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Wisconsin Connections Academy

Q: Is Wisconsin Connections Academy a good school?

Wisconsin Connections Academy ranks 731 st of 1039 Wisconsin alternative schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Public, Charter, Virtual, Alternative Grades PK, KG-12

731^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,039 Wisconsin Alternative Schools

Better than 30% of Wisconsin alternative schools

Summary

Wisconsin Connections Academy is a PK–12 alternative school with 743 students at 350 W Capitol Dr in Appleton, Wisconsin, operating as a program inside the Appleton Area School District. It is far larger than its neighbors: Appleview, the only other alternative program in the same district, enrolls just 29 students about two miles away, and Oneida Nation School has 457 students 17 miles away. WCA's student-teacher ratio of 32.5 is more than double Oneida Nation's 14.7 and has stayed high for three straight years.

Where the school shines is getting students to the finish line. In 2024-25, its graduation rate was 90.0% — its best in five years and essentially matching the district (91.4%) and state (92.0%) — and its dropout rate was 0.0%, below both. Chronic absenteeism was 4.8%, roughly a third of the district's 15.7% and about a quarter of the state's 17.3%. That said, the school reported 0.0% chronic absenteeism for three earlier years, which is hard to produce in any school; for an alternative program, "attendance" may be defined differently, so treat those figures as reported rather than directly comparable.

The clear weak spot is math. In 2025-26, 35.4% of students were proficient in math versus 49.9% in the district and 53.7% statewide, and the gap has widened from about 3 points to about 18 points over four years. Math trails the district at every tested grade 3–8 and is weakest in grades 7–8 and on 10th-grade ACT math (20.83%). Reading (ELA) sits much closer to par, about 2 points below the state. Be cautious with grade-level numbers: some grades have very small cohorts, so single-year swings can look dramatic without meaning much. Two data quirks — per-student spending of $4,819 in 2023-24 and free/reduced lunch of 83.63% that year — look like reporting artifacts rather than real changes.

743

Students ?

32.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,861

Per pupil spending ?

43.2%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

350 W Capitol Dr
Appleton, WI 54911

(920) 852-5415

District: Appleton Area School District

Racial breakdown:

White:

68.5%

Hispanic:

11.7%

Two or more races:

7.9%

See top rated Wisconsin elementary schools

Compare Wisconsin Connections Academy to nearby alternative schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 57th percentile in 2022 → 27th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Wisconsin average (42% vs 53% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 30 percentile points since 2022

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school42%

District avg51%

Wisconsin avg53%

Elementary school

731^st of 1,039

Wisconsin public elementary schools ?

Bottom 30%▼ down 35 pts since 2016

From top 35% (2016) to bottom 30% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Wisconsin Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

396^th of 643

Wisconsin public middle schools ?

Bottom 38%▼ down 39 pts since 2016

From top 23% (2016) to bottom 38% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Wisconsin Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

High school

387^th of 533

Wisconsin public high schools ?

Bottom 27%

See the entire ranking list of Wisconsin High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

253^rd of 432Appleton Area School District among Wisconsin districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	38.9	731 of 1039	29.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	45.3	652 of 1044	37.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	46.9	656 of 1061	38.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	49.6	609 of 1067	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	56.3	498 of 1067	53.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	69.1	298 of 1050	71.6%	★★★★☆
2019	42.6	678 of 1037	34.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	53.6	520 of 1025	49.3%	★★☆☆☆
2017	57.2	473 of 1071	55.8%	★★★☆☆
2016	63.4	380 of 1075	64.7%	★★★☆☆
2015	58.1	517 of 1076	52.0%	★★★☆☆
2014	56.4	505 of 1061	52.4%	★★★☆☆
2013	49.5	617 of 1053	41.4%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	33.1	747 of 986	24.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	44.5	643 of 1001	35.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	61.1	433 of 1011	57.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	61.1	413 of 1010	59.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	64.2	354 of 1017	65.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	62.4	375 of 1004	62.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	34.2	736 of 1002	26.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	38.5	694 of 997	30.4%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2021	50.2	110 of 274	59.9%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	54.4	371 of 848	56.3%	★★★☆☆
2025	53.5	390 of 870	55.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	46.0	503 of 866	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	61.6	274 of 871	68.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	61.9	278 of 859	67.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	53.0	362 of 847	57.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	44.1	511 of 874	41.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	69.5	169 of 854	80.2%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	46.3	617 of 989	37.6%	★★☆☆☆
2025	45.2	615 of 1000	38.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	32.7	750 of 1012	25.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	32.6	747 of 1011	26.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	47.5	608 of 1017	40.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	75.6	186 of 1003	81.5%	★★★★☆
2019	51.6	520 of 1002	48.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	61.9	374 of 997	62.5%	★★★☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2021	53.6	34 of 85	60.0%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	24.7	577 of 697	17.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	26.8	575 of 718	19.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	38.8	491 of 727	32.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	37.9	497 of 715	30.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	46.8	409 of 704	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	63.5	231 of 699	67.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	20.1	630 of 718	12.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	27.2	557 of 686	18.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	45.2	396 of 643	38.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	39.2	435 of 628	30.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	46.9	389 of 641	39.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	47.0	352 of 640	45.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	56.1	264 of 617	57.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	75.9	96 of 613	84.3%	★★★★☆
2019	61.7	218 of 594	63.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	62.4	211 of 579	63.6%	★★★☆☆
2017	60.2	219 of 612	64.2%	★★★☆☆
2016	69.1	140 of 609	77.0%	★★★★☆
2015	69.1	146 of 612	76.1%	★★★★☆
2014	61.6	230 of 585	60.7%	★★★☆☆
2013	82.6	45 of 569	92.1%	★★★★★

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	88.6	15 of 97	84.5%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	45.9	345 of 572	39.7%	★★☆☆☆
2025	38.5	399 of 573	30.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	50.6	323 of 580	44.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	47.3	321 of 579	44.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	50.7	293 of 576	49.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	78.2	80 of 574	86.1%	★★★★☆
2019	58.4	245 of 557	56.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	59.0	224 of 551	59.3%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	32.6	163 of 236	30.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	85.6	24 of 229	89.5%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	38.0	346 of 513	32.6%	★★☆☆☆
2025	40.7	328 of 509	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	44.5	288 of 520	44.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	58.5	171 of 525	67.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	66.6	112 of 522	78.5%	★★★★☆
2021	67.1	102 of 499	79.6%	★★★★☆
2019	50.1	228 of 487	53.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	58.4	159 of 489	67.5%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	40.2	385 of 575	33.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	42.0	384 of 577	33.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	49.2	336 of 585	42.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	47.5	320 of 591	45.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	60.7	203 of 577	64.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	70.6	135 of 572	76.4%	★★★★☆
2019	60.7	204 of 557	63.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	63.3	177 of 551	67.9%	★★★☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	63.2	43 of 135	68.1%	★★★☆☆
2025	29.5	93 of 126	26.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	56.4	49 of 129	62.0%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	21.8	331 of 391	15.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	20.8	338 of 399	15.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	28.4	313 of 407	23.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	28.4	314 of 412	23.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	48.9	205 of 397	48.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	71.4	79 of 393	79.9%	★★★★☆
2019	58.7	142 of 382	62.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	45.6	210 of 375	44.0%	★★☆☆☆

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	32.9	387 of 533	27.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	76.0	56 of 466	88.0%	★★★★☆
2014	58.7	208 of 462	55.0%	★★★☆☆
2013	49.0	293 of 457	35.9%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	37.9	45 of 84	46.4%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	26.9	365 of 461	20.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	71.0	43 of 187	77.0%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	44.1	256 of 446	42.6%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	39.8	296 of 462	35.9%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	19.1	300 of 344	12.8%	★☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Elementary school

Multi-racial (2021)60th percentile-12 vs school

Hispanic (2021)60th percentile-12 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)56th percentile+27 vs school

Male (2026)38th percentile+8 vs school

Female (2026)24th percentile-5 vs school

White (2026)17th percentile-12 vs school

Middle school

Asian (2026)85th percentile+46 vs school

Multi-racial (2026)68th percentile+30 vs school

Female (2026)40th percentile~ school

Male (2026)33rd percentile-5 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)33rd percentile-6 vs school

Hispanic (2026)31st percentile-7 vs school

White (2026)15th percentile-23 vs school

High school

Hispanic (2026)77th percentile+50 vs school

African American (2026)46th percentile+19 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)43rd percentile+15 vs school

Male (2026)36th percentile+9 vs school

Female (2026)21st percentile-7 vs school

White (2026)13th percentile-15 vs school

By subject vs Wisconsin (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts54%~ state avg

Social Studies53%-6 vs state

Science48%-4 vs state

Mathematics35%-19 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

5★1

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3★0

2★0

1★0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Tuesday, January 17, 2017

Connections academy is great. We homeschooled for 10 years. It is so nice to have teachers back you as a learning coach. I no longer need to define lessons plans and try to be one step a head of my kids. Close Quote

Schools Near Wisconsin Connections Academy

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking ()				Ranking ()				ACT English Language Arts (2026)	ACT Mathematics (2026)	ACT Science (2026)	Forward Exam English Language Arts (2026)						Forward Exam Mathematics (2026)						Forward Exam Social Studies (2026)			Forward Exam Science (2026)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score ()	Statewide Rank ()	State Percentile ()	SchoolDigger Rating ()	Average Standard Score ()	Statewide Rank ()	State Percentile ()	Rank Change from Previous Year	ACT English Language Arts 10th Grade	ACT Mathematics 10th Grade	ACT Science 10th Grade	Forward Exam English Language Arts 3rd Grade	Forward Exam English Language Arts 4th Grade	Forward Exam English Language Arts 5th Grade	Forward Exam English Language Arts 6th Grade	Forward Exam English Language Arts 7th Grade	Forward Exam English Language Arts 8th Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 3rd Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 4th Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 5th Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 6th Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 7th Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 8th Grade	Forward Exam Social Studies 4th Grade	Forward Exam Social Studies 8th Grade	Forward Exam Social Studies 10th Grade	Forward Exam Science 4th Grade	Forward Exam Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Wisconsin Connections Academy	Public, Virtual, Charter, Alternative	PK, KG-12	350 W Capitol Dr	Appleton	54911	Outagamie County	Appleton Area School District	Yes	No	Yes	No	(920) 852-5415	743	23	32.5	43.2%	509 (68.5%)	58 (7.8%)	87 (11.7%)	25 (3.4%)	4 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	59 (7.9%)								(n/a)	43.8	20.8	26.0	18.5	60.0	54.6	56.3	61.5	61.1	18.5	40.0	40.9	43.8	35.9	33.3	60.0	59.7	44.9	52.0	47.2	$13,861	$609	$13,253
Appleview	Public, Alternative	PK, KG-12	120 E Harris St	Appleton	54912	Outagamie County	Appleton Area School District	No	No	No	No	(920) 933-7062	29	0		20.7%	23 (79.3%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (6.9%)	2 (6.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (6.9%)								(n/a)																					$4,851	$609	$4,243
DHS Winnebago Mental Health Institute	Public, Alternative	K-12	1300 South Dr	Winnebago	54985	Winnebago County	Wisconsin Department of Health Services	No	No	No	No	(608) 267-5150	3	7	.4	—	1 (33.3%)	1 (33.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (33.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Oneida Nation School	Public, Alternative	K-12	N7125 Seminary Road	Oneida	54155	Brown County	Oneida Nation School	(n/a)	No	No	Yes	(920) 869-1676	457	31	14.7	—	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	457 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Syble Hopp School	Public, Alternative	PK, KG-12	755 Scheuring Rd	De Pere	54115	Brown County	Brown County CDEB	No	No	No	No	(920) 336-5754	0	27	.0	—	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)

Frequently Asked Questions about Wisconsin Connections Academy

What district is Wisconsin Connections Academy in?

Appleton Area School District

What is the racial makeup of Wisconsin Connections Academy?

Students at Wisconsin Connections Academy are 69% White, 12% Hispanic, 8% Two or more races, 8% African American, 3% Asian.

Is Wisconsin Connections Academy a good school?

Wisconsin Connections Academy ranks 731^st of 1039 Wisconsin alternative schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

How many students attend Wisconsin Connections Academy?

In the 2024-25 school year, 743 students attended Wisconsin Connections Academy.

Rate Wisconsin Connections Academy!

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WIWisconsin Alternative School Rankings

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Schools in Appleton, WI

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Latest Wisconsin data All new data »

2025–26 ACT & Forward Exam scoresOct 1, 2026

2021–22 through 2024–25 school spending dataJul 16, 2026

2024–25 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesMar 5, 2026

2024–25 ACT & Forward Exam scoresSep 25, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.