Enrollment
672
Wisconsin · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Appleton, WI
Appleton Community 4k
Federal NCES profile for Appleton Community 4k, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 22/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 550039002976
👥 S:T ratio 13
🌟 Gifted program 30
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Appleton Community 4k earns 22/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 94% of Wisconsin schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Wisconsin schools.
- #19 of 20
- schools in Appleton · Resource Index
- 22
- Resource Index · Lower
- 21.7:1
- large classes for Wisconsin
- 39.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Appleton Community 4k has class sizes larger than 94% of Wisconsin schools. Computed live against every Wisconsin school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Appleton Community 4k ranks #19 of 20 schools in Appleton, WI.
School address
District: Appleton Area School District · Wisconsin
NCES ID 550039002976 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
31.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
21.7:1
vs 14.4:1 Wisconsin avg
+51% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
39.6%
vs 38.5% Wisconsin avg
+3% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Appleton Community 4k compares with Wisconsin and U.S. medians
What stands out at Appleton Community 4k
Appleton Community 4k is a large combined-grade school in Appleton, Wisconsin, enrolling 672 students.
Class loads run heavy: 21.7:1 is larger than about 94% of Wisconsin schools and 51% above the 14.4:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 39.6% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 672 puts it in the larger third of Wisconsin schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 96% of the 2,202 Wisconsin schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 259 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Wisconsin schools statewide, it ranks #253, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (60%) and Hispanic or Latino (13%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 60/100).
Among Appleton's public schools, it stands alongside Wisconsin Connections Academy (743 students): Appleton Community 4k is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (21.7:1 vs 35.4:1).
Appleton Area School District also operates North High (1,635 students) and East High (1,238 students) alongside Appleton Community 4k.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Appleton Community 4k compares
Appleton Community 4k on the metrics families compare, against Wisconsin and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Wisconsin | Wisconsin avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 21.7:1 | ▲ 51% | 14.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 39.6% | ▲ 3% | 38.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 672 | top 11% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
21.7:1
Leaner classes than 11% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
672
Bigger than 78% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
39.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 3% above the Wisconsin average of 38.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
21.7:1
students per teacher
- 51% above state mean
Top 94% in Wisconsin - lower ratio than 6% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Funding equity
$13,545
per pupil, district-wide
- below Wisconsin avg of $14,919
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
White 60.0%
Hispanic or Latino 13.4%
Asian 12.6%
Two or More 7.0%
African American 6.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 60.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 59.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 59.7, Appleton Community 4k is more mixed than the Wisconsin school average of 35.7.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Appleton Area School District, which includes Appleton Community 4k.
$13,545
Per student
-9%
vs Wisconsin
Avg $14,919
-18%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 39.7%
State 48.8%
Federal 11.4%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Appleton Community 4k Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| North High | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| East High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| West High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Madison Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Einstein Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Appleton Community 4k's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,635
- Students per teacher
- 18.4:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 1,238
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 1,024
- Students per teacher
- 13.1:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 929
- Students per teacher
- 19.8:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 851
- Students per teacher
- 23.6:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
Similar other schools in Appleton
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Wisconsin Connections Academy
Standard public school
743 students 35.4:1 students per teacher
Huntley Elementary
Standard public school
570 students 13.9:1 students per teacher
Houdini Elementary
Standard public school
501 students 13.9:1 students per teacher
Ferber Elementary
Standard public school
499 students 12.8:1 students per teacher
Highlands Elementary
Standard public school
417 students 9.9:1 students per teacher
Mckinley Elementary
Standard public school
380 students 10.3:1 students per teacher
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Wisconsin, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~672 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~21.7:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Appleton Community 4k's federal record.
- Compare Appleton Community 4k against another school. Compare schools
- Appleton Area School District's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Appleton Community 4k
How many students attend Appleton Community 4k?
Appleton Community 4k has 672 students enrolled. It is a public school in Appleton, WI.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Appleton Community 4k?
The student-teacher ratio at Appleton Community 4k is 21.7:1, which is 51% higher than the Wisconsin average of 14.4:1 and 38% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Appleton Community 4k?
39.6% of students at Appleton Community 4k are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Wisconsin average of 38.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Appleton Community 4k?
The largest demographic group at Appleton Community 4k is White at 60.0% of enrollment, in Appleton, WI. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 59.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Appleton Community 4k?
Appleton Community 4k has a Resource Investment Index of 22/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 2 factors: student-teacher ratio. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology). Limited indicators were available, so the index reflects partial data.
How does Appleton Community 4k rank among schools in Appleton?
By Resource Investment Index, Appleton Community 4k ranks #19 of 20 schools in Appleton, WI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Appleton on the city page.
Is Appleton Community 4k a good school?
Appleton Community 4k earns 22/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 94% of Wisconsin schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Wisconsin schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Appleton Area School District?
Besides Appleton Community 4k, Appleton Area School District also operates North High (1,635 students), East High (1,238 students), and West High (1,024 students). See the Appleton Area School District district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.