Classical School

Classical School is a public charter elementary school serving grades K-8 in Appleton, Wisconsin, which is part of the Appleton Area School District. This exceptional school has consistently been one of the top-performing elementary schools in Wisconsin, ranking in the top 10% for several years and currently holding a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Classical School significantly outperforms the Appleton Area School District and the state of Wisconsin on standardized test scores across all grade levels and subject areas. For example, in 2024-2025, 70.59% of 3rd graders at Classical School were proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to 49.5% in the district and 52.14% statewide. The school also excels at serving all student subgroups, ranking in the top quartile of Wisconsin elementary schools for female students, male students, Asian students, and students from low socioeconomic backgrounds. Additionally, Classical School maintains very low dropout rates, ranging from 0-1.4% over the past several years, well below the district and state averages.

It is interesting to note that Classical School is located in close proximity to several lower-performing elementary schools within the Appleton Area School District, highlighting the significant disparities in educational outcomes that can exist even within the same district. This raises questions about equity in resource distribution across the district and suggests that there may be opportunities for collaboration and knowledge-sharing to help improve outcomes at the lower-performing schools.