to be a part of the CCA family!
1 10/10/2025
I've been with CCA for 3 years now. I am very glad we chose this option. I love knowing exactly what my kids are learning and watching them progress throughout each school year. I am blessed to have had these years with my kids. Due to living in a rural area, we have decided to send our kids to the local public school next year. The education they are recieving and the support from CCA is wonderful. It is just impossible for us to get our kids the socialization and well rounded life they need while being home all of the time. But I know CCA will be there for us if we need and am grateful to them.
2 10/10/2025
The actual school is great. They were very helpful and and I always felt like I could approach my teachers with questions. The only downfall I had as a student was the lack of socialization. I kept the friends that I already had but I never made a friend through the school. So you definitely lose an experience that I feel is unique and just part of growing up. The main reason I am writing this, however, is because of my troubles after I graduated. I am currently at a local CC and want to transfer to a 4 yr school. The problem is that a few of the schools I applied to needed a high school transcript and I could not get CCA to send one for the life of me!! I had to call CCA at least 6+ times to FINALLY get my transcripts send. Every time I called, I just got different answers and at one point I had to sign a consent form THAT THEY NEVER SENT ME! Finally I got someone knowledgeable and they told me to call my previous guidance counselor (they gave me her number) and she resolved the situation in about 5 seconds! I just gave her my info + the schools info and it was done. No consent forms, no transfers, etc. One of the colleges just accepted me and told me to not worry about the high school transcript because I was only 1 credit short for their cutoff anyway. And I just recently got told that I have all my documentation for another college, but I applied in February (it is currently May). CCA was overall a great school, but I just really needed to get out there because it is so ridiculous to me. If you are planning on enrolling your child, I definitely wouldn't discourage you because overall, they were a very helpful and hands-on school. However, I personally preferred going to a physical classroom!
Review Commonwealth Charter Academy Charter School. Reviews should be a few sentences in length. Please include any comments on:
- Quality of academic programs, teachers, and facilities
- Availability of music, art, sports and other extracurricular activities
Recent Articles
AI Report Cards: Should Schools Evaluate AI Use?
Explore whether schools should assess student AI use, the benefits, risks, and what responsible AI report cards could look like in 2026.
The Parent’s Guide to School Cell Phone Bans in 2026
Learn how school cell phone bans work in 2026, why districts are adopting them, and what parents should expect.
Parental Involvement in Public Schools: 2026 Update
Explore the latest 2026 trends, research, and strategies shaping parental involvement in public schools and student success.
