The top reported proficiency rate is 31% in English language arts. The lowest is 0% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Kickapoo Valley Forest School
Kickapoo Valley Forest School is a public charter school in the small, rural village of La Farge, Wisconsin, serving grades pre-kindergarten through second grade. It is part of the La Farge School District. Because the school serves only the earliest elementary grades, it does not have a high school graduation rate to report, and state testing data is available only for the single grade level that is assessed.
The school is small and its student body is predominantly white, with a modest share of students who identify as Hispanic and very small numbers of students who are Black or of two or more races. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The school’s enrollment across its four grade levels is roughly balanced in size, with no single grade dominating.
State assessment results are available for third-grade students in math and English language arts. In math, the data shows that none of the tested students scored at the proficient or advanced level. In English language arts, roughly one in three students reached that benchmark. When compared to other school districts within Vernon County, the school’s overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile. Parents should be aware that the school’s tested cohort is very small, which means that a single student’s performance has a disproportionate effect on the percentages. For a fuller picture of academic trends beyond a single grade level, families may want to ask the school directly about its approach to early literacy and numeracy and how it tracks student growth before the state testing years.
The school operates as a charter within the district with a nature-based, forest-school pedagogy. Its approach is distinct from a conventional classroom setting, offering outdoor and experiential learning for its young students. The school is small, with an enrollment that fits its limited grade span.
La Farge is a quiet, fully rural village along the Kickapoo River. The dominant local employer is Organic Valley, a farmer-owned organic cooperative headquartered in the village. The village’s population has declined slightly in recent years, and housing values are modest. The village has no public transit, so families rely on cars for transportation. The school district recently completed a major capital construction project across the district, which represents a lasting infrastructure investment and has implications for local tax obligations.
For a family considering this school, the fit depends heavily on what they are looking for in a primary school. If a nature-based, outdoor pedagogy and a small, rural setting are appealing, the school offers that option. Families who want to see stronger academic performance data before the tested grades may find that information harder to come by and may want to discuss the school’s developmental benchmarks and literacy strategies with the staff. The absence of data on special education and English learner populations means families with children who may need those supports should inquire directly about the school’s capacity. The district’s broader school system includes the La Farge Elementary, Middle, and High Schools, all located within the village, providing a pathway for students as they grow beyond the forest school’s grade range.
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