The top reported proficiency rate is 56% in English language arts. The lowest is 0% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Minnesota Virtual Academy Elementar
Minnesota Virtual Academy Elementary is the online, public elementary program of the Houston Public School District, serving kindergarten through fifth grade. It is a regular public school, not a charter, and is administered by the district from its central office located in the small bluff-country town of Houston, Minnesota. Parents considering this school are choosing a statewide virtual option rather than a neighborhood building.
The enrollment is sizable for an elementary-only program, and the student body is diverse. About half of the students are White, with the remainder consisting of Black students, students identifying as two or more races, Hispanic students, Asian students, and American Indian or Alaska Native students, in descending order of share. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.
State testing data for the most recent school year shows a mixed academic picture. In reading and language arts, the share of students meeting proficiency standards was above half across the assessed grade levels. In mathematics, proficiency was lower, and results varied noticeably by grade. One grade level reached about half of students meeting the math standard, while another grade level saw a much smaller share reach that bar. Science testing is conducted only at one grade level in elementary school; the share of students scoring proficient in science was very low. Overall, when combining all tested subjects and grade levels into a single proficiency index, the school’s performance placed it in the bottom quartile among the districts in Houston County, a small comparison set of five districts. It bears noting that this is the only year of data available to assess trends, so there is no previous year for comparison.
The school’s virtual model is a key part of the Houston district’s broader identity. The district operates the Minnesota Center for Online Learning and the Minnesota Virtual Academy in partnership with K12 Inc., programs that are open to students statewide and are unique within Minnesota. This means the school draws from a wide geography, not just the town of Houston itself. The elementary program is housed under this umbrella, and a parent’s experience with curriculum, instruction, and support will be shaped by that online platform rather than by physical campus life.
Houston itself is a very small rural city in the Root River Valley with a stable population that has changed little over many years. The town is known for outdoor recreation tied to the Root River Bike Trail and the Blufflands State Trail, and it holds annual events like the Houston Hoedown Days. Its compact footprint means civic life is centered on a small downtown grid, and the district is a key local employer. However, given that this is a virtual school serving students across the state, the town’s local amenities are largely disconnected from a family’s day-to-day experience with the elementary program.
A parent weighing this option will want to look closely at the math and science outcomes and consider whether the virtual format provides the kind of support their child needs in those areas. The reading scores provide a more typical starting point. Because the program is designed for remote participation, the peer environment is not tied to a neighborhood, and families should expect to play an active role in structuring their child’s learning day and social connections. The school’s placement relative to other Houston County districts is worth noting, but the small size of that county comparison set and the school’s unique statewide enrollment mean that comparison has limited weight.
See more original research from School Decision →