Minnesota Virtual Academy Middle

Q: Is Minnesota Virtual Academy Middle a good school?

Minnesota Virtual Academy Middle ranks 302 nd of 545 Minnesota middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Summary:

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.

Detail:

Public, Virtual 6-8

306 W Elm St
Houston, MN 55943-0363

(507) 896-5323

District: Houston Public School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
302^nd of 545 Minnesota Middle Schools

Student/teacher ratio: 12.2

Number of students: 341

Racial breakdown:

White:

61.9%

African American:

14.7%

Hispanic:

11.1%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 67.4%

See top rated Minnesota middle schools

Compare Minnesota Virtual Academy Middle to nearby middle schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Minnesota Virtual Academy Middle ranks worse than 55.4% of middle schools in Minnesota. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 45.18. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details

Teachers

Compare Details

Compare

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Minnesota Virtual Academy Middle:

SchoolDigger ranks Minnesota Virtual Academy Middle 302^nd of 545 Minnesota public middle schools. (See Minnesota Virtual Academy Middle in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

African American students:

White students:

Houston Public School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Houston Public School District 252^nd of 463 Minnesota school districts. (See district ranking list.)

What do you think?

Your rating for Minnesota Virtual Academy Middle?

(Ranking FAQ)

Rank History for Minnesota Virtual Academy Middle

Compare

Rank History for all students at Minnesota Virtual Academy Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MN State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	40.81	320^th	529	39.5%
2024	45.18	302^nd	545	44.6%

See the entire list of Minnesota Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at Minnesota Virtual Academy Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MN State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	30.44	217^th	298	27.2%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota Middle Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Minnesota Virtual Academy Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MN State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	59.21	150^th	459	67.3%
2024	59.56	154^th	473	67.4%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota Middle Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Minnesota Virtual Academy Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MN State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	37.04	309^th	455	32.1%
2024	39.33	309^th	474	34.8%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota Middle Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Minnesota Virtual Academy Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MN State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	40.92	284^th	464	38.8%
2024	45.52	260^th	479	45.7%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota Middle Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Minnesota Virtual Academy Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MN State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	44.94	86^th	164	47.6%
2024	58.81	58^th	179	67.6%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota Middle Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Minnesota Virtual Academy Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MN State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	29.46	133^rd	178	25.3%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota Middle Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Minnesota Virtual Academy Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MN State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	27.92	349^th	436	20.0%
2024	29.65	338^th	440	23.2%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota Middle Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Minnesota Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Minnesota Department of Education

We're sorry, but no reviews have been submitted for Minnesota Virtual Academy Middle.

If you have first-hand knowledge about Minnesota Virtual Academy Middle, submit a rating!

Reviews:
No reviews have been submitted!

Enrollment information for Minnesota Virtual Academy Middle

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2022	245	52	12	34	5	1	28	377
2023	236	64	15	46	7	0	35	403
2024	211	50	8	38	4	0	30	341

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Minnesota Virtual Academy Middle

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2022	377	21.0	17.8	41.1
2023	403	23.9	16.8	64.8
2024	341	27.8	12.2	67.4

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Minnesota Virtual Academy Middle

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2022	377	21.0	17.8	41.1
2023	403	23.9	16.8	64.8
2024	341	27.8	12.2	67.4

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Schools Near Minnesota Virtual Academy Middle

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				MCA-III Math (2024)					MCA-III Reading (2024)					MCA-III Science (2024)			Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MCA-III Math 5th Grade	MCA-III Math 6th Grade	MCA-III Math 7th Grade	MCA-III Math 8th Grade	MCA-III Math All Grades	MCA-III Reading 5th Grade	MCA-III Reading 6th Grade	MCA-III Reading 7th Grade	MCA-III Reading 8th Grade	MCA-III Reading All Grades	MCA-III Science 5th Grade	MCA-III Science 8th Grade	MCA-III Science All Grades	Total
Minnesota Virtual Academy Middle	Public, Virtual	6-8	306 W Elm St	Houston	55943	Houston County	Houston Public School District	No	No	Yes	No	(507) 896-5323	341	28	12.2	67.4%	211 (61.9%)	50 (14.7%)	38 (11.1%)	8 (2.3%)	4 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (8.8%)	45.2	302^nd of 545 public middle schools	44.6%		40.8	320^th of 529 public middle schools	39.5%	18		13.2	15.0	20.0	16.7		51.9	44.3	57.1	51.8		26.5	26.5
Caledonia Middle	Public	6-8	825 N Warrior Ave	Caledonia	55921	Houston County	Caledonia Public School District	No	No	No	No	(507) 725-3316	140	12	11.6	28.6%	130 (92.9%)	1 (0.7%)	3 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (4.3%)	77.6	87^th of 545 public middle schools	84.0%		70.2	127^th of 529 public middle schools	76.0%	40		47.9	50.0	56.3	51.5		54.2	52.4	55.3	54.0		39.6	39.6	$9,901
Rushford-Peterson Middle	Public	6-8	1000 Pine Meadows Lane	Rushford	55971	Fillmore County	Rushford-Peterson Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(507) 864-7785	149	9	16.1	35.6%	135 (90.6%)	1 (0.7%)	8 (5.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (3.4%)	58.8	202^nd of 545 public middle schools	62.9%		71.4	119^th of 529 public middle schools	77.5%	83		30.4	46.5	69.1	50.0		50.0	27.9	37.5	38.6		35.9	35.9	$10,015
La Crescent-Hokah Middle School	Public	5-8	1301 Lancer Blvd	La Crescent	55947	Houston County	La Crescent-Hokah School District	No	No	No	No	(507) 895-5060	292	23	12.5	24.3%	253 (86.6%)	2 (0.7%)	6 (2.1%)	9 (3.1%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	20 (6.8%)	48.2	281^st of 545 public middle schools	48.4%		41.4	315^th of 529 public middle schools	40.5%	34	26.4	29.1	30.9	35.2	30.3	61.1	49.4	35.3	44.3	47.8	61.1	28.2	44.8	$2,319
Winona Middle	Public	5-8	1570 Homer Rd	Winona	55987	Winona County	Winona Area Public School District	No	No	No	No	(507) 494-1000	637	46	13.7	49.8%	447 (70.2%)	49 (7.7%)	65 (10.2%)	18 (2.8%)	4 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	54 (8.5%)	24	433^rd of 545 public middle schools	20.6%		34.1	370^th of 529 public middle schools	30.1%	63	36.0	23.3	13.8	25.5	24.7	46.5	42.7	24.2	25.3	34.6	35.1	15.6	25.3	$14,241

Frequently Asked Questions about Minnesota Virtual Academy Middle

What district is Minnesota Virtual Academy Middle in?

Houston Public School District

What is the racial makeup of Minnesota Virtual Academy Middle?

Students at Minnesota Virtual Academy Middle are 62% White, 15% African American, 11% Hispanic, 9% Two or more races, 2% Asian, 1% American Indian.

How many students attend Minnesota Virtual Academy Middle?

In the 2023-24 school year, 341 students attended Minnesota Virtual Academy Middle.

Is Minnesota Virtual Academy Middle a good school?

Minnesota Virtual Academy Middle ranks 302^nd of 545 Minnesota middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Rate Minnesota Virtual Academy Middle!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Compare to nearby schools

MNMinnesota Middle School Rankings

MNMinnesota District Rankings

Schools in Houston, MN

Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Minnesota Virtual Academy Middle!

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Minnesota Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.