The top reported proficiency rate is 0% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Crosslake Community K-5 Online
Crosslake Community K-5 Online is a small charter elementary school serving kindergarten through fifth grade. Its name and structure signal a fully virtual learning model, which means students attend from home rather than a physical classroom. The school is part of the Crosslake Community Charter School district, a single-school district that operates this online program.
The school is very small. Its enrollment, in qualitative terms, is tiny for an elementary grade band, with students spread across the six grades from kindergarten through fifth grade. This scale shapes nearly every aspect of the experience: small cohort sizes in each grade, the potential for close teacher-student relationships, and a learning environment that relies heavily on family engagement at home.
A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that this virtual school serves a population with significant economic need. The student body is predominantly white, with small numbers of Black and Hispanic students and a very small number of students identifying with two or more races. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available, so a parent may want to ask the school directly how it supports those groups in a virtual setting.
State assessment results are a critical area for this school. In the most recent testing year for grades three through five, the school reported a zero percent proficiency rate in both math and reading across all tested grades. These results, which were published as zero rather than suppressed due to small numbers, place the school in the bottom quartile for overall proficiency when compared with other districts in Crow Wing County. The science results for fifth grade were suppressed because the number of students tested was very small, so no reliable conclusion can be drawn there. The proficiency data raises serious questions. A parent should discuss with the school how it monitors academic progress, what curriculum it uses, and what support structures are in place for students who are struggling.
Because Crosslake Community K-5 Online serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report. That is simply a function of the grade band, not a missing metric.
The school does not have reported data on chronic absenteeism, discipline, staffing ratios, or course access. For a virtual school, attendance and engagement patterns are especially important, and a family considering this option would want to ask how the school tracks log-in time, assignment completion, and daily participation.
The community of Crosslake is a small lakeside resort and retirement town in Crow Wing County, with a strong seasonal tourist economy. Many housing units are used only part of the year. The year-round population is modest, and the area is car-dependent with a low-density layout of lakes and pines. The school’s physical address is on County Road 66, but since the instruction is online, families do not need to be in Crosslake itself to enroll, though the school is authorized by the Crosslake charter.
No noteworthy district-level changes or strategic initiatives were found in recent public reporting, so the school appears to be operating on an established model without major recent shifts.
Overall, Crosslake Community K-5 Online fits a family specifically seeking a small, fully virtual elementary option in a region where such choices are limited. The academic results are a significant concern, and a thorough conversation with school staff about instruction, pacing, intervention, and accountability would be essential before enrolling. The economic context of the student population suggests that the school serves many families who may be relying on this option out of necessity rather than preference, and the low proficiency rates make it a place a parent should investigate carefully.
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