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Online School for Rochester Families | Forest Trail Academy
Your family’s life in Rochester doesn’t follow a standard schedule, and neither should your child’s education. Whether you’re here for a long-term Mayo Clinic treatment program, a medical residency, or a career at IBM Rochester, you need a school that moves with you, not one that holds you back. Forest Trail Academy gives Rochester families a fully accredited, self-paced K-12 online education that fits the real demands of your life.
Why Rochester Families Choose FTA
Rochester is unlike any other city in Minnesota. Mayo Clinic draws families from dozens of countries who are here for months or even years, but whose children still deserve a stable, high-quality education that won’t disappear when your situation changes. With FTA, your child keeps the same teachers, the same curriculum, and the same transcript no matter where treatment takes your family next. There’s no re-enrollment scramble, no lost credits, and no adjustment period every time life shifts.
Rochester’s IBM workforce, its medical professionals, and its entrepreneurial families share one thing: demanding, often unpredictable schedules. FTA’s self-paced model means your student can study at 6 AM before you head into work, on a Saturday afternoon, or during a quiet week between appointments. Local public and private schools like Mayo High School and John Marshall High School serve Rochester well, but they can’t offer the flexibility that a mobile, high-achieving Rochester family sometimes needs. FTA can.
What You Get
- Cognia Accreditation: Your FTA diploma is accepted by all universities near Rochester and nationwide.
- No Fixed Class Times: Study before training, after your shift, on weekends.
- Open Enrollment: Start any week, no waiting for September.
- Same School Through Every Change: Military PCS, relocations, and life changes don’t interrupt enrollment.
Getting Started from Rochester
- Call 800-890-6269 or submit an inquiry online
- Submit transcripts from your Rochester-area school
- Start coursework within days, no waiting
Questions?
Is FTA’s diploma recognized near Rochester?
Yes, our Cognia-accredited diploma is accepted by all Minnesota universities and 1,000+ colleges nationally.
Can we enroll mid-year from Rochester?
Yes, open enrollment, start any week.
Part of the Minnesota FTA Community
Rochester families are part of FTA’s larger Minnesota community. Learn more about FTA for all Minnesota students →
Online High School in Rochester, Grades 9 to 12
Most Rochester families who search for online school are looking for high school. Forest Trail Academy’s online high school program for grades 9 through 12 carries the full graduation-requirement sequence, Advanced Placement courses, and NCAA-approved core courses for student athletes. Enrollment is open year-round, so a student can start any week rather than waiting for a semester.
Students in Rochester who are behind on credits can use online credit recovery to make up individual courses without repeating a year. Families moving mid-year can follow the sequence on our switch schools mid-year page. Tuition runs $3,069 to $4,269 per year depending on grade level, with monthly payment plans from $236 for elementary, $286 for middle school, and $336 for high school, plus a one-time $225 registration fee. See the tuition page for the full breakdown.
Programs Available to Rochester Families
All Forest Trail Academy programs are fully online, self-paced, and open for enrollment year-round.
