The top reported proficiency rate is 0% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Level up Academy Virtual Middle
Level Up Academy Virtual Middle is a public charter school serving grades six through eight, operating fully online out of White Bear Lake, Minnesota. It is part of the Level Up Academy district, which appears to be a single-school charter network, though the data on recent district-level changes was not available. The school’s enrollment is very small, with roughly a couple dozen students across all three middle grades combined. That size, paired with the virtual format, makes it a distinctly different environment from the brick-and-mortar middle schools that serve the White Bear Lake area.
The student body is diverse in a way that reflects the virtual model’s reach. Roughly a third of students are White, a third are two or more races, and the remainder is a mix of Black, Asian, and Hispanic students, with no Native American or Pacific Islander students represented. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a rate that is higher than the state average for middle schools. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not reported in the material available, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those supports.
On state testing, Level Up Academy Virtual Middle recorded a proficiency rate of zero percent in both math and reading for the 2024-25 school year. That is the single year of data available, so there is no trend to compare. Among middle schools in Ramsey County, the school’s overall proficiency index fell in the bottom quartile relative to the other districts in the county. For a family evaluating academic outcomes, these are clearly weak results. Because the school is virtual and very small, the reasons for those scores could be many, and a parent would want to discuss with school leadership how instruction, assessment participation, and student readiness are being addressed.
White Bear Lake itself is a lakeside suburban city about a short drive north of downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul. It retains a small-town feel, with a walkable downtown core along Highway 61 that hosts restaurants, shops, and a weekly summer festival called Marketfest. The lake is central to local life, supporting seasonal recreation like sailing, fishing, and ice skating. Outside the downtown strip, the city is auto-oriented, with major highways including US 61, I-35E, and I-694 routing through. Major employers include Smarte Carte, International Paper, and Magnepan, and the local economy is otherwise driven by retail and services. The population has seen a modest decline in recent years, and the city is essentially built out. A long-running issue is the lake’s water level, which hit a record low several years ago and has prompted regional discussions about groundwater use.
Level Up Academy Virtual Middle is a specific choice for families who need or want an online, fully remote middle school experience. The peer group is small, which could mean more individualized attention in theory, but the academic performance data as reported is concerning. A parent considering this school would likely want to ask about curriculum delivery, teacher-student interaction, how the school supports students who are behind, and what the daily schedule and expectations look like. The school’s virtual format also means that the local amenities of White Bear Lake, its downtown, lakefront, and community life, are relevant only insofar as the student lives nearby; the school itself does not have a physical campus that a student would attend daily.
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