The top reported proficiency rate is 91% in Social studies. The lowest is 65% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Ace Alliance Charter Elementary
ACE Alliance Charter Elementary sits within the Neenah Joint School District but operates as a distinct charter school, serving pre-kindergarten through sixth grade. The school’s enrollment is small, and its student body is predominantly white, with a very modest share of students identifying as Asian or of two or more races. A relatively low proportion of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which is one indicator that the school serves a comparatively advantaged population. Because ACE Alliance is an elementary school, it does not produce a graduation rate; that metric simply does not apply here.
Academically, the school presents a mixed but largely strong picture. On the Wisconsin Forward assessments, reading and language arts results are consistently high across the tested grades, with particularly strong performance in grades three, five, and six. The science and social studies results for fourth grade are also very strong. Mathematics proficiency is solid in most grades, though the fifth-grade math score is noticeably lower than the other grade levels. Parents may want to ask the school about math instruction in upper elementary, especially how the transition from fourth to fifth grade is handled. Overall, when all tested subjects and grades are averaged together, ACE Alliance ranks in the top quartile of schools in Winnebago County, placing it among the better-performing elementary options in the area.
The school is a regular public charter, which means it is publicly funded but operates with some flexibility in curriculum or governance compared to a traditional district school. Data on special education identification and English learner services were not available in the sources reviewed, so families who need those supports should contact the school directly to understand what is offered. Participation rates on the state tests were very high, which lends confidence to the results.
Neenah itself is a small city on Lake Winnebago and the Fox River, with a manufacturing-heavy economy that includes major employers like Kimberly-Clark, Plexus, and ThedaCare. The city is part of the Fox Cities metro area, described as the fastest-growing urban center in Wisconsin. The downtown has a compact, walkable riverfront with a park that hosts concerts and a farm market. Interstate 41 runs through the city, and there is a regional trail network. Housing values in Neenah’s zip code are roughly in line with the state benchmark, and rents are moderate relative to incomes. The overall feel is that of a small industrial city that is growing and has a stable economic base.
The Neenah Joint School District underwent a major facilities change following a referendum that passed in 2020. A new high school opened in 2023, and grade configurations were reshuffled: elementary schools now serve kindergarten through fourth grade, an intermediate school serves fifth and sixth grades, and a middle school serves seventh and eighth. ACE Alliance Charter Elementary, however, spans pre-K through sixth grade, meaning it does not follow the district’s typical elementary grade band. This is an important detail for families considering their child’s transition after sixth grade – students leaving ACE Alliance would need to enter the district’s intermediate school or another option. The 2020 referendum also introduced long-term debt to a district that previously had none, though the district’s property tax mill rate remains competitive for the Fox Valley area.
What is not available in the data may matter to some families. There is no information on chronic absenteeism, discipline rates, staffing ratios, or course access beyond the fact that this is an elementary school without a high school program. The school’s website was not included in the provided material, so details about its charter focus, pedagogy, or extracurricular offerings are absent. Prospective families should visit the school or reach out to learn more about its educational philosophy and day-to-day environment.
In short, ACE Alliance Charter Elementary offers strong academic outcomes, particularly in reading and science, within a small, relatively homogeneous school community. The school’s charter status may appeal to families looking for some independence from the district’s standard model, though the lack of readily available data on support services and school climate means some due diligence is in order. Neenah is a growing, economically stable city with recent major investments in its public school facilities, and this charter is one option within that larger district framework.
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