Sandy Slope Elementary School
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
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
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.
Exciting progress was made on September 18, 2024, at the Sandy Slope Elementary School construction site during the Topping Off Ceremony!
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.
JOSEPH BERNHARDT
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