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Very Good

#285 of 2,102 schools in WI

Top 14% in state

Stephen Foster Elementary Charter

Elementary School · Appleton Area School District

305 W Foster St, Appleton, WI 54915

Charter

Enrollment

253

Student-Teacher

11.5:1

Score

7.8

Grades

Pre-K – 6th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Appleton

#3 of 38

public schools

Wisconsin elementary schools

#187 of 1,099

In district

#3 of 36

Appleton Area School District

Academic growth

9.1 / 10

Exceptional

About Stephen Foster Elementary Charter

Stephen Foster Elementary Charter serves 253 students in grades PreK through 6th in Appleton, Wisconsin. This charter school maintains an excellent 11.5:1 student-teacher ratio with 22 full-time equivalent teachers, allowing for personalized attention and small class sizes that support individual student growth. The school has earned strong recognition, ranking #40 out of 2,112 elementary schools statewide and placing in the 98th percentile for Wisconsin schools.

This impressive ranking reflects the school's commitment to educational excellence and positions it among the top-performing elementary schools in the state. With a MySchoolScout rating of 7.1 out of 10, Stephen Foster Elementary Charter demonstrates consistent quality in its educational approach. As a charter school, Stephen Foster Elementary offers families an alternative public education option with potential innovative teaching methods and specialized programming.

The school's structure allows for flexibility in curriculum and instruction while maintaining public school accessibility. The school is situated in a stable, middle-class neighborhood where the median household income reaches $81,170 and 37% of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher. With a low poverty rate of 8.2%, the surrounding community of 43,815 residents provides a supportive environment for education.

Stephen Foster Elementary Charter operates within Appleton's small city setting, offering students the benefits of both community connection and educational resources.

What Parents Should Know

Stephen Foster Elementary Charter is a charter school — a publicly funded school that operates with more autonomy than traditional district schools. Charter schools often have distinct educational models or specialties. Parents should understand the school's specific mission, enrollment process, and how its approach differs from nearby district options.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress9.1Exceptional50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change+3.52 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2025
TrendImproving
Academics5.7Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency22%
Reading/ELA Proficiency27%
Math vs. State Avg-32.3 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-24.2 pts
Overall Proficiency25%
Expected (poverty-adj.)22%
vs. Expected+2.8 pts
Adjusted Percentile39th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment7.7Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio11.5:1
Per-Pupil Spending$13,545

Stephen Foster Elementary Charter — Students at Stephen Foster Elementary Charter score 24% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 22%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

69.2%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores WI FORWARD (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 38.2%
School
State
53.0%
ELA Proficiency 42.4%
School
State
50.9%

Based on 10 test records from WI state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↑ Improving

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

2019
Math
27%
ELA
32%
2021*
Math
22%
ELA
27%
2025
Math
47.3%
ELA
50.9%

* 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: 9.1/10.

How Stephen Foster Elementary Charter Compares

See how Stephen Foster Elementary Charter performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.8/10
87th percentile in WI
Academic
5.7/10
5.7/10
Growth
9.1/10
Above average
Environment
7.7/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
69%
Teaching Staff
12:1 student-teacher ratio
22 teachers

Location

305 W Foster St, Appleton, WI 54915

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Stephen Foster Elementary Charter may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Ronald C Dunlap Elementary School (rated 7.6/10, 2.0 miles away), with a very similar rating. Another option is Fox River Academy (rated 7.0/10, 1.0 miles away), with a comparable rating. Additionally, Jefferson Elementary (rated 6.6/10, 1.0 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in Appleton, see our Appleton schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.0 mi
School Distance Rating
RIVERVIEW LUTHERAN SCHOOL Appleton 0.3 mi 5.9
Maplewood Middle Menasha 1.0 mi 7.0
Appleton Cooperative Educational Center Appleton 1.0 mi
Madison Middle Appleton 0.8 mi 6.9
Valley New School Appleton 1.2 mi 3.5
Fox River Academy Appleton 1.0 mi 7.0
Jefferson Elementary Appleton 1.0 mi 6.6
ST PAUL LUTHERAN SCHOOL Appleton 1.4 mi 6.2
Appleview Appleton 1.4 mi
McKinley Elementary Appleton 1.1 mi 6.2
Wilson Middle Appleton 1.5 mi 6.4
Edison Elementary Appleton 1.6 mi 6.0
Appleton Bilingual School Appleton 1.8 mi 6.3
XAVIER HIGH SCHOOL Appleton 1.3 mi 7.9
Columbus Elementary Appleton 1.8 mi 5.9
Richmond Elementary Appleton 1.5 mi 5.2
Appleton Technical Academy Appleton 1.9 mi 6.0
Renaissance School Appleton 1.9 mi 7.7
West High Appleton 1.9 mi 4.5
Ronald C Dunlap Elementary School Appleton 2.0 mi 7.6

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

Community Profile

The community surrounding Stephen Foster Elementary Charter has a median household income of $83,814. It is an area where 38% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $247,900, with a median rent of $974/month. The local poverty rate of 8.5% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 20 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Central Elementary Rhinelander, WI 7.8
EAGLE SCHOOL OF MADISON Madison, WI 7.8
Franklin Elementary Appleton, WI 7.8
Frederic Elementary Frederic, WI 7.8
Harmony Elementary Janesville, WI 7.8
Hilltop Elementary Rice Lake, WI 7.8

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Stephen Foster Elementary Charter

What grades does Stephen Foster Elementary Charter serve?

Stephen Foster Elementary Charter serves students in grades Pre-K through 6th.

How many students attend Stephen Foster Elementary Charter?

Stephen Foster Elementary Charter has an enrollment of approximately 253 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Stephen Foster Elementary Charter?

The student-teacher ratio at Stephen Foster Elementary Charter is 11.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Stephen Foster Elementary Charter rank in WI?

Stephen Foster Elementary Charter is ranked #285 out of 2,102 schools in WI.

What is Stephen Foster Elementary Charter's MySchoolScout rating?

Stephen Foster Elementary Charter has a composite rating of 7.8 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Stephen Foster Elementary Charter?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Stephen Foster Elementary Charter has 38.2% math proficiency and 42.4% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Stephen Foster Elementary Charter a charter school?

Yes, Stephen Foster Elementary Charter is a charter school. Charter schools are publicly funded but independently operated, often with more flexibility in curriculum and teaching methods.

Is Stephen Foster Elementary Charter a Title I school?

No, Stephen Foster Elementary Charter is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Stephen Foster Elementary Charter?

69.2% of students at Stephen Foster Elementary Charter 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
55 Somewhat Walkable
Bike Score
61 Bikeable
City Safety
High (1,551/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Appleton). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Enrollment
253
Student-Teacher Ratio
11.5:1
Teachers (FTE)
22
Free/Reduced Lunch
69.2%
Type
regular
Setting
Small City
County
Outagamie County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

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

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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