Is Bigger Really Better?

Compared to the giant schools in Madison and Middleton, Wisconsin Heights would be considered a small rural school district.  If you believe some, you’d think that our students would be better off at one of our larger neighbors, but is that the case?  Perhaps it is really the other way around. 

 

According to the publication Research in Rural Education,  “experts noted that in larger schools more students became just another face in the crowd with less opportunity to actively participate in sports or other extracurricular activities.  This leads to great alienation and more problem students.”  

 

Recently the WKCE test scores were announced.   In Dane County, a county with test scores among the highest in state, Wisconsin Heights’ scores are among the best.  Our High School Reading and Math scores out-perform Middleton, Madison, Mount Horeb, Sauk…our 8th grade Social Studies scores were the highest in the county.   

 

Vanguard Pride is committed to the objective of preserving quality local schools and thereby preserving our community.   

 

According to The Rural Schools and Community Trust . “The school in a rural community usually provides a common ground of shared ownership and responsibility that knits people together, strengthens the informal channels of communication, fuels the economy, and creates structures through which people know and help take care of each other. By and large rural communities want to keep a school because they want to remain a community. “

 

Link to test scores