KTEC Schools of Innovation

KTEC Schools of Innovation is a small alternative public school in Kenosha, Wisconsin, serving 80 students in grades PK–12 as its own single-school district, Kenosha Schools of Technology Enhanced Curriculum Inc. It sits among other alternative settings: Kenosha Pike School, about 1.5 miles away with 29 students, and Racine County Detention Center, about 10 miles away with 20 students. Both nearby districts rank low statewide — Kenosha School District at 340 of 432 and Racine Unified School District at 411 of 432 — so KTEC operates in a challenging regional environment, though its own data still stand out.

Attendance is the school's biggest challenge. Chronic absenteeism has stayed near half of students for three straight years: 50.0% in 2024–25, 49.1% in 2023–24, and 51.2% in 2022–23, versus roughly 17–20% statewide. That is about 2.6 to 2.9 times the state rate. Dropout rose to 4.0% in 2024–25 — more than three times the state's 1.1% — and the graduation rate was 87.5%, below the state's 92.0%. By contrast, Racine County Detention Center reported 5.3% chronic absenteeism, though its controlled setting makes it an unusual peer.

Academics generally trail the state. In 2025–26, every ELA grade 3–8 was below state, averaging about 32.2% versus 54.0%. Math was mostly below state too — 4th grade 9.52% and 7th grade 15.79% — except 5th grade, where KTEC's 53.33% edged the state's 51.81%. Tenth-grade social studies showed 0% versus 48.25% statewide. Free/reduced lunch climbed from 53.66% to 62.5% in three years, and the student-teacher ratio was 9.6 — relatively low, but it hasn't closed these gaps. Small cohorts mean percentages can swing sharply year to year.