Minnesota Virtual Academy

What Minnesota Virtual Academy does

Minnesota Virtual Academy (MNVA) is a tuition-free online public school serving students in Kindergarten through grade 12 across the state of Minnesota. Founded in 2002 and operating as a program of the Houston Public School District, MNVA delivers full-time and part-time enrollment options and self-describes as the largest online school in Minnesota. The school is powered by K12 (Stride), which provides the underlying curriculum and the K12 Online School (OLS) learning management system.

The school's core technology centers on the OLS platform and the recently launched K12 Launch Pad student dashboard, complemented by synchronous Class Connect sessions led by Minnesota-certified teachers. Curriculum delivery blends age-appropriate online and offline components, ranging from 10-20% screen time in Kindergarten to primarily online instruction in high school, with provided textbooks, workbooks, and science materials. Beyond core academics, MNVA offers NCAA-approved high school courses, online AP and honors options, Career and College Prep pathways, CTE programs across multiple industries, PSEO dual credit, special education services (IEPs, 504 plans, ELL), credit recovery, and supplemental K12 Tutoring.

MNVA is funded through Minnesota public education budgets rather than tuition, operating on a per-pupil funding model akin to traditional public schools. Families pay no tuition and receive textbooks and materials; computer loaners and internet stipends are available based on need. The school reaches Minnesota families through a direct-to-consumer motion across its website, a self-service K12 enrollment portal, toll-free phone, and live online chat, with targeted outreach to military families, college-bound student athletes, and career-focused students. Partnerships with the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 49, Ames Construction, regional school districts, and Southern New Hampshire University extend the school's career and postsecondary pathways.

Name

Minnesota Virtual Academy

Legal name

Minnesota Virtual Academy

Website

https://mnva.k12.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Minnesota Virtual Academy is a tuition-free online public school serving K-12 students statewide in Minnesota, operated as a program of Houston Public School District and powered by K12's online learning platform and curriculum since 2002.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Online K-12 Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Full-Time Virtual K–12 Schools (Statewide/Cyber Charters & District Programs) (EDAJADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Virtual & Blended Learning Programs (District-Run) (EDAJAAAI), Virtual CTE & Career Pathways Programs (K–12) (EDAJADAL)

Keywords

• Online K-12 education
• Virtual public school
• Distance learning programs
• Online high school
• Remote learning academy

Headquarters

HQ city

Houston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Public School Funding: MNVA is a tuition-free online public school funded by taxpayer dollars and state education budgets, similar to traditional brick-and-mortar public schools. As a program of Houston Public School District, funding comes from state education budgets rather than tuition.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Minnesota Virtual Academy is a tuition-free online public school serving Kindergarten through grade 12 students in Minnesota, operating as a program of Houston Public School District. It delivers full-time and part-time online education through the K12 Online School (OLS) platform, K12 Launch Pad dashboard, and live Class Connect sessions led by Minnesota-certified teachers, with curriculum aligned to Minnesota state standards. The school also offers NCAA-approved courses, career and college prep pathways, CTE programs, dual credit/PSEO options, special education services, and supplemental K12 Tutoring.

Product overview

Minnesota Virtual Academy (MNVA) is a tuition-free online public school serving Kindergarten through grade 12 students in Minnesota. The school operates as a program of the Houston Public School District and is powered by K12's online learning platform. The core product offering centers on the K12 School (OLS) learning management system and K12 Launch Pad student dashboard, combined with live Class Connects instruction sessions. MNVA provides full-time enrollment for all K-12 grades and part-time options for middle and high school students. The portfolio includes Online AP and Honors Courses for college preparation, Career and College Prep pathways with CTE programs across multiple career fields, K12 Tutoring as a supplemental add-on service, PSEO for dual credit opportunities, and Special Education Services. The school emphasizes personalized learning through a blend of interactive online lessons, offline activities with provided materials, and direct teacher instruction.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Full-Time Enrollment (K-12) Comprehensive full-time online public school enrollment for students in Kindergarten through grade 12, providing complete curriculum, teacher instruction, and academic support.
• Part-Time Middle and High School Enrollment Flexible enrollment option allowing middle and high school students to take individual online courses while potentially attending another school, enabling students to recover credits or explore specific subjects.
• Online AP and Honors Courses Advanced Placement and honors-level courses providing college-level academics to prepare students for higher education, with NCAA-approved core high school courses.
• Career and College Prep Comprehensive career-focused pathway program allowing students to explore career fields, earn industry certifications, participate in internships, and prepare for college through dual credit/concurrent enrollment options.
• CTE Programs (Career Technical Education) Career-focused courses across multiple pathways including Agriculture, Business, Health Science, IT, Manufacturing, Marketing, and more, enabling students to prepare for industry-recognized certifications.
• K12 Tutoring Supplemental online tutoring service providing personalized academic support from state-certified teachers covering major subjects for grades K-12, including college admission test preparation.
• Special Education Services Robust special education services including IEP support, 504 plans, English Learners programs, intervention courses, and credit recovery options to support diverse learning needs.
• Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) Program allowing 10th-12th grade students to earn both high school and college credit through enrollment in college courses at eligible participating institutions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Graduates prepared for higher education, career training, or entering the workforce directly

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ames ConstructioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 January 2025MNVA students participated in the 2025 Operating Engineers Pathway hands-on event at Ames Construction, where they gained firsthand experience with heavy equipment operation and connected classroom learning to real-world construction careers.
• Spring Grove CinemaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 December 2024MNVA, under leadership of Head of School Mary Morem, partnered with local school districts and businesses including Spring Grove Cinema on innovative student-led business initiatives that blend education with real-world experience.
• Houston Public Schools, Spring Grove, and Mabel-CantoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 December 2024Led by MNVA Head of School Mary Morem, these southeastern Minnesota school districts collaborate on innovative partnerships that empower students through education, industry connections, and civic engagement, including student-led businesses and career certification programs.
• International Union of Operating Engineers Local 49coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 February 2023MNVA partnered with IUOE Local 49 to offer the Operating Engineers Pathway Program, allowing students to earn apprenticeship or college credits while taking online classes. The partnership includes hands-on training at the Local 49 Training Center in Hinckley, where students gain practical experience with heavy equipment operation. This enables students to prepare for careers in construction trades while still in high school.
• Southern New Hampshire UniversityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGraduates of K12-powered schools including MNVA can save 20% off tuition at Southern New Hampshire University, providing an affordable pathway to higher education for MNVA alumni.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Outschool: Outschool is an online marketplace for supplemental K-12 classes and enrichment, serving families seeking alternative education options. While not a full-time school, it competes for share-of-wallet among families considering online alternatives to traditional schooling and represents an emerging player in the broader online K-12 space.

Others

• Coursera: While Coursera focuses on higher education and professional credentials rather than K-12, it is an adjacent online education platform partnering with universities and employers. It represents the broader online learning ecosystem that competes for parental mindshare on supplemental learning pathways.

Direct peers

• Texas Online Preparatory School (TOPS): TOPS is a tuition-free online public school serving Texas K-12 students through a partnership model. It competes in the same online K-12 public school category as MNVA, offering similar full-time enrollment, NCAA-approved courses, and special education services.
• Virginia Virtual Academy: A K12/Stride-powered full-time online public school for Virginia K-12 students, operating as a program of a sponsoring district. It offers a directly analogous product (full-time K-12, NCAA-approved courses, special education) to MNVA in a different state.
• Insight School of Wisconsin: Insight Schools operate tuition-free online public K-12 schools in multiple states under the K12/Stride umbrella. As a peer K12-powered state academy serving Midwestern families, it offers directly comparable program structure and target segments to MNVA.
• Connections Academy: Connections Academy operates tuition-free online public schools serving K-12 students across dozens of states under public-private partnerships with school districts. It is the most direct competitor to MNVA in the online public K-12 category, with overlapping target families and similar NCAA/PSEO positioning.
• Ohio Virtual Academy: A K12/Stride-powered full-time online public school serving K-12 students in Ohio as a program of a sponsoring school district. It is structurally identical to MNVA (district-run, K12 platform, NCAA-approved, full-time virtual) and serves as the closest direct comparability model.
• Idaho Digital Learning Alliance: A statewide online learning provider offering supplemental and full-time K-12 courses to Idaho students, including dual credit and career pathways. It competes in the same online K-12 public category with similar target families, though it operates as a state-created entity rather than a district partnership.

Broad incumbents

• Florida Virtual School (FLVS): FLVS is a statewide public online school established by Florida statute, serving K-12 students with full-time and part-time options. As the largest and longest-running state virtual school, it represents the broad incumbent model for state-authorized online K-12 and competes for families considering online schooling alternatives.
• Stride Inc. Formerly K12 Inc., Stride is the publicly traded online education provider that powers MNVA's curriculum, LMS, and enrollment infrastructure. It is the broad incumbent that enables MNVA's product offering and operates multiple similar state virtual academies nationwide.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/minnesota-virtual-academy

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Minnesota Virtual Academy