Enrollment
56
Wisconsin · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Sparta, WI
Sparta Alternative Independent Learning School
Federal NCES profile for Sparta Alternative Independent Learning School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 22/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 551416002486Charter school
👥 S:T ratio 0
📚 AP courses 10
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 69
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Sparta Alternative Independent Learning School earns 22/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 97% of Wisconsin schools.
- #8 of 8
- public schools in Sparta · Resource Index
- 22
- Resource Index · Lower
- 28:1
- large classes for Wisconsin
- 70.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Sparta Alternative Independent Learning School has class sizes larger than 97% of Wisconsin schools. Computed live against every Wisconsin school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Sparta Alternative Independent Learning School ranks #8 of 8 public schools in Sparta, WI.
School address
District: Sparta Area School District · Wisconsin
NCES ID 551416002486 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
2.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
28:1
vs 14.4:1 Wisconsin avg
+94% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
70.2%
vs 38.5% Wisconsin avg
+82% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Sparta Alternative Independent Learning School compares with Wisconsin and U.S. medians
What stands out at Sparta Alternative Independent Learning School
Sparta Alternative Independent Learning School is a higher-need, small charter high school in Sparta, Wisconsin, enrolling 56 students.
Class loads run heavy: 28:1 is larger than about 97% of Wisconsin schools and 94% above the 14.4:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need is high: 70.2% of students qualify for free meals, 82% above the Wisconsin average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
This is a small campus: fewer students than 93% of Wisconsin schools, with 56 enrolled.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 93% of the 2,202 Wisconsin schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 17 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Wisconsin schools statewide, it ranks #15, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (73%) and Hispanic or Latino (20%) (diversity index 42/100).
No Advanced Placement courses are reported for this campus in the federal data.
Counselor coverage is strong, about 156 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 46.4% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Among Sparta's high schools, it stands alongside Sparta High (871 students): Sparta Alternative Independent Learning School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (28:1 vs 14.8:1).
Sparta Area School District also operates Sparta High (871 students) and Sparta Meadowview Middle (687 students) alongside Sparta Alternative Independent Learning School.
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 Sparta Alternative Independent Learning School compares
Sparta Alternative Independent Learning School on the metrics families compare, against Wisconsin and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Wisconsin | Wisconsin avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 28:1 | ▲ 94% | 14.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 70.2% | ▲ 82% | 38.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 56 | top 93% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
28:1
Leaner classes than 3% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
56
Bigger than 6% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
70.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 82% above the Wisconsin average of 38.5%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
28:1
students per teacher
- 94% above state mean
Top 97% in Wisconsin - lower ratio than 3% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
46.4%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$14,626
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
Counselors0.4 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 73.2%
Hispanic or Latino 19.6%
Two or More 3.6%
African American 1.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.8%
Largest group: White at 73.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 42.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 42.4, Sparta Alternative Independent Learning School is more mixed than the Wisconsin school average of 35.7.
Programs
AP program Not offered
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Sparta Area School District, which includes Sparta Alternative Independent Learning School.
$14,626
Per student
-2%
vs Wisconsin
Avg $14,919
-12%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 27.6%
State 59.0%
Federal 13.4%
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 Sparta Alternative Independent Learning School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sparta High | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Sparta Meadowview Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Herrman Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Southside Early Learning Center | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Sparta Montessori School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Sparta Alternative Independent Learning School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 871
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 687
- Students per teacher
- 9.8:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
- Enrollment
- 616
- Students per teacher
- 10.4:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
- Enrollment
- 268
- Students per teacher
- 10.7:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
- Enrollment
- 161
- Students per teacher
- 20.1:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
Similar high schools in Sparta
1 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Similar high 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 (~56 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Sparta Alternative Independent Learning School's federal record.
- Compare Sparta Alternative Independent Learning School against another school. Compare schools
- Sparta 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 Sparta Alternative Independent Learning School
How many students attend Sparta Alternative Independent Learning School?
Sparta Alternative Independent Learning School has 56 students enrolled. It is a high school in Sparta, WI.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Sparta Alternative Independent Learning School?
The student-teacher ratio at Sparta Alternative Independent Learning School is 28:1, which is 94% higher than the Wisconsin average of 14.4:1 and 78% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Sparta Alternative Independent Learning School?
70.2% of students at Sparta Alternative Independent Learning School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Wisconsin average of 38.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Sparta Alternative Independent Learning School?
The largest demographic group at Sparta Alternative Independent Learning School is White at 73.2% of enrollment, in Sparta, WI.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Sparta Alternative Independent Learning School?
Sparta Alternative Independent Learning School has a Resource Investment Index of 22/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 5 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Sparta Alternative Independent Learning School rank among public schools in Sparta?
By Resource Investment Index, Sparta Alternative Independent Learning School ranks #8 of 8 public schools in Sparta, WI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Sparta on the city page.
Is Sparta Alternative Independent Learning School a good school?
Sparta Alternative Independent Learning School earns 22/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 97% of 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 Sparta Area School District?
Besides Sparta Alternative Independent Learning School, Sparta Area School District also operates Sparta High (871 students), Sparta Meadowview Middle (687 students), and Herrman Elementary (616 students). See the Sparta 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.