MN Connections Academy: Offering Expanded College and Career Courses

The faculty and staff at Minnesota Connections Academy, a K-12 statewide, tuition-free, online public school, recently welcomed new and returning students for the 2024-2025 academic year. New this school year, Minnesota Connections Academy students in grades 6-12 will now have access to an expanded College and Career Readiness offering designed to help them pursue their passions and prepare for the future.

Minnesota Connections Academy combines traditional courses with industry-leading, career-focused options and real-world interactions to help students gain confidence, develop the right skills and earn industry credentials coveted by employers. Students can hone essential skills like critical thinking, communication, teamwork, and leadership and have access to partnerships like Coursera, Credly, The Home Depot and the SEMI Foundation. With Coursera, students can earn entry-level professional certificates from companies like Google, IBM, Meta, and Salesforce.

“We are thrilled to provide students with an expanded college and career offering for the 2024-25 school year,” said Minnesota Connections Academy Executive Director Brad Swanson. “It has always been our goal to help students reach their highest academic potential and by giving students early access to numerous career options, Minnesota Connections Academy is continuing to help prepare students for whatever future they choose beyond the virtual classroom.”

Virtual school is a great fit for a variety of students and each student is unique. Those who attend Minnesota Connections Academy come from different backgrounds and choose full-time online school for various reasons. Some students prefer to take ownership of their education and benefit from the flexibility that virtual school offers, while others are looking for a consistent, safe learning environment.

Oyafunke Hernandez Abreu, of Minneapolis, will be a senior at Minnesota Connections Academy. She enrolled during the second semester last year to be in a flexible learning environment where she could pursue her dream of becoming a professional ballet dancer while managing her academic responsibilities. Because of the schedule flexibility that Minnesota Connections Academy offers, Oya said she can build a school schedule around her training.

“Studying at Connections Academy has given me many opportunities that wouldn’t be possible in a traditional brick-and-mortar school,” Oya said. “It’s also a learning environment where my mental, spiritual, and physical well-being are prioritized.”

Minnesota Connections Academy recently received very high marks and is considered a high-quality academic option according to its 2024 Parent Satisfaction Survey, an annual third-party survey that provides families with the opportunity to review their experience with the full-time online public school. According to the survey results:

• 95% of parents would recommend Minnesota Connections Academy
• 97% of parents believe their child is receiving a quality education with Minnesota Connections Academy
• 96% of parents agree the Minnesota Connections Academy program gives them greater opportunity to be more involved with their child's education
• 97% of parents agree their child's teachers at Minnesota Connections Academy are supportive
• 96% of parents agree their child is satisfied learning at Minnesota Connections Academy Enrollment at Minnesota Connections Academy is still open for the 2024-25 for Minnesota students in grades K-12 statewide. For more information or to begin the enrollment process, visit www.MinnesotaConnectionsAcademy.com or call 1-800-382-6010.