The top reported proficiency rate is 64% in English language arts. The lowest is 9% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on 196online Middle School
196Online Middle School is a full-time virtual program within the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan school district, serving students in grades six through eight. It was launched as a permanent online learning option for families, giving middle school students an alternative to in-person instruction. This is a school that exists entirely in the digital space, with no physical campus of its own; the school list for the district shows its address as the same street as the district's other 196Online high school in Rosemount. For a family considering this school, the central question is what the virtual environment means for academics and peer interaction, and the available data provides a limited but informative picture.
State testing results for the 2022-23 school year are sparse and difficult to generalize from. The school's enrollment is very small, and the total number of students tested in each grade and subject is low. Because of these small numbers, many individual grade-level proficiency rates were suppressed by the state to protect student privacy. For the eighth grade, where results were reported, the proficiency rate in English language arts was above the midpoint among districts in Dakota County, a solid showing. In eighth-grade math, the reported proficiency rate was lower, and in eighth-grade science, it was very low. A parent should keep in mind that these results come from a small number of test-takers and may not be stable from year to year. The participation rate in state testing was low, which is a pattern that often accompanies virtual school enrollment and means the test results reflect a subset of enrolled students, not the entire student body.
The school's demographics and enrollment counts were not reported, a gap that may reflect the nature of a small virtual program where individual student information is suppressed or withheld. The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate data. Because the school is a regular public school within the district, it is not a charter or magnet, and its Title I status was not reported.
The parent district, Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan, is a large suburban system that also recently opened a new elementary school in Rosemount and maintains a long-standing operating referendum that generates a substantial share of its general fund revenue from local property taxes. This means that families in the district have a direct financial stake in the school system's funding. Rosemount itself, where the school is based, is a rapidly growing community located a short drive south of the Twin Cities. It combines heavy industry in its northeast section with a dynamic residential expansion in the west, anchored by a historic downtown commercial center. The city has preserved extensive parkland, and the presence of Dakota County Technical College adds a higher education element. The growth context means housing is in high demand, with home values and rents reflecting pressures typical of a thriving outer-ring suburb.
For a parent, this school fits a family that wants a structured online middle school option within a well-established district. The virtual format means the student works from home, and the social environment is shaped by that distance rather than a physical building. The academic picture is incomplete but suggests that English language arts may be a relative strength, while math and science performance demand closer attention from a parent. The small enrollment also means the school is a niche offering, not a large comprehensive program. A parent considering this school would do well to contact the school directly to ask about curriculum delivery, teacher interaction, live class sessions, and how the school supports students who may be struggling academically. The testing participation rate is low enough that a family should understand why some students do not test and what that means for the school's accountability. This is a school that likely serves a specific need for families who want or need a remote learning environment, and its value will depend heavily on how well that virtual setting matches a particular student's learning style and support system.
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