Education
A Compass for the Future
RIPON AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT
The Ripon Area School District serves approximately 1,800 students who reside in the City of Ripon and the 10 surrounding towns and villages, as well as open-enrollment students who are seeking a quality education. A nine-member board of education is elected at large for three-year terms. Consisting of 117 square miles, the school district provides a half-day preschool program for 4-year-olds at community sites and K-12 classes at four newly built or remodeled schools that emphasize positive learning environments. In addition, the school district has two charter schools for nontraditional learners.
With approximately 80 percent of graduates attending four-year or two-year colleges, the school district prepares students for success after high school. In addition to ACT scores that surpass those of other area school districts and a rank in the top 8 percent of all public high schools in the state of Wisconsin, the Ripon Area School District also offers unique programs to support all students. Ripon Exploration and Application Charter High School (REACH) is a 9-12 charter high school for hands-on learners that operates within the high school building.
Crossroads Charter School, located near the Ripon College campus in the First Congregational Church, provides self-paced learning programs for at-risk students in grades 6-12. The BRAVE after-school program for K-8 students provides homework assistance and fun activities. Summer School is popular for its many enrichment classes. The Ripon Education Foundation is an independent organization that provides support to academic initiatives including tutoring, scholarships, art appreciation programs and student academic team competitions.
A comprehensive arts program features choirs, bands, jazz ensembles, middle and high school musicals, dramatic productions, and a variety of art courses from painting to weaving to ceramics. Computer courses, distance learning and online learning are popular choices of students being educated for the 21st century. Vocational courses prepare students for skilled careers and offer three different co-op programs. Advanced Placement (AP) courses and University of Wisconsin Oshkosh’s Cooperative Academic Partnership Program (CAPP) courses allow students the opportunity to obtain college credits for advanced courses taken at the high school during the regular school day. The agriculture program, in collaboration with the local Future Farmers of America (FFA) Alumni chapter, guides students who are interested in farming or agribusiness careers. A recent recipient of a substantial health and wellness grant, the school district’s physical education program contains state-of-the-art fitness equipment in addition to a swimming pool. Special education, English language learner, gifted/talented, and reading teachers all provide extra assistance to students at all levels.
A recent two-time football state champion and track team state champion, Ripon has a reputation for sports programs that build character and win. The district’s historic Ingalls Field boasts a nine-lane track and an artificial turf playing surface that is used by soccer and football teams. As a member of the Eastern Valley Conference, high school students participate in 14 interscholastic sports, while middle school students compete in a variety of interscholastic and intramural sports. For more information about the school district, visit the website at www.ripon.k12.wi.us.
THE BERLIN AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT
The Berlin Area School District serves the City of Berlin, Nepeuskun, Rushford, Aurora, Poy Sippi, Bloomfield, Saxeville, Leon, Warren, Marion, Brooklyn, Seneca and St. Marie. The district is governed by a nine-member school board elected at large. Public schools within the district include Clay Lamberton (K-5), Poy Sippi Elementary (K-4), Berlin Middle School (6-8), and Berlin High School (9-12). All schools, with the exception of Poy Sippi Elementary, are located in the City of Berlin. The district serves a student population of 1,730.
Berlin High School is a modern facility built in 1996. The building is fully equipped with state-of-the-art technology. The high school operates on a trimester schedule with a five-period day. On average, 52 percent of Berlin graduates attend a four-year college or university, while 34 percent attend a two-year technical college.
Berlin Middle School believes that students need to develop socially, emotionally, physically and intellectually at their own rates. Students need opportunities to learn to develop basic skills. The middle school offers the core subjects of language arts (reading and English), social studies (ancient history, geography and American history), interactive science, and impact mathematics. Exploration subjects include art, band, careers, choir, computer technology, creative problem solving, general music, home technology, industrial technology and Spanish.
MARKESAN DISTRICT SCHOOLS
Markesan District Schools is an 800-student rural school district located in southern Green Lake County. The district consists of one city, three villages, and all or part of 13 townships with a population of nearly 8,000 people. The district operates one elementary school and a combined middle/high school complex. The facilities are in excellent condition and have all been updated within the last 10 years.
Academics and cocurricular activities flourish in Markesan. At Markesan High School, 19 courses are offered with both dual and transcripted credits linked to Moraine Park Technical College. We also offer college credits linked to UW Oshkosh, UW-Green Bay and UW-Madison Extension. Classes are taught in traditional classrooms, online and in our distance learning laboratory. Our curriculum is aligned to national standards, and our children are given meaningful feedback to these learning targets.
In addition, the fine arts are thriving in Markesan as students are given opportunities to travel, compete, or simply enjoy the perspective that a quality art and music program adds to life. Our athletic facilities are the finest in central Wisconsin and recently, Markesan has been the recipient of a federal grant permitting the establishment of an exercise room that both students and the community use throughout the year.
Markesan District Schools are governed by an 11-member board of education, and our community has supported referendums within the past 10 years to both upgrade facilities and surpass revenue limits. Markesan is a warm and welcoming school district, and we are strongly committed to providing opportunities that will open doors for our children.
GREEN LAKE SCHOOL DISTRICT
Often called a public school with the “feel” of a private school, the Green Lake School District has all of its students, kindergarten (for 4-year-olds) through 12th grade, in the same building. Although located in separate wings, this arrangement allows for a family and community atmosphere, bringing options for mentoring and tutoring between the oldest and youngest in the school and the community. This climate helps the district in its quest to be the best small school district in the state.
Smaller is better in regard to early education. Research supports smaller class sizes in grades K-3. We provide small classes in the early grades and enhance the experience by offering a multiage setting as well as traditional classrooms. Our student-to-teacher ratio is the lowest in the area. One of our district-wide, long-term goals—having students read at or above grade level—emphasizes our commitment to literacy. Our most recent reading scores show that we are making progress. We also emphasize health and fitness with our elementary students having physical education every day.
Innovation is part of our attitude at the Green Lake schools. A lake-centered charter school, the Green Lake Global and Environmental Academy, opened fall 2008. This middle school uses a hands-on approach to connect our students to our wonderful Green Lake, its surrounding area and its place in the world. Through hands-on, relevant curriculum, our students have sailed, studied and immersed themselves in our environment.
The district, in its entirety, has applied to become a K-12 International Baccalaureate World School. This international focus will enable our students to engage in a world-class education. This transition is taking place with staff preparation and a substantial commitment to training.
The Green Lake School District encourages students to reach their full potential in all areas of their lives. Three out of four students are involved in three or more school activities, and the performing and visual arts have excellent student participation and outstanding community support.
The excellence of our high school is shown by the success of our graduates; 85 percent of our graduates continue their education beyond high school. There are Green Lake High School alumni enrolled in undergraduate and graduate courses at institutions of higher education such as the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Amherst, Cornell, Duke, Northwestern, the University of Chicago, Stanford and Purdue.
In a world-class lake environment, we must strive to have a world-class education for our students … our future.
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