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Very Good

#723 of 2,105 schools in WI

Top 34% in state

Horizons Elementary

Elementary School · Appleton Area School District

2101 Schaefer Cir, Appleton, WI 54915

Enrollment

312

Student-Teacher

10.8:1

Score

7.3

Grades

Pre-K – 6th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Wisconsin schools

#723 of 2,105

In Appleton

#7 of 38

public schools

In district

#4 of 36

Appleton Area School District

Equity

7.9 / 10

Very Good

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Horizons Elementary

7.3/10

Elementary School in Appleton · grades Pre-K – 6th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Tesla Engineering Charter School

6.1/10

0.7 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Appleton Eschool

7.3/10

0.7 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Horizons Elementary

Horizons Elementary is a public elementary school in Appleton, WI, part of Appleton Area School District. Horizons Elementary serves approximately 312 students, and covers grades Pre-K-6th, and has a 10.8:1 student-teacher ratio. Horizons Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.3 out of 10 and ranks #723 of 2,105 schools in WI.

Structured state assessment records for Horizons Elementary show 47% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 41% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares0.7 pts above district
  • This school 7.3 · Very Good
  • District avg 6.6
  • WI avg 6.8

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress7.3Very Good50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-1.4 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics7.8Very Good30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency50.3% (2025 FORWARD)
Reading/ELA Proficiency54.4% (2025 FORWARD)
Math vs. State Avg-4 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+3.2 pts
Overall Proficiency52% (2025 FORWARD, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)38% (model expectation from 2025 FORWARD)
vs. Expected+14.8 pts
Adjusted Percentile68th
Resources & Environment6.5Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio10.8:1
Per-Pupil Spending$13,085
Chronic Absenteeism23.7%

Horizons Elementary — Students at Horizons Elementary score 52% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 38%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

58.3%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores WI FORWARD (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 46.6% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
53.0% (2025 FORWARD)
ELA Proficiency 40.8% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
50.9% (2025 FORWARD)

Based on 34 test records from WI state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
80%
ELA
82%
2010
Math
80%
ELA
84%
2011
Math
43%
ELA
22%
2012
Math
46%
ELA
25%
2013
Math
42%
ELA
30%
2014
Math
41%
ELA
35%
2015
Math
38%
ELA
32%
2016
Math
42%
ELA
32%
2017
Math
37%
ELA
27%
2018
Math
42%
ELA
32%
2019
Math
42%
ELA
32%
2020*
Math
32%
ELA
32%
2021*
Math
32%
ELA
32%
2022
Math
44.3%
ELA
34.3%
2025
Math
50.3%
ELA
54.4%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 7.3/10.

How Horizons Elementary Compares

See how Horizons Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.3/10
66th percentile in WI
Academic
7.8/10
Very Good
Growth
7.3/10
Very Good
Environment
6.5/10
Average
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
58%
Teaching Staff
11:1 student-teacher ratio
29 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
23.7%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

2101 Schaefer Cir, Appleton, WI 54915

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Horizons Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Woodland School (rated 9.0/10, 1.8 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Westside Elementary (rated 8.0/10, 2.5 miles away, in nearby Kimberly), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Stephen Foster Elementary Charter (rated 7.2/10, 1.9 miles away), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Appleton, see our Appleton schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.6 mi
School Distance Rating
Tesla Engineering Charter School Appleton 0.7 mi 6.1
Appleton eSchool Appleton 0.7 mi 7.3
East High Appleton 0.7 mi 3.4
Berry Elementary Appleton 0.8 mi 7.1
McKinley Elementary Appleton 0.8 mi 6.6
Johnston Elementary Appleton 1.3 mi 6.1
Madison Middle Appleton 1.1 mi 5.3
Richmond Elementary Appleton 1.4 mi 6.2
Woodland School Appleton 1.8 mi 9.0
Woodland Intermediate Appleton 1.8 mi 8.5
Edison Elementary Appleton 2.2 mi 6.4
RIVERVIEW LUTHERAN SCHOOL Appleton 1.9 mi 5.9
Stephen Foster Elementary Charter Appleton 1.9 mi 7.2
SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN SCHOOL Menasha 2.4 mi 5.2
Westside Elementary Kimberly 2.5 mi 8.0
Maplewood Middle Menasha 2.1 mi 6.6
Valley New School Appleton 2.4 mi 3.8
ST PAUL LUTHERAN SCHOOL Appleton 2.5 mi 6.2
HOLY SPIRIT SCHOOL Appleton 2.1 mi 6.5
Appleview Appleton 2.6 mi

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 54915 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$83,814

Median Home Value

$247,900

Median Rent

$974/mo

Population

44,269

College Educated

38%

Homeownership

72.6%

Avg Commute

20.2 min

Poverty Rate

8.5%

Median Age

38.5

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Bethesda Elementary Waukesha, WI 7.3
Birnamwood Elementary Birnamwood, WI 7.3
Cashton Elementary Cashton, WI 7.3
Clayton Elementary Neenah, WI 7.3
Core Knowledge Charter School Verona, WI 7.3
Country View Elementary Verona, WI 7.3

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Horizons Elementary

What grades does Horizons Elementary serve?

Horizons Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 6th.

How many students attend Horizons Elementary?

Horizons Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 312 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Horizons Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Horizons Elementary is 10.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Horizons Elementary rank in WI?

Horizons Elementary ranks #723 of 2,105 schools in WI.

What is Horizons Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Horizons Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.3 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Horizons Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Horizons Elementary has 47% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 41% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Horizons Elementary a charter school?

No, Horizons Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Horizons Elementary a Title I school?

No, Horizons Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Horizons Elementary?

58.3% of students at Horizons Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
29 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
43 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Enrollment
312
Student-Teacher Ratio
10.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
29
Free/Reduced Lunch
58.3%
Type
regular
Setting
Small City
County
Calumet County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
23.7%

District

Appleton Area School District
District Enrollment
15,230
Schools in District
38
Per-Pupil Spending
$13,085
District Rank
#4 of 36

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