Appleton Area School District families,

We hope you are enjoying a fun, safe, and relaxing summer! Inside this message, you’ll find key information, including back-to-school dates and Meet and Greet events, school supply lists, a Valley Transit update, and meal program details.

You’ll also learn about new programs like the AASD Arts League, updates on high school grading and attendance efforts, upcoming events like the August 20 Open House and Sandy Slope ribbon-cutting, and important reminders about student safety, extended learning opportunities, and how to stay connected throughout the year.

Important Upcoming Dates (Find our yearly calendar here.)

• Tuesday, September 2, 2025: First day of school for AASD neighborhood schools

Charter schools and Appleton Central programs may follow their own calendars, please refer to your school or program calendar.

Meet and Greet Events

Date and time information for Meet and Greet events can be found on each school's website calendar and under Our School - Annual Student Registration. We encourage you to attend your school’s Meet and Greet. This is a great way to meet school staff and familiarize yourself with the building and drop-off process. 

If your student will be walking to school, we encourage you to walk to the Meet and Greet to ensure your student knows the best way to safely get to and from school. Check out the City of Appleton’s recommended Safe Routes to School here.

School Supply Lists for 2025-26 School Year

School supply lists are available here or on your school's website under Families. Our goal is to ensure that every student is prepared and ready for a successful year of leading, caring, and contributing. If you have any questions or need assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out. 

Join the AASD

Become part of a supportive community that's shaping the future. We're hiring for the 2025-26 school year, and we'd love for you to join us! We have openings on our team for educators, paraprofessionals, and maintenance professionals, and we invite you to join us in building a brighter future for our students. Explore our openings and find your place with us today! 

Introducing the AASD Arts League: Inclusive Arts Opportunities for Grades 6-12

We are excited to announce the launch of the Appleton Area School District Arts League, a new after-school program designed to provide inclusive, non-competitive arts experiences for students in grades 6-12 with disabilities. The Arts League offers quality programming in dance, theater, visual arts, and more, supporting creativity and community in a welcoming environment.

The program will run in three sessions throughout the school year at accessible locations, with support from skilled arts teachers, peer helpers, and Special Education staff. Eligibility includes students with disabilities who benefit from adapted programming to safely and meaningfully engage in the arts. We’re proud to foster artistic expression and inclusion through the Arts League—helping every student shine creatively! Please click here for more information and to fill out the student interest form if your student is interested in participating. You will be contacted in September with more details.

AASD Seeks Partnership with City of Appleton to Improve Attendance

Last spring, we shared that the AASD presented at an Appleton Common Council meeting to ask the City to support us in our efforts to get students to attend school more consistently at the high school level. The issue was referred to the City’s Safety & Licensing Committee, which has had ongoing discussions regarding this issue throughout several meetings this summer.  

Earlier this week, the AASD and the City of Appleton invited families and community members to participate in a public listening session, which provided an important opportunity to hear directly from our community. Feedback collected will help guide future decisions and will be shared with the Common Council as this work moves forward. It is expected to return to the committee’s agenda in early fall 2025. 

Missing 50 or more days of school in one year often leads to a lack of learning and growth, class failures, and ultimately, a student not graduating. It is these students for whom we are asking the City’s help through the reinstatement of the truancy ordinance. Appleton is one of the few municipalities in the state, and the only one in northeast Wisconsin, that does not have an ordinance to support student attendance. Find our frequently asked questions here and learn more about how the AASD supports student attendance.  

Elementary & Middle School Policy Manual

We encourage our elementary and middle school families to review our Elementary & Middle School Family Policy Manual. If you would like a printed copy, please contact your student’s school office. High school handbooks are located on their websites.

Safe School Traffic Tips

As the new school year begins, it's essential to revisit the importance of patience and safety during school drop-off and pick-up hours. We all share the goal of ensuring our students' well-being, and by following a few simple guidelines, we can contribute to a safer and more pleasant environment for everyone. Learn more.

Free Student Rides via Valley Transit Now Require WisGO

We want to share an important update about student transportation with Valley Transit. Beginning this school year, Valley Transit is transitioning to a new fare collection system. While AASD middle and high school students will continue to ride Valley Transit buses for free, student ID cards will no longer be accepted as fare. To ride for free, students must now use either the WisGO card or the WisGO mobile app. Students will choose one method only—either the card or the app—not both. Learn more about getting started here.

To ensure a smooth transition, there will be a grace period during the first several weeks of school. During this time, students will still be allowed to ride Valley Transit without a card or app, giving everyone a chance to get signed up and ready.

Valley Transit staff will be available at select back-to-school events across AASD to assist with downloading the WisGO app, answer questions about the new fare system, and share general transit information with families. We encourage families to take advantage of this opportunity for extra support and information. 

We appreciate your partnership in supporting safe and efficient student transportation. If you have any questions, please contact your student’s school office or the AASD Transportation Office.

Annual Report to the Community Now Available

The Appleton Area School District’s Annual Report to the Community for the 2024-2025 school year is now available. This Annual Report shares academic and student data, district highlights, and referendum information.

High School Grading Changes

Over the past 10 years, our district has made several changes to how we assign grades in high school. Last year, a group of teachers from our three main high schools worked together to improve how we communicate grades to families. As a result, we now use a grading system that looks more like the familiar 100-point scale most people know.

Grades will be made up of 70% tests and major assignments (called summative work) and 30% practice and homework (called formative work). All tests and major assignments count as summative, while homework and practice activities count as formative. Summative work will be scored using detailed rubrics, and formative work may be scored by rubrics or by points. We will then convert the scores to letter grades using our district’s grading scale.

• Rubric Scores
  • A = 4 points  Mastery
  • B = 3.5 points Competent 
  • C = 3 points Developing
  • D = 2.5 points Beginning 
  • F = 1.5 points  — Insufficient evidence
  • F = 0 points  — No evidence 

• Late Work
  Students must turn in their assessment(s) and any assignments on the due date. Late work will only be accepted until the last day of the unit. Extenuating circumstances should be discussed with the teacher. 
• Reassessments
  If a student wants to improve their grade, they must first complete the original assessment. Before retaking it, students should show they have learned more, as agreed with their teacher. The new score will replace the old one only if it’s higher. Students may reassess up to two weeks after the unit ends.

Attendance

Good attendance is vital to the academic success of every student. Please make sure your student arrives at school on time every day. Click here for more attendance information.

Is Your Child Well Enough to Go to School?

It is not always easy to decide if your child is sick enough to stay home or well enough to be in school. Children who come to school are expected, with few exceptions, to participate fully in school activities. Here are some guidelines that might help a parent/guardian decide if a student should stay home from school or not. If your child has a medical concern in school, we will need to be able to reach you. Please make sure to notify the office of any work or phone number changes as they occur.

Student And School Safety

Weather events, fire, accidents, intruders, and other threats to student safety are scenarios that are planned and trained for by students, teachers, staff, and administration. The AASD utilizes the Standard Response Protocol (SRP), developed by the i love u guys Foundation, to respond to security incidents and emergencies. Standard Response Protocol offers clear, distinct, common language among first responders, students, and staff.

The SRP Parent Handout explains the five actions and the responsibilities of teachers and students. Each protocol has specific staff and student actions that are unique to the action ("Hold", "Secure," "Lockdown," "Evacuate," and "Shelter"). In the event of an emergency, the action and appropriate direction will be announced. Students and staff will be trained, and the school will drill these actions over the course of the school year. Learn more here.

Reminders:

Required Annual Registration

Required annual registration for the 2025-2026 school year is now open via the Infinite Campus Parent Portal. Get started here.

Student Meals

Appleton Public Montessori, Berry, Classical, Ferber, Odyssey, Houdini, Huntley, Fox River Academy, and Magellan will have free school breakfasts available during the 2025-2026 school year. This will continue to encourage our elementary students to fuel up with breakfast at no cost to our AASD families.

In June 2025, the AASD re-applied for the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program which allows us to provide a healthy breakfast and lunch for students at no charge for all previously participating schools (Appleton Bilingual School, Badger Elementary, Dunlap Elementary, Edison Elementary, Foster Elementary, Franklin Elementary, Highlands Elementary, Horizons Elementary, Jefferson Elementary, Johnston Elementary, McKinley Elementary, Richmond Elementary, Kaleidoscope Academy, Madison Middle, Wilson Middle, and West High School) for the upcoming school year. We anticipate receiving confirmation in August. Pending approval through the USDA, enrolled students of these schools would be able to participate in these meal programs without having to pay a fee.

We encourage the annual submission of meal applications from households with a student participating in the CEP; however, receipt of free breakfast and lunch meals does not depend on returning them. Other waivers and benefits still require completion of an application. Meal prices for the 2025-26 school year have been updated. Pricing information and instructions on adding funds can be found here.

If you think your family may qualify for Free or Reduced meals, or you aren’t sure, we encourage you to fill out the Free and Reduced meal application. Forms can also be completed online through the Parent Portal. When logging into the Portal, the Free and Reduced Meal Benefits Application is available on the center panel under "Meal Benefits.” Only one application is needed per household. 

If you do not fill out a Free and Reduced form for this school year and you qualify, it may impact other benefits that can come along with a completed meal application. Families may apply or reapply at any time during the school year. For example, children with a parent or guardian who becomes unemployed or experiences financial hardship may become eligible for free and reduced-price meals if the household income drops below the income limit. Have questions? Please call the Food Service office at (920) 852-5314, they are happy to help!

Transportation

The AASD will again provide transportation to and from school for qualifying students. If your student qualifies and wishes to accept transportation, please read the AASD’s Student Transportation Services and Policies, complete the transportation services agreement, and return the agreement to your student’s bus driver within the first two weeks after transportation services begin. Find more information here. 

If you have questions about bus eligibility, routes, times, or stop locations, please contact Lamers Bus Lines at (920) 832-8800, extension 2. Routing information will be available closer to the start of the school year through the Parent Portal. When logged into the Parent Portal, please click on the menu on the left side, then click More. Click on the Transportation tab and select the appropriate student on the right side if needed. The screen will refresh when you change students.

ACT 95 vs. Direct Admit

ACT 95 or The Wisconsin Guarantee automatically qualifies students in the top 10% of their graduating class for entry into The Universities of Wisconsin school, except UW-Madison.  Students who must be in the top 5% of their class qualify for UW-Madison.  The top 5% and 10% rankings are effective as of July 31, 2025, for the purpose of The Wisconsin Guarantee.  Students who qualified must apply by the appropriate deadline.  Please have your student check their school assigned email as soon as possible to see if they qualify.  Only students who qualify will receive an email. Families are responsible for completing applications to the school of their choice. 

Direct Admit is a program through participating Universities of Wisconsin campuses that pre-qualifies students for admission and sends offers to qualifying students.  The first offers went to incoming senior students this summer. Students should look for additional offers this fall.  An offer simply means the student will be admitted to the participating school following the application process; students must still complete the application.  The Direct Admit website has a helpful checklist for families.  

AASD Invites Community to Explore Referendum-Funded School Improvements on August 20

The AASD is inviting the public to tour selected schools on Wednesday, August 20, from 5:30 to 7:30 PM, to see firsthand how the community’s support of the 2022 referendum has transformed learning environments across the district.

Community members can visit up to 12 school buildings improved or built through the 2022 referendum at the AASD Schools Open House. Community members, families, staff, and students are invited to stop in, explore the facilities, and connect with school leaders who will be available to answer questions and share highlights. Learn more here.

Save the Date for Sandy Slope Elementary’s Ribbon-Cutting

Please join us for the official ribbon-cutting ceremony for Sandy Slope Elementary School, the first new school built in the Appleton Area School District in over 30 years, on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, at  5:30 p.m. at 2625 E. Edgewood Drive. Our district believes in the value of neighborhood elementary schools, and so we are incredibly excited to be adding a school to this neighborhood. 

Extended Day Learning Opportunities

The AASD offers high-quality, sustainable out-of-school time learning opportunities and programming for students. These programs are provided through partnerships with the Appleton YMCA and Boys & Girls Clubs of the Fox Valley (BGC). Site coordinators are located at each school to create vital links between the students' school hours and non-school hours. 

When severe weather strikes and our schools are closed, our partners at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Fox Valley and the YMCA can help! Both programs offer care options for families on these days. From structured activities to nutritious meals, they provide a safe and nurturing environment for students when schools are closed due to severe weather or other unexpected situations. Learn more.

When there isn't school due to Staff Professional Development, or during our winter and spring breaks, our partners can help. Boys & Girls Club registration for general no school days opened on July 21, 2025, with winter and spring break registrations opening later in the school year. YMCA of the Fox Cities registration for these days opened on August 4, 2025. Learn more here.

Community Opportunities for Students

Each month, the AASD shares local community opportunities for students. These community opportunities for students include upcoming events and activities such as art and music camps, youth athletics, cultural events, enriching programs, and more. We encourage our families to review these opportunities for students of all ages. Check out this page at any time for a current list of opportunities. 

Miss a Family Communication? Find them all here.