The top reported proficiency rate is 37% in English language arts. The lowest is 15% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Lakeville Online Academy-middle
Lakeville Online Academy-Middle gives a close look at what full-time virtual schooling looks like for grades six through eight in a fast-growing Twin Cities exurb. It is a regular public school within Lakeville Area Schools, but unlike the district’s brick-and-mortar middle schools, it enrolls a small student body that takes classes remotely. Any family considering this school should understand that its enrollment and testing population are very small, which means results come from a handful of students and may not paint a stable picture.
The school serves about three dozen students spread across sixth, seventh, and eighth grades, making it among the smallest school communities in the district. Nearly three in ten students qualify for free or reduced-price meals. The student body is predominantly white, with a Black student share larger than the overall district proportion and a small share of multiracial students; Hispanic and Asian representation is minimal.
State testing results for the 2024-25 school year show a wide spread across grades and subjects. In seventh and eighth grade reading, half to three-fifths of students scored proficient, a range that sits near or above typical middle school benchmarks. Sixth grade reading, however, had zero students reach proficiency. Math proficiency varied sharply by grade: seventh grade posted a rate in the high third, while sixth and eighth grades recorded very low proficiency. Science proficiency in eighth grade was in the mid third, though only a small number of students took the test and the participation rate was low, so the result should be read with caution. Because the school has only one year of available testing data, there is no multiyear trend to look at. Overall proficiency across all tested subjects and grades places Lakeville Online Academy-Middle in the bottom quartile relative to districts in Dakota County. A parent may want to ask the school how it supports students who are falling behind in math and early middle school reading, and whether those low figures reflect the specific population that chooses a fully online format.
The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate. Chronic absenteeism data was not available, which is a notable gap for a virtual school where attendance and engagement look different than in a physical building. Civil rights and discipline data also were absent.
The community context matters for families weighing this option. Lakeville is an outer-ring exurb that has grown rapidly, with a population that nearly doubled in the early 2000s and continues to climb. Housing values in the Lakeville ZIP code sit well above national averages, and rents are steady, so the housing market is competitive. The city is car-dependent, with a historic downtown that offers a small walkable node, but most daily life requires driving. The district itself recently adjusted elementary and middle school attendance boundaries for the 2026-27 school year, tied to the opening of a ninth elementary school. That boundary change affects who goes to which neighborhood school, but Lakeville Online Academy-Middle draws from across the district regardless of address.
For families, the central question is whether the online model matches a student’s need for flexibility, self-direction, or a different social setting. The academic results are uneven enough that anyone considering this school should ask about intervention strategies, student engagement, and how the school tracks progress day to day. The small size means a student will have close access to staff but also a very limited peer group for collaboration and extracurriculars. This is a niche option within a large suburban district, and the data suggests it works well for some students while others struggle significantly. Families will want direct conversations with the school about who typically succeeds in this setting and why.
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