Relocation Guide 2019-2020

students attend a school based on a specific curriculum, teaching approach or value system. Southeastern Wisconsin has a strong parochial school system that includes primarily Catholic and Lutheran schools (please see “Parochial Schools” on page 58). There are also several private schools that are not affiliated with a particular religion. The charts on pages 55 and 56 provide basic details on private schools serving the area. Please check the websites listed for each school for additional information. Dual Enrollment A variety of programs allow high school students to be dually enrolled in high school and college to earn both high school and college credits. These programs can make college more affordable for families and introduce students to college-level coursework while they are still in high school. Wisconsin currently offers courses through the Early College Credit Program. The program allows Wisconsin public and private high school students to take one or more courses at an institution of higher education for high school and/or college credit. For a detailed explanation of the program, please visit dpi.wi.gov/dual-enrollment . Home Schooling Wisconsin allows a parent or guardian to provide a home-based private educational program for her or his child or children as part of the compulsory school attendance law. In order to home school, the parent or guardian must complete Form PI-1206 and submit it to the state Department of Public Instruction every school year. State law requires home schooling to provide at least 875 hours of instruction each school year and a “sequentially progressive curriculum of fundamental instruction in reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies, science and health.” HOME SCHOOLING RESOURCES The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction offers detailed information about home schooling requirements, resources and forms at dpi.wi.gov/sms/home-based . In addition, the Wisconsin Parents Association ( homeschooling-wpa.org ), a grassroots organization committed to protecting the right of parents to provide an education to their children according to their own principles and beliefs, also provides assistance for parents. Parochial Schools The Milwaukee area boasts exceptional schools, both public and private. Private, parochial schools of various denominations offer families a faith-centered, values-based education that embraces the whole individual – mind, body and spirit – while adhering to high academic standards. The 92 elementary and 15 high schools of the Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee aim to transform local and global communities by providing a quality Christian education that encompasses academic achievement integrated with moral and spiritual growth. The Missouri Synod and the Wisconsin Synod of the Lutheran Church also offer faith-based education throughout the region, as do some independent Christian schools. Elementary schools are typically associated with a church, which can provide specific information about the school, including cost. Parochial high schools operate independently. Information about high schools can be found on page 56. LUTHERAN SCHOOLS Wisconsin has a large Lutheran population and two synods of the Lutheran Church – the Missouri Synod and the Wisconsin Synod – offer elementary and secondary education in south- eastern Wisconsin. The other major Lutheran church in the 58 YOUR RELOCATION RESOURCE S C H O O L S : P U B L I C & P R I V A T E The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) pro- duces report cards for every publicly funded school and district in the state. These report cards include information on four priority areas: student achievement, growth, closing gaps, and on-track and post-secondary success. The report cards also measure chronic absenteeism and dropout rates. A school’s or district’s performance places the school in one of five categories: Significantly Exceeds Expectations 83-100 Exceeds Expectations 73-82.9 Meets Expectations 63-72.9 Meets Few Expectations 53-62.9 Fails to Meet Expectations Less than 52.9 The charts on pages 60-62 provide the performance scores for school districts. Scores for individual schools within the dis- trict are available at: dpi.wi.gov/accountability/report-cards HOW SCHOOLS COMPARE Wisconsin’s dual-enrollment program allows students to take college classes while still in high school.