A virtual school wants to broaden its reach.

Texas Connections Academy started as a charter school in the Houston Independent School District in 2009. Now, it’s expanding statewide.

Laramie and Lafe Allen are about to enter sixth and seventh grades, respectively.

The brothers rope cattle year-round and tried home school last year, but their mother admits it was not the most structured.

“I did all of the curriculum planning and grading, assessing -- all of it,” Kelli Allen said. “I was always a little unsure if I was doing the right things all the time.”

Now they're looking for change.

Texas Connections Academy offers the option for public school at home. The students receive textbooks and a laptop from the charter school. Teachers are there to guide them, either online or on the phone.

“When mom's at work, you can call a teacher and they can help you with what you need,” Laramie Allen said.

Mary Ann Sanders has been with Texas Connections Academy since it started in December 2009. She oversees math curriculum for the school. Even though it's a virtual campus, she said the students interact with others through science labs, field trips and clubs.

“We had, I want to say, close to 200 kids and their parents come to the math camps last year, and they loved it,” Sanders said.

However, state test scores show TCA students are behind their counterparts statewide. Data from the Texas Education Agency showed all but eighth graders are deficient in math.

Sanders said the results are misleading.

“We get students from all different places,” Sanders said. “Some of them have been in home school and not necessarily done math. We take them from where they are and bring them up higher.”

YNN asked Sanders if TCA staff were aware of the TAKS scores and review the results.

“Our teachers individually go through those and look at them for the next year and evaluate what the kids need in the program,” she said.

The scores do show student improvement from year to year, even if they still fall behind students statewide. Sanders said student retention is high, though she admits TCA is not for everyone.

“There are some parents that work full-time, and this is not a good program for them if they don't have a learning coach,” she said.

Sanders said it’s an option for students who can manage their time.

Texas Connections Academy is part of Houston ISD, and receives state funding. However, it's run by Baltimore-based Connections Education.

According to its website, Connections Education has schools in 23 states.