The top reported proficiency rate is 57% in Social studies. The lowest is 25% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Algoma High
Algoma High serves grades seven through twelve in the small Lake Michigan city of Algoma, about a half-hour east of Green Bay. The school is the secondary arm of the Algoma School District, and the entire community is compact enough that the school sits within walking distance of the downtown core, the lakefront boardwalk, and Crescent Beach. This is a school where the town’s character—a fishing heritage turned toward tourism, a compact walkable downtown, and a recent All-America City Award for countering brain drain—shapes the experience.
The student body is small and predominantly white, with a modest share of Hispanic students and very small numbers of other racial groups. Nearly half of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a rate that places the school in a middle economic position relative to the community. The school serves grades seven through twelve, so it functions as both a middle and high school under one roof.
State testing results for the most recent year show a mixed picture. In seventh-grade math, roughly three in ten students scored proficient or above, while eighth-grade math was lower, at about two in ten. English language arts results were stronger: seventh graders reached about halfway to proficiency, while eighth graders were closer to a third. Eighth-grade science results were similar to math, with just under four in ten students proficient. Social studies, tested only in eighth grade, was the strongest subject, with more than half of students scoring proficient or above. When compared to other districts in Kewaunee County, Algoma High’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades sits in the bottom quartile. A parent may want to ask the school about its approach to math instruction and how it supports students who are not yet meeting benchmarks.
The school offers a project-based learning option through Algoma Venture Academy, a charter school within the district that serves the same grade band. This gives families a choice between a traditional high school setting and a more hands-on, interdisciplinary approach. The district brief notes that the Venture Academy was operational by the 2023-2024 school year with a modest enrollment, so it is a relatively new option.
Algoma itself is a small Lake Michigan city with a compact downtown, a lakefront boardwalk, and a tourism-driven economy. The Ahnapee State Trail runs through town, and the city won an All-America City Award in 2020 for its plan to counter brain drain, which included student mentoring and vocational opportunities. Housing values in the area are below the state median, and the local economy leans on tourism, small businesses, and public-sector employment. The school is the only secondary school in the district, so all students in grades seven through twelve attend here unless they choose the Venture Academy charter.
State testing data is available for grades seven and eight, which are the tested grades in this building. The results show that English language arts is the relative strength, with seventh graders reaching about halfway to proficiency and eighth graders at roughly a third. Math is a softer area, particularly in eighth grade, where fewer than two in ten students met the proficiency bar. Science results in eighth grade were similar to math. Social studies, tested only in eighth grade, was the strongest subject, with more than half of students scoring proficient or above. The school’s overall proficiency index, which averages results across all tested subjects and grades, places it in the bottom quartile among the three districts in Kewaunee County. A parent may want to ask the school about targeted support in math and science.
Nearly half of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which is a meaningful share and reflects the economic mix of the community. The school is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet, though the district does operate Algoma Venture Academy as a separate project-based learning charter for the same grade band. That option was operational by the 2023-2024 school year with a modest enrollment, giving families an alternative within the district.
The school’s graduation rate was not available in the data provided, so that metric cannot be assessed here. Similarly, data on chronic absenteeism, discipline, staffing ratios, and course access were not reported. A parent may want to ask the school directly about these areas, particularly the graduation rate and what advanced coursework or career pathways are available for high school students.
Algoma itself is a small, walkable lakefront city with a tourism-driven economy and a compact downtown. The school is the only secondary school in the district, so it draws from the entire community. The city’s population has been stable, and it received an All-America City Award in 2020 for efforts to counter brain drain, including student mentoring and vocational opportunities. That context matters: the school sits in a community that has thought deliberately about keeping its young people engaged and employed.
For a family considering Algoma High, the picture is one of a small, community-anchored school with a modest economic base and academic results that are softer in math and science than in English and social studies. The presence of the Venture Academy charter adds a pedagogical alternative within the same district. A parent may want to explore what supports are in place for students who are below proficiency in math and science, and what the school offers in terms of college and career preparation for its upper-grade students.
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