Explore What Makes MNOHS a Great Fit
Minnesota Online High School offers much more than online courses. Your MNOHS counselor will help you design a graduation plan with just the right combination, for you, of challenge, support, and community, and a post-secondary plan that is both achievable and exciting. Your interests. Your strengths and needs. Your time well spent.
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Academic Success Center (ASC)
The ASC is a webinar room where students can drop in during specific daytime hours, Monday through Friday and Sunday, to get help from a MNOHS teacher. Students also use the ASC to meet up with other MNOHS students—to work on school projects or just hang out.
Click for a PDF scheduleAcademic Support Program
This program supports MNOHS students with math or reading challenges. It begins with a one-on-one connection to help with the transition to online learning. Students then work on reading or math skills in their Reading Lab or Math Lab course and meet weekly with the academic support specialist who reinforces reading and math strategies and encourages students’ progress in all their MNOHS courses.
English Language Learner (ELL) Services
The MNOHS ELL coordinator provides direct instruction in reading, writing, speaking and listening at ELL students’ individual language levels. She also modifies instruction in core classes and works with the school counselors to schedule ELL students in classes that broaden their background knowledge, vocabulary, reading and technology skills.
Optional Year-Round Schedule
MNOHS runs a summer session from mid-June to mid-August. Most MNOHS students qualify for free tuition, and many use this as a “fifth quarter” to lighten their course load during the school year, recover any missed credits, or accelerate their graduation plan. We also run two-week “immersion” courses in summer if you are looking for something new!
School Counseling Services
Throughout your time at MNOHS, you will partner with the same school counselor. They work one-on-one with students to ensure each individual has a post-secondary plan that they are excited about. They will also help you plan your program at MNOHS—including courses, other learning opportunities, and supports—to make that plan reachable.
School Social Work Services
School social workers link home, school, and the community to promote academic and social success. The MNOHS social worker assists in addressing social, emotional, or behavioral problems that affect the well-being of the student, both in and out of school. Confidential services are available to all MNOHS students through staff, parent, or self-referral.
Special Education Services
MNOHS provides a continuum of services for students who qualify for special education. In addition to working with the MNOHS special education staff to develop and implement IEPs, students who qualify may enroll in MNOHS special education courses that provide additional support.
Read moreTechnology Orientation & Support
Technology Orientation, a brief course for students who are just getting started at MNOHS, allows them to practice using the online communication tools and software crucial to their success at MNOHS. Students who need help troubleshooting can submit a help ticket to MNOHS Tech Support and will receive a prompt response.
Wellness Support
Taught by a school counselor and certified agency counselor, this program supports MNOHS students who are actively working on their social emotional health. In the Wellness Skills course, students focus on individual goal setting to improve personal coping skills, academic engagement and time management. Class activities can be coordinated with work on these issues outside of MNOHS.
Active Learning
If you enjoy being challenged academically you may find what you are looking for in our standard courses. MNOHS prioritizes active learning: Students build models in math and science, edit photos and videos in media arts, search for patterns and evidence in social studies, write for audiences in language arts, create their own fitness plan in physical education, and much more.
Advanced Placement (AP) Courses
MNOHS AP courses, approved by the College Board, are taught at the college level and prepare students for AP exams. We currently offer three AP courses: AP Calculus A/B, AP Music Theory, and AP Advanced Chinese Language and Culture. For other opportunities to learn at the college level while attending MNOHS, please see the other blue cards.
See all course descriptionsGuided Study
Guided Study is the name of the project-based learning (PBL) program at MNOHS. Students who excel in one or more subjects, or who want to venture into uncharted waters, can go beyond Minnesota graduation requirements and existing MNOHS courses to create their own for-credit learning experiences, with the help of a licensed MNOHS teacher.
Honors Course Option
MNOHS offers an honors option within most courses that can be chosen at any point in the term. This option includes topics, activities, and special projects that enrich the standard course activities. Students who earn a grade of B- or better in a course, and complete all the honors activities, receive an honors designation on their transcript.
Read moreHonors Diplomas
MNOHS offers an honors diploma for students who excel in at least 5 credits (10 semester courses). We also offer an honors category designation on traditional diplomas for students who excel in at least 3 credits (6 semester courses) in specific academic fields including Art, Math, English, Social Studies, Science, or World Languages.
Read morePost-Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO)
Through PSEO, students are able to meet high school graduation requirements, and earn college credit at the same time, by taking college courses for free. This can be a full-time or part-time option, and can give a great financial boost to students who are on track to graduate and to those graduating up to one year later than their class.
Read more (PDF)All Booked Up
All Booked Up Book Club is a monthly meeting of MNOHS students (and sometimes staff) who love reading for pleasure. We read and discuss short fiction pieces together—and also share our favorite genres, favorite authors, how reading can change lives, and recent and lifetime best reads. All students are welcome!
Courses Outside of MNOHS
MNOHS students are not limited to just courses available at MNOHS. With the help of your counselor, you can enroll in college classes, MNOHS courses, project-based and work-based learning for MNOHS credit—or possibly classes at your local high school or another online school—to create a program that meets your needs.
Entrepreneurship Program
The MNOHS entrepreneurship program starts with a project-based intro course for students who are just exploring and for those who are already running their own business. Students can earn additional Guided Study (elective) credits for implementing their business plan.
Gender & Sexuality Alliance (GSA)
The Gender & Sexuality Alliance is a student-led club that meets monthly to create a supportive community for LGBTQ+ students and allies at MNOHS. Students decide the group’s needs and focus—ranging from confidential discussions to open forums with invited guest speakers.
The Locker
The Locker is a weekly drop-in social hour open to all MNOHS students who want to take a break from their daily routines and connect with other MNOHS students. It is sponsored and hosted by members of the MNOHS Student Leadership Council.
Peer Leaders Program
This program pairs experienced MNOHS students with incoming 9th grade or transfer students—to build our student community and to help new students navigate MNOHS and online learning. Trained peer leaders set goals and check in weekly with their student group and participate in regular large group activities, online and in-person (when possible).
Read moreProject-Based Learning
Through Guided Study, the MNOHS project-based learning program, students can earn elective credit for out-of-school learning in their local or online communities—focusing on interests they are already committed to, or ones they would like to explore. All projects are required to connect with at least one community expert and to explore career connections.
Student Leadership Council
All MNOHS students are welcome to participate in SLC. The SLC sponsors or cosponsors activities to promote leadership development, civic responsibility, and community-building within the school and our students’ home communities. Past activities have included fundraising, spirit weeks, leadership training, talent show, volunteer drive, and more.
Student Leadership Courses
MNOHS offers a semester-length student leadership course and a two-week leadership immersion project for credit. Students explore the qualities of a leader, develop their own leadership skills and plan service projects in their home communities. Those who need elective credit can earn it through Guided Study or Work Experience by following through on the projects they have planned.
TAG Team
Students who show high achievement or high potential in intellectual, creative, artistic, or leadership activities meet monthly to discuss ideas and plan activities. Students can choose on their own to join this group which focuses on enrichment activities such as creating an e-portfolio, furthering research skills, and strategies to reduce stress.
Tech Squad
The MNOHS Tech Squad applies students’ knowledge and experience to problem solving MNOHS tech issues. Students work on projects independently or in small groups to research solutions and present them to the MNOHS leadership team. They can earn elective credit, if needed, for their work on the squad.
Advanced Skills Courses
Students who want to make sure they are ready for college can improve their reading speed and comprehension in our Advanced Reading Lab course or strengthen their math confidence in our Preparing for Post Secondary Math course.
See all course descriptionsPerson-Centered Planning
Person-centered planning focuses on your strengths, interests and needs. Your counselor will meet one-on-one with you throughout the year to discuss individualized course schedule planning, community-based learning opportunities, college and career options—and through the Ramp-Up course they teach important life skills.
Post-Secondary Planning
Ramp-Up to Readiness is a curriculum designed by the University of Minnesota’s College Readiness Consortium used in MNOHS advisory courses. Students develop five kinds of readiness: academic, admissions, career, financial and personal/social. For a more condensed experience, MNOHS also offers a semester long course in Career and College Planning.
Preparation for an Adult Diploma
Students who will turn 21 before completing high school have the opportunity to earn a Minnesota-approved Standard Adult Diploma. Your MNOHS counselor can help you plan your time at MNOHS working toward the competencies required to earn this diploma. That way, you can complete as much as possible online before transferring to an Adult Basic Ed program.
Work Experience Program
In Work Experience, students can earn elective credit, build work skills, problem solve and strengthen critical thinking through paid or volunteer placements. They develop their post-secondary transition plans based on personal goals while learning to balance school and work to be successful in high school and beyond.