279Online Frequently Asked Questions

279Online is a Kindergarten through grade 12 online school.

279Online is a tuition-free public school.

No, 279Online is a part of the Osseo Area School district, but is open to all K-12 students living in Minnesota.

279Online’s school hours are Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m.

279Online is a synchronous school, meaning learning involves real-time interaction between students and teachers during a set timeframe. This can include live online classes, video conferencing, or any other form of communication where participants engage simultaneously.

Please view the Daily Schedule page for more detail.

279Online's follows Osseo Area Schools' curriculum and is district approved.  All grade level courses are aligned with state standards.

All of our teachers are certified and highly qualified with many years of education experience both in-person and online.

Synchronous learning helps students stick to a routine and allows for social engagement with teachers and other students, immediate feedback, real-time discussions and collaborative activities.

Student to teacher ratios vary by course, grade level, and enrollment, but never exceed the Minnesota state statutory capacity.

279Online supplies all students with Google Chromebooks and all classes meet through Google Meets. We have technology support on staff to provide students and parents with one-on-one assistance with any technical issue.

Like a traditional school setting, students should be in class and participating during school hours. Students interact in class by using Google Meet’s built-in tools such as cameras, chat, whiteboards, etc. We have breakout rooms where students can do partner work, meet in small groups, or work one-on-one with their teacher.

Students can take the 279Online classroom anywhere with internet access. Like traditional school we have set classroom time and breaks throughout the day. Our small class sizes allow for us to one-on-one learning with a student, if they need extra help.

Students are assessed using district approved screening assessments, curriculum-based assessments, along with standards based assessments.  These are digital assessments using district tools and resources. 

Conferences are held both online and in-person depending on the conference. We have the capacity to host both options.

Yes! Being a part of the Osseo Area Schools allows our students to have access to all sports, extracurricular activities and clubs the district has to offer.

We have a variety of clubs and activities available for scholars. Some are online such as during our weekly Wednesday exploratory time and some meet in-person like our Scholar Leadership Team and our community events.

Parents are a vital part of their child’s school experience, no matter what grade level they are in. We emphasize the importance of relationships with our families and staff by creating opportunities to meet in person and virtually.

We have licensed Special Education teachers that work with the individual scholars and families to meet the needs and goals of the IEP. 

Current testing protocols for standardized tests such as the MCA’s, ACT or ACCESS require on-site monitoring.  Depending on the test, the location varies amongst different Osseo Area Schools' buildings.

At 279Online we have a K-8 school counselor,  a high school counselor and a school social worker on staff. We also have access to the same counseling resources as Osseo Area Schools. Additional academic support from teachers is available to students through individual connects and/or in acceleration time on Wednesday afternoons.

Ceremony is conducted in-person in June, at McNamara Alumni Center on the University of Minnesota campus.

To graduate from 279Online, scholars must satisfy the following minimum credit requirements earned in grades 9-12:

• 12 credits in English
• 10 credits in Social Studies
• 9 credits in Science
• 9 credits in Math
• 3 credits in the Arts
• 1 credit in Life Fitness
• 1 credit in Health
• 19 credits in Electives
• 64 credits total

We use the RAMP UP to Readiness curriculum in our High School Advisories.  In addition, transitional support is provided through the Career and Readiness Counselor on staff.

1. Families apply to 279Online by filling out our online application
2. After the application is submitted it is reviewed
3. Once your application is approved a staff member will contact you to schedule an Onboarding Session 
4. At the onboarding session we will ensure you and your child have digital access to the necessary school resources and walk through your new virtual school environment

If you have any further questions about enrollment into 279Online, please reach out to our Enrollment Center through email at EnrollmentCenter@district279.org or by calling 763-585-7350