Minnesota Virtual Academy Middle is a public virtual middle school serving grades 6-8 in the Houston Public School District, with 403 students located in Houston, MN. The school has a diverse student population, with a racial makeup that is predominantly White (58.56%), with significant populations of African American (15.88%), Hispanic (11.41%), and students of two or more races (8.68%). The school also has a relatively high free/reduced lunch rate of 64.76%, indicating a significant population of economically disadvantaged students.
While the school's African American students perform relatively well, ranking 58th out of 179 Minnesota middle schools in 2023-2024, the school's overall academic performance is significantly lower than the state and nearby public school counterparts. For example, the school's math proficiency rate for all grades was just 16.67% in 2023-2024, compared to the state average of 45.47% and the nearby Caledonia Middle school's 51.45%. The school's reading proficiency rate of 51.76% is also lower than the state average of 49.85% and the nearby Caledonia Middle school's 54.01%. This low academic performance is reflected in the school's statewide ranking, where it placed 302 out of 545 Minnesota middle schools in 2023-2024 and received a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.
The lower academic performance of Minnesota Virtual Academy Middle compared to nearby traditional public schools, such as Rushford-Peterson Middle and Caledonia Middle, suggests that the virtual school model may present unique challenges for student learning and achievement. Additionally, the school's high free/reduced lunch rate and the mixed performance of different student subgroups indicate that socioeconomic factors and racial disparities may also be contributing to the school's challenges. The school and district should closely examine these issues and implement targeted strategies to improve student outcomes and provide a more equitable educational experience for all learners.
Houston Public School District
Students at Minnesota Virtual Academy Middle are 62% White, 15% African American, 11% Hispanic, 9% Two or more races, 2% Asian, 1% American Indian.
Minnesota Virtual Academy Middle ranks 302nd of 545 Minnesota middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.
In the 2023-24 school year, 341 students attended Minnesota Virtual Academy Middle.