Why does Appleton have the 2nd-most charter schools in Wisconsin?

With 15 public charter schools, the Appleton Area School District has more charter schools than any district outside Milwaukee (which has 19). The school district oversees these charter schools, and taxpayers fund these schools the same way as traditional schools. You can send your kid here free of charge.

“They just provide great opportunities for our students and families in terms of being able to match particular interests and learning styles with particular students and families,” said Deputy Superintendent Matt Zimmerman.

Full list of charter school offerings:

1. Appleton Bilingual School (4K-5)
2. Appleton eSchool (7-12)
3. Appleton Public Montessori (Age 4-Grade 6)
4. Appleton Technical Academy (9-12)
5. Classical School (K-8)
6. Foster Elementary Charter School (K-5)
7. Fox Cities Leadership Academy (9-12)
8. Fox River Academy (K-8)
9. Hmong American Immersion School (4K-5)
10. Kaleidoscope Academy (6-8)
11. Renaissance School for the Arts (9-12)
12. Tesla Engineering Charter School (9-12)
13. The Ọmọladé Academy (K-4)
14. Valley New School (6-12)
15. Wisconsin Connections Academy (4K-12)

Click here to learn more about each of the charter schools.

“[These] are pretty strong offerings for kids in terms of they know exactly what they’re interested,” said Zimmerman. “And they get to learn a whole lot of things in the context of what they’re interested in. And I think that’s great.”

The schools all teach the core subjects — math, science, English, etc., but some add a cultural element or a different learning method.

“My kids have grown as individuals and academically as well,” said Kyles Vang, a parent at Hmong American Immersion School (HAIS).

The schools also can offer additional flexibility.

“What I’m finding out with Connections Academy is that they’re just very supportive,” said Melissa Kelly, whose grandson goes to the virtual Wisconsin Connections Academy.

How are charters started, governed?

“All of our charters came through a process whereby it was families and kids who had an interest and demand, and we wanted to meet that demand,” said Zimmerman. “In a charter school, you get a little increased autonomy for extra accountability.”

Charters are required to present before the school board to be approved, and then at least every five years for renewal. HAIS is the newest charter school, opening last school year. The Ọmọladé Academy opened the previous year.

Are Appleton’s charter schools more effective?

On average, Appleton charter schools received a higher state rating than its traditional public schools in the most recent ratings from 2024-25.

“I don’t like to compare our neighborhood schools to our charter schools,” said Zimmerman. “What I do know is that our charter schools provide options for kids they wouldn’t have otherwise.”

The debate is more complicated than it seems on the surface though.

“There are some differences in terms of enrollment practices across those charter schools,” said Kevin Henry, a UW-Madison associate professor who specializes in charter school research.

For example, students need to find their own transportation — taking the school bus is not an option. It’s one reason why typically a charter student is from a higher socioeconomic background.

“We see that there’s fewer students that are low income, and so that has an impact on student achievement,” said Henry.

What are the financial implications?

Having so many charter schools can also mean more overhead cost, which can draw resources away from students in traditional schools.

“I think we have to consider what that might mean fiscally, and also think about how that impacts issues of equity,” said Henry.

Zimmerman said these schools are staffed at the same rate as the traditional schools. Many charter schools share buildings with traditional schools as well to save on overhead costs.

The average Appleton charter school does recruit a higher rate of open enrolled students, however, which gives the school district a bigger pot of money from the state. But it also has to run 15 extra schools.

These are legitimate questions about equity, performance or funding. But at the end of the day, if you’re in Appleton, your student has a unique number of options and learning opportunities.