FAQ's

We welcome all students living in the State of Minnesota to apply to join the VirtualEDU school community! Find all the information you need on our application page:

Start your VirtualEDU application

VirtualEDU is centered on our students. Our students tell us they feel valued, seen, and heard in our nurturing school community. When students feel seen and valued, they can do their very best learning. We are different than typical online schools. Our students connect with their classmates and teachers online every day. We offer multi-grade level classes, a flexible schedule, project based learning with a focus on positive social change designed to meet each student's unique gifts, passions and needs. At VirtualEDU, students will have synchronous time with teachers and classmates as well as asynchronous independent or group work in a balanced schedule. We are committed to both innovation and equity, helping our scholars to develop the critical thinking and problem-solving skills they will need in the future.

In the 23-24 school year, VirtualEDU will be the first public school in Minnesota to offer fully accredited Blended Learning in addition to our Fully Online Learning option. Families who would like their student to experience a combination in-person and online learning schedule can choose this option. The schedule is 2 days per week for in-person learning and 3 days per week for online learning.

VirtualEDU is a great fit for any student who desires to learn fully online or blended (a blend of online and in-person learning).  Our curriculum approach is deeply personalized to meet your student where they are and challenge them to advance and reach their goals. We use real-world, project-based learning with a social change focus to engage our students with meaningful learning. 

A great way to see if VirtualEDU is a fit for your family is to experience it for yourself. Schedule an in-person tour or online tour experience. You are always welcome to message us to ask questions and set up a meeting with school leaders.

VIrtualEDU's fully online model offers regular in-person experiences to enhance the already strong school connections they have developed. For fully online students, these experiences are optional and they can experience them as often or as little as they would like. Many of our in-person experiences will be held at our site in the Hopkins East building at 5300 Glenwood Ave, Golden Valley, MN.

For families who would like more in-person learning plus the flexibility of online learning, our blended model offers a schedule with two in-person days and three online learning days per week.  The in-person instructions takes place at our site in the Hopkins East building at 5300 Glenwood Ave, Golden Valley, MN.

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EL and Special Education as well as support staff are available to VirtualEDU students. 

Conferences work differently at VirtualEDU. Fridays at VirtualEDU are “Friday Flex & Connect” days, and are designated for making  connections with students and parents/caregivers. We offer in-person meetups for students and parents and make regular contact to provide updates to you about your student.

The VirtualEDU’s school calendar varies somewhat from the  Hopkins Public Schools district calendar. When planning, please use the VirtualEDU school calendar.

VirtualEDU school calendar

Elementary: K-6: 8:00 AM - 2:40 pm
Secondary: 7-12: 8:00 AM - 2:40 pm or 9:30 am-4:10 pm

Distance learning was developed out of an immediate need to educate students remotely during the pandemic. VirtualEDU is a fully accredited online school designed to provide a research-driven, cutting edge education to students in an online community.

Learning experiences include rich synchronous and asynchronous learning built into each day. Students ave access to extracurricular activities and athletics through the physical school buildings and community as well as VIrtualEDU meetups and in-person events. Content and instruction includes greater emphasis on personalization and opportunities for project based learning based on the Minnesota Standards.

If you are offered and accept placement in VirtualEDU, it is a 1-year commitment. Your child will not be eligible to transfer to another school until the next academic year.​​​​

The Hopkins School District stands ready to provide a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) based on the educational needs identified in the student's Individual Education Plan (IEP). In addition: The Minnesota Department of Education and their Online Learning Provider accreditation requires if your child receives special services that an IEP meeting must be held prior to enrollment in an online program.

When a child with an IEP is offered placement in VirtualEDU the parent/guardian(s) and the IEP team will collaborate to determine (1) FAPE location of special education and related services as directed by the IEP and (2) modify IEP goals and services to ensure the child’s needs are met in the new online educational setting.​​​

The Blended Learning option — sometimes known as hybrid learning — combines both online learning and in-person learning with the same group of peers. Our blended model ofers the social interaction and sense of community many students need, along with the flexibility that online learning provides for you and your family. VirtualEDU is the first public school to offer a fully-accredited Blended Learning options. 

Our in-person site is the beautifully renovated Hopkins East building located at 5300 Glenwood Ave, Golden Valley, MN. 

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VirtualEDU's blended learning model offers 1 in-person day per week for elementary students and 2 in-person days per week for secondar students

Blended learning In-person days:

• Elementary students: Wednesdays with the same group of peers and teachers at the Hopkins East building in Golden Valley.
• Secondary students: Tuesdays and Thursdays with the same group pf peers and teachers at the Hopkins East building in Golden Valley

Yes, students in the blended learning model will receive a hot school lunch on the in-person learning days. 

For the Blended Learning option in-person learning days, transportation is available for Hopkins Public Schools residents and Equity Options eligible families.​ 
There is no transportation available for out-of-district families (not eligible for Equity Options) for in-person learning days. ​​

There are times when non-residents are eligible to take the bus from an existing stop. Please reach out to VirtualEDU staff for more information.

Message VirtualEDU

The in-person school day runs from 8:00 am  to 2:40 pm.

• Elementary - 55 students
• Secondary - 55 students

Space is limited. Please apply today to reserve your space in our blended learning option.

Apply to VirtualEDU

The first step is to complete and submit a VirtualEDU application form, and choose Blended Learning in the drop down. Space is limited in the blended learning model.

We welcome you to apply for your space today by following the steps located on our enroll page. If you have questions about applying, please contact Hopkins Enrollment Team: Enrollment@HopkinsSchools.org. If you have questions about VirtualEDU's blended model, please contact VIrtualEDU staff at: VirtualEDU@HopkinsSchools.org.

Apply to VirtualEDU