High Schools in Appleton Area School District

The Appleton Area School District in Wisconsin is home to 9 high schools, including a mix of traditional public high schools and public charter high schools. The data reveals that the charter schools, particularly Renaissance School and Tesla Engineering Charter School, are outperforming the traditional public high schools across several key metrics, including graduation rates, test scores, and dropout rates.

The charter schools in the district rank among the top high schools in Wisconsin, with 5-star ratings from SchoolDigger. They boast exceptional graduation rates of 100% and very low dropout rates of 0%. Their test scores are significantly higher than the district and state averages, with over 70% of students proficient or better in several subject areas. In contrast, the traditional public high schools, such as West High and Appleton Technical Academy, have lower graduation rates, higher dropout rates, and weaker test scores compared to the district and state averages.

The data also reveals that the student population at the charter schools tends to be from higher socioeconomic backgrounds, as indicated by the lower free/reduced lunch rates. This raises questions about equity and access, as the charter schools may be serving a more privileged student population. Additionally, the charter schools have higher student-teacher ratios, which may be a trade-off for their strong academic performance. Overall, the analysis suggests that the Appleton Area School District is home to a mix of high-performing and struggling schools, with the charter schools standing out as the top performers in the district.