The top reported proficiency rate is 40% in English language arts. The lowest is 31% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Virtual Instruction by Excellence E
Virtual Instruction by Excellence Elementary is a regular public school in Worthington, Minnesota, serving kindergarten through sixth grade entirely online. It is part of the Worthington Public School District, the same district that operates the city’s brick-and-mortar elementary, middle, and high school campuses. For families considering a fully remote elementary experience within the local public system, this school represents that option. The enrollment is moderate for an elementary-grade program, and it draws a student body that is predominantly white, with smaller shares of Hispanic, multiracial, and Asian students, among others. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic mix of the surrounding community.
Worthington itself is a micropolitan hub in southwestern Minnesota, anchored by large food-processing and bio-science employers and a downtown with over thirty restaurants representing multiple ethnic cultures. Its population has been shaped by significant Hispanic immigration, and the city has invested in a Bio-Science Industrial Park, a new YMCA, and hospital expansions. The school district did not have publicly reported recent changes such as referendums or curriculum shifts that would be of high interest to parents; the available directory and fiscal data did not provide those details. A family choosing this school should be aware that the district’s other schools are on separate campuses rather than integrated into the downtown core, and that the city is auto-oriented with walkable civic life concentrated near Lake Okabena.
State testing results for the most recent school year show a mixed picture. In math, proficiency rates among students who took the assessments varied by grade, with one grade level showing a rate well above half and other grade levels showing a rate at or near zero. In English language arts, results followed a similar pattern: one grade level posted a high proficiency rate, while other grade levels showed rates at or near zero. Science results for fifth grade were suppressed due to very low participation — a parent may want to ask the school directly about how state testing is administered in a virtual setting and why participation was limited. Across all tested subjects and grades combined, the school’s overall proficiency index placed it above the midpoint among districts in Nobles County, though the range among those districts was relatively narrow.
Because the school serves only elementary and early middle grades, there is no graduation rate to report. Chronic absenteeism data was not available, and information on special populations such as students with disabilities and English learners was also missing from the record. Civil rights data, discipline rates, course access, and staffing information were likewise absent from the profile. These gaps may reflect the nature of a virtual school, where reporting conventions differ from those of traditional buildings, but a family should confirm these details with the school if they are important factors in their decision.
The school is not a charter school, and its magnet and Title I status were not provided. No specific program offerings were listed. For parents seeking a virtual, public elementary option in the Worthington area, this school fills that role. The academic results are uneven across grades and subjects, and the low testing participation in science warrants a direct conversation with the school. The absence of district-level changes and many student-support metrics means a family will need to gather information directly from the school about how it delivers instruction, monitors attendance, and serves students with varying needs.
See more original research from School Decision →