The Lincoln Academy

The Lincoln Academy in Beloit, Wisconsin is a PK–12 alternative public school serving 727 students, making it by far the largest alternative school in its area and its own district, The Lincoln Academy Inc, so its district figures mirror its school figures. Nearby alternatives are much smaller: Beloit Virtual School (46 students), ARISE Virtual Academy (119), and Youth Services Center (10). About 63.69% of Lincoln students were eligible for free or reduced lunch in 2024–25, down from 66.6% in 2022–23 but still high, and the student–teacher ratio has held steady at roughly 16–17 for three years.

Attendance and completion are clear strengths. In 2024–25 the school reported a 100% graduation rate (versus 92.0% statewide), a 0.0% dropout rate for three consecutive years, and 9.8% chronic absenteeism — down from 18.9% in 2022–23 and below the state's 17.3%. That contrasts sharply with Beloit Virtual School, about half a mile away, which posted a 75.0% graduation rate, 6.6% dropout rate, and 82.4% chronic absenteeism despite a similar poverty level. ARISE also has strong outcomes (92.5% graduation, 1.5% chronic absenteeism) but serves a lower-poverty population (46.22% free/reduced lunch). Youth Services Center's rates are too volatile, with only 10 students, for meaningful comparison.

Academics are uneven. Early elementary is a bright spot: in 2025–26, third-grade math proficiency was 73.58% versus 54.75% statewide, fourth-grade ELA 70.59% versus 53.87%, and fourth-grade math 56.86% versus 52.87%; third-grade math has exceeded the state for four years running. Performance drops in middle and high school: sixth-grade ELA 39.22% versus 54.95%, seventh-grade math 33.33% versus 55.67%, and ACT math 13.33% versus 42.93% — nearly 30 percentage points below state. As an alternative school serving a nontraditional student population, test scores should be read with that context, and the most pressing academic need appears to be middle and high school math.