Iowa Virtual Academy offers flexible online learning for K-12 students
Oct 6, 2025
GUTTENBERG, Iowa — Iowa Virtual Academy is providing a personalized and flexible online learning experience for approximately 2,000 students across the state.
The free public school serves kindergarten through 12th grade, allowing students to log on from home and learn through virtual classrooms led by licensed Iowa teachers. The academy started in 2012 as a K-6 school with only 61 students.
The Keehner family is local to Guttenberg. They started online learning with Iowa Virtual Academy during the pandemic and haven’t looked back since. Their oldest daughter recently graduated from the academy, while their four youngest children are still in attendance. I got to sit down with Kaleb, Gage, Jozy, and Myah, who tell me that the choice to go online has been a game-changer.
“I was like, mom, I want to quit science school. I don’t want to go in real school. So, I made a ton of new friends at home school,” said Kaleb Keehner.
“My mom’s food’s a lot better than normal school,” said Gage Keehner.
“I can make a lot of new friends and meet new people,” said Jozy Keehner.
“There’s more breaks,” said Myah Keehner.
Despite the virtual setting, students still find ways to connect through field trips, breakout rooms, and online games. Additionally, Iowa Virtual Academy students can participate in up to two extracurricular or co-curricular activities at their local schools.
“Students are able to participate in the maximum of two extracurricular or co-curricular activities at their resident district while attending the virtual school, which is fantastic,” said Steve Hoff, executive director of Iowa Virtual Academy.
The academy prioritizes flexibility, allowing high school students to support their families or care for younger siblings while working towards their diplomas.
“We have high school students that may need to support their families. They’re able to go to school and continue to work and help support their families. They may need to have to look after a younger sibling. So that flexibility allows them to continue to do what they’re doing, still work at school, and work towards earning that high school diploma,” Hoff said.
For these students, Iowa Virtual Academy is not just about education today, it’s about shaping their future.
Myah and Jozy both want to be veterinarians when they are older, while Gage and Kaleb want to take on the family business of window cleaning.