The top reported proficiency rate is 15% in English language arts. The lowest is 5% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Rps Online High School
RPS Online High School is a public, fully virtual high school serving grades nine through twelve, operating as part of the Rochester Public School District in southeastern Minnesota. It is one of the district's two MNSync Online programs, a permanent expansion of virtual education that the district publicly reported launching. For a family considering this school, the central question is what it offers as an alternative to a traditional building, and the numbers point to a place that serves students who may have struggled in a conventional setting.
The school is small for a high school, and student composition shows a higher share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch compared with many area schools. In racial and ethnic makeup, about half of students are white, a quarter are Black, with smaller shares of Hispanic students, Asian students, and students who identify as two or more races. The school did not report data for students on individualized education programs or English learners, so a parent wanting to know about special-education support or language services would need to ask the school directly.
State assessment results are available for grades seven and eight, even though the school serves only high school grades. That suggests students who tested were likely taking those assessments before entering ninth grade, or the school may serve younger students in a separate program. Either way, the proficiency rates in both math and English language arts are well below the midpoint when compared with other schools in the county. In math, proficiency is very low, and in English language arts, it is also low. The science assessment for grade eight shows a similarly low proficiency rate, and the participation rate was low enough that the results may not reflect all students. The district brief notes that the online program is a permanent offering, but the academic performance indicates that many enrolled students are far below grade-level expectations at the time they are tested. A parent should look into what academic supports, interventions, and pacing options the school provides for students who arrive with gaps.
Graduation rate data was not available, which is a gap. A family should ask the school what share of its students complete a diploma and how long it typically takes.
Rochester, where the district is based, is a mid-sized city defined by Mayo Clinic, which anchors the economy and downtown. The city has been growing, with a major Destination Medical Center initiative driving investment, new construction, and a planned bus rapid transit line. Housing values in the area are around the national average, and the rental market is similarly typical for a regional hub. The district itself opened a new elementary school in 2023 to address enrollment growth, and it established a P-TECH early college program that offers a pathway to an associate degree, but those are brick-and-mortar options, not directly part of this online school.
For a family weighing RPS Online High School, the academic testing picture is the strongest signal. The school is not a college-preparatory pipeline with high proficiency rates and rich course access data. It is a virtual option within a large district, and the evidence suggests its students, as a group, are performing at low levels on state tests relative to peers in Olmsted County. A parent considering this school should ask detailed questions about curriculum rigor, teacher-student interaction, support for credit recovery, and how the school prepares students for postsecondary education or work. The online model may be a good fit for a student who needs flexibility for health, family, or work reasons, but the academic achievement data is a soft spot that warrants direct conversation with the school.
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