Original Research by School Decision on New London Alternative School
New London Alternative School is a small alternative high school serving grades nine through twelve, located in the city of New London in Kandiyohi County. It is part of the New London-Spicer School District and is not a charter school. Because of its alternative school designation, it serves a distinct population of students, likely those who are looking for a different educational structure than the district’s main high school offers.
The school’s enrollment is very small, with the vast majority of students in eleventh and twelfth grades. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The student body is predominantly white, with a smaller share of Hispanic students and a few Black, American Indian or Alaska Native students.
State testing data for the most recent year shows a math proficiency rate that was reported at zero, and only a single year of data is available. Because this is an alternative school that serves older high school students, and because the assessment data is thin—just one subject and one year—it is difficult to draw a clear picture of academic performance from state tests alone. No reading or science assessment results were available, and there is no graduation rate or chronic absenteeism data reported for this school. These gaps are not unusual for alternative schools, where students often arrive with varying academic backgrounds and where standard accountability metrics may not capture the full picture of student progress. A parent considering this school will want to ask the school directly about what academic pathways, credit recovery options, or career-focused coursework are available, and how the school tracks student outcomes beyond state assessments.
New London itself is a small city along the Middle Fork of the Crow River, with a compact downtown and a millpond that serves as a scenic center. The town promotes itself as part of Minnesota’s Lakes Country, and annual events like Porch Fest and the New London to New Brighton Antique Car Run give it a community-oriented feel. Sibley State Park is nearby. The area’s housing market shows typical home values that have risen modestly over the past year.
The New London-Spicer School District, which oversees this school, had no recent major changes publicly reported. For a family looking at the alternative school, the lack of district-level context does not tell much; the school operates as a separate program within the district.
Given the small size and specialized nature of New London Alternative School, it likely serves students who benefit from a non-traditional setting. Without graduation rates, college or career readiness data, or a fuller set of test results, a family can get a clear sense of the school’s program only by visiting and speaking with staff. The numbers available—very low tested proficiency and a small enrollment that skews toward older students—suggest this is a placement for students who have not followed a conventional high school timeline. A parent should expect that the school’s mission is about providing an alternative route to a diploma, not about competing on typical academic benchmarks.
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