Educational Options

River Ridge School District offers a variety of educational options to children who reside in the District. The District’s primary educational pathway and instructional program for students involves a progression from 4-year-old kindergarten (Early Learning) through 12^th grade, leading to a high school diploma.  The District’s schools include:  Elementary (grades 4K-4), Middle (grades 5-8), and High School (grades 9-12).  Some of the specific education programs offered to eligible students who are enrolled in and attending River Ridge School District schools include the following:

• Advanced Placement Courses
• Online Courses
• Summer School programming
• Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs
• Individualized program and curriculum modifications
• HSED completion in conjunction with Southwest Technical College
• At Risk education for students who meet the statutory definition
• Special Education
• Early childhood special education (for students who are at least 3 years old but not yet school-age)

A full version of the District’s most recent school and school district accountability report, as issued by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction under section 115.385 of the state statutes, can be accessed on the River Ridge website. The most recent ranking level (from 2023-24) assigned to each school within the District is: District 68.5, High School 61.6, Middle School 72.7, and Elementary 75.8.

Educational options for students who are enrolled in the River Ridge School District that involve part-time attendance at an educational institution other than a school of the River Ridge District include the following:

• The Part-time Public School Open Enrollment, which
  • Provides opportunities to apply to attend up to two courses in nonresident pupil school districts; and
  • Is available only to public high school students
• The Early College Credit Program, which
  • Provides opportunities to apply for approval to take courses at an institution of higher education for high school and/or college credit
• The Technical College Course (“Start College Now”) Program, which
  • Provides opportunities to apply for approval to enroll in one or more courses at a technical college; and
  • Is subject to eligibility requirements defined in applicable statutes, regulations, and District policies; and
  • Is available only to students who are enrolled in 11^th or 12^th grade

Additional educational options for children who reside in the District that involve full­time enrollment/attendance at a school, program, or other educational institution that is not a school or instrumentality of the River Ridge School District include the following:

• High school students meeting certain age and other eligibility requirements may be permitted to attend a technical college or certain other programs for the purpose of completing a program leading to the student’s high school graduation or to a high school equivalency diploma.
• Full­time Open Enrollment involving physical attendance in a public school of a nonresident school district or attendance through a virtual charter school that is associated with a nonresident school district.
• Beginning in the 2016-­17 school year, a child with a disability who meets the program’s specific eligibility requirements may apply to attend an eligible, participating private school under a scholarship awarded through the state’s “Special Needs Scholarship Program,” as established under section 115.7915 of the state statutes.
• Enrollment in a private school participating in the Wisconsin parental choice program.
• Enrollment in a private school of the family’s choosing (at the family’s own cost, as applicable).
• Enrollment in a home­based private educational program as provided under state law.

Educational options for children who reside in the River Ridge School District but who are enrolled in and/or attending a private school or home­based private educational program include the following:

• Such students have the opportunity to attend summer school classes/programs offered in the District. Private school students in the high school grades have the opportunity to apply for approval to take up two courses per semester in a District school, pursuant to section 118.145(4) of the state statutes.
• Students who are enrolled in a home­based private educational program have the opportunity to: Apply for approval to take up two courses per semester in public schools as provided under section 118.53.  Participate in District interscholastic athletics and other District extracurricular activities as provided under section 118.133.
• Special Needs Scholarship Program as established under section 115.7915 of the state statutes.

For more information about any of the educational options listed in this notice, please contact the District’s main administrative office at 608-994-2715 or the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

There is no charter or private school operating within the boundaries of the River Ridge School District participating in the school choice program.