Meet your learning goals this school year with course and registration choices that fit your needs. Replace a course during your school day, catch up on credits, or advance your learning with our large variety of courses taught by dedicated, licensed Minnesota teachers.
Enrollment stays open through mid-April, so you can choose the start and end dates, course, and credits that work for your schedule and graduation requirements. Check out our Important Dates to help you create your learning plan.
Explore the complex systems that shape our planet and its place in the cosmos in Earth & Space Science. Students will investigate the unique factors that make Earth habitable while addressing broader questions about life in the universe, stellar stability, and planetary formation. By analyzing geological, atmospheric, and human-driven processes, students will develop the critical scientific literacy needed to understand global environmental challenges and actively design sustainable solutions using computational modeling.
This August, Northern Star Online student Ava Valerius showcased her talent and ambition by combining her academic journey with her passion for art. Ava, a senior with Centennial High School, also takes Japanese language classes with Northern Star Online. This summer she entered the Minnesota State Fair K-12 Art Contest and came away with numerous prizes, showcasing her unique artistic abilities.
Ava's art is deeply inspired by her admiration for traditional Japanese culture. "With its vibrancy and historical ties, traditional Japanese art and culture has always spoken to me as an artist," she shared. "As I’ve developed my artistic skills, Japanese art and culture have consistently been a type of 'role model' that I look up to for inspiration."
Beyond art, Ava has her sights set on a future in engineering. For her, art and engineering are intricately connected. “To me, one of the foundations of engineering is art,” she explains. Ava plans to major in engineering and dreams of studying abroad in Japan, a place where “innovation meets rich traditional culture.” Her ambitions don't stop there; she hopes to explore other cultures and investigate how engineering can create positive changes across the globe.
Ava's achievements at the Minnesota State Fair are a testament to her curiosity, creativity, and drive. Congratulations to her on her great success! We are excited to see what the future holds for her as she continues to blend her passion for art, language, culture, and engineering.
In 2001, Northern Star Online (NSO) was founded as a collaboration between public schools working together to provide high quality online learning to students in Minnesota.
Throughout the last two decades, we have expanded our course offerings and learning options while remaining committed to providing high quality online learning in a way that works for students and schools. NSO has worked with over 400 schools and is the largest online public school in the state, operating as a responsive, collaborative partner in online learning.
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