Welcome to Wisconsin Connections Academy

Wisconsin Connections Academy (WCA), Wisconsin's premier virtual charter school, provides a new form of public school that students in grades K–8 can attend from home—tuition free.

This unique program combines

• the expertise and accountability of publicly funded education,
• strong parental involvement,
• and the flexibility of online classes.

Tuition-free Public School for Grades K–8

Wisconsin Connections Academy (WCA) serves students in grades K–8 from anywhere in Wisconsin. The school is authorized by the Appleton Area School District (AASD) and offers the complete Connections Academy program. The school facility is provided by AASD, and all teachers and administrative staff are employees of and are managed by AASD.

Parents pay no tuition for students to attend WCA. Students are considered to be enrolled full-time in a public school in the Appleton Area School District, and dual enrollment is not permitted.

Parent Satisfaction

Each year we ask WCA families to rate our program. Our parents evaluate us on a number of criteria including student progress, teacher support, and quality of the curriculum.

This year, 91% of all Connections Academy parents surveyed gave our program high ratings. Check out the latest survey results to see how WCA parents surveyed felt about our program.

Materials Provided by the School

WCA provides

• Wisconsin-certified teachers,
• textbooks and other curriculum materials,
• online resources, such as movies and encyclopedias,
• and a loaned computer, printer and subsidy for Internet service.

All items, including the computer and reusable curriculum materials, must be returned if the student is no longer enrolled. Students may be withdrawn if school participation criteria, including student/teacher contact and Learning Coach responsibilities, are not met.

During the School Year

WCA offers students and parents who are new to the program the opportunity to attend an in-person meeting during the first month of school at one of several locations around the state. In addition, students are required to take all state-mandated standardized tests in person at designated locations.

Open Enrollment

To enroll in WCA, new students must first apply to the Appleton Area School District during the Wisconsin Open Enrollment period, which occurs in February of each year. For more information about open enrollment and issues concerning virtual education in Wisconsin, visit our enrollment page.

Find Out More

Want more information about the Connections Academy program?

• Attend an upcoming information session.
• Learn about our curriculum and online learning resources.
• Request a copy of our printed Program Guide or view it online now.
• Find out how to enroll.