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Sandy Slope Elementary School

Sandy Slope Elementary as seen from a drone in November of 2024.

FAQ

When Sandy Slope Elementary School opens in the fall of 2025 on the north side of Appleton, it will be our first new school in 30 years and our first new elementary school in nearly 35 years.

Our district places immense value on neighborhood elementary schools, and we are thrilled to add a school to this part of our community.History of the Sandy Slope Name

Photo from Sandy Slope Groundbreaking shows signage and a view of the silo and farm buildings.

Twenty-four years ago, the AASD acquired a 42-acre parcel of land from Rich and Alice Van Handel near Appleton North High School. This forward-thinking move by our district was in anticipation of the growth we now witness in the northeastern part of our district. They envisioned the need for an elementary school on this land to accommodate the expanding community.

This area once had a small, rural school called Sandy Slope, and the Van Handel’s farm was also known as Sandy Slope Farm. 

Sandy Slope Elementary’s groundbreaking was held on October 16, 2023. We were thrilled to kick off the construction of our newest school with the community and the Van Handel family in attendance.

To honor the farm's history, the Van Handel farm’s silo will be preserved as a part of the new school campus.

What will Sandy Slope look like?

The two-story building will have classrooms organized into grade-level “pods.” Each pod will have dedicated entrances from the playgrounds, locker space, and small flex rooms for individual or small group learning. 

The design of the school centers around creating a self-contained learning “collaborative neighborhood” for each grade level, with classrooms organized around a central flexible extended learning area and including locker areas, breakout spaces, restrooms, and teacher support.

Natural light, security, and energy efficiency are also primary considerations of the design, with abundant windows and a highly efficient geothermal heating and cooling system. The exterior will consist of brick, burnished colored masonry, and metal panels, and inclusive playgrounds will be situated around the rear of the school, accessible from the collaboration neighborhoods.

The school will have a gymnasium with full-size basketball court and a commons/cafeteria in the heart of the building. Additional specialized spaces include a Library/Media Center (LMC), general music room, band/strings music room, art and STEM spaces, a sensory gym, and special education classrooms throughout the facility.

Follow along with the building's progress below.

Progress & Updates

Family Tour

A recent highlight in the Sandy Slope construction process was welcoming the Van Handel family for a school tour. The family was able to see the progress firsthand and reflect on the impact the school will have on the community.

Improve & Innovate
In the fall of 2022, voters approved both referendum questions on the ballot. One question supported increased staffing and operational costs for our new spaces and the second question approved $130 million for the construction/renovations of our schools.
 
Progress, timelines, and updates on referendum projects will be shared on our district website. We encourage you to follow along to see our community’s investment in action. 
Improve & Innovate

Last fall voters approved both referendum questions on the ballot. One question supported increased staffing and operational costs for our new spaces and the second question approved $130 million for the construction/renovations of our schools.
 

Sandy Slope Elementary School
2625 E. Edgewood Dr.
Appleton
WI
54913
JOSEPH BERNHARDT

JOSEPH BERNHARDT

Principal

Data & Facts

600

student capacity

K-5

will serve kindergarten through 5th grade students and families

99,600

square feet

2025-26

opening for the 2025-26 school year

$129.8 million

Approved as part of our $129.8 million referendum in 2022