The top reported proficiency rate is 0% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Saints Online Middle School
Saints Online Middle School is a full-time virtual program within the St. Francis Area Schools district, serving a small group of students in grades six through eight. This school is for families seeking a remote learning structure that is taught by district teachers and follows the district’s curriculum, rather than a third-party program. It is one piece of a broader K-12 Saints Online option the district offers.
The student body is small, with a total enrollment in the dozens. Its composition is predominantly white, with a modest mix of Black, Hispanic, and American Indian or Alaska Native students represented in single digits. About half of the students come from low-income households, as measured by free or reduced-price meal eligibility. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not reported.
State test results for the school show a reported proficiency rate of zero percent in both math and reading for each grade level tested. Science testing data for eighth graders was suppressed due to very small numbers, though participation was complete. Because the enrollment is so small, a single student’s performance can dramatically shift a percentage, and the state suppresses results when counts are low to protect individual privacy. A parent considering this school should discuss these test outcomes directly with the district to understand the context, as aggregate numbers tell a very partial story for a program this size.
Saints Online Middle School sits within the St. Francis Area Schools district, which is facing fiscal headwinds. A 2024 operating levy referendum was defeated by voters, forcing the district to make budget reductions affecting staffing, class sizes, and programs. The district has publicly noted these constraints and the possibility of further cuts without new revenue. At the same time, the district invested in expanding the Saints Online program, signaling a commitment to retaining families who want a virtual option despite broader budget pressures.
The school’s home, the city of St. Francis, is a mix of rural residential and commercial development in northern Anoka County, along the Highway 47 corridor. The area retains a small-town feel and is largely car-dependent. The surrounding landscape includes the Rum River and agricultural land, and the community hosts annual events such as a Pioneer Days Festival and a farmers market. The housing market is family-oriented, with a typical home value falling around the national middle range. The area is on the northern edge of the Twin Cities metro, seeing some exurban growth pressure.
Overall proficiency for this school, as measured by state tests, sits in the bottom quartile relative to other districts in Anoka County. A parent or resident should understand that this comparison is based on a very small number of students and that the virtual format and enrollment size make the school hard to evaluate through typical academic metrics. The value of this program may be better assessed by whether its structure fits a family’s need for a district-aligned online middle school option, and by what the district can tell a family about how its online students are progressing individually. The broader district is stable but constrained, and a family choosing this school is also choosing into the financial realities of St. Francis Area Schools.
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