Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Wisconsin Alternative Public Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 95 alternative public schools serving 4,404 students in Wisconsin.
The top-ranked alternative public schools in Wisconsin are Mckinley Charter School, Milwaukee County Community Reintegration Center and Nekoosa Academy. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Wisconsin alternative public schools have an average math proficiency score of 15% (versus the Wisconsin public school average of 40%), and reading proficiency score of 19% (versus the 39% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 65% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the Wisconsin public school average of 34% (majority Hispanic).

Best Alternative Public Schools in Wisconsin (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #1 - 31. - 3.
Mckinley Charter School
Alternative School
Charter School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
1266 Mckinley Rd
Eau Claire, WI 54703
(715) 852-6900
Gr: 6-12 | 74 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 35%
Rank: #1 - 31. - 3.
Milwaukee County Community Reintegration Center
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
8885 S 68th St
Franklin, WI 53132
(414) 525-7630
Gr: 9-12 | 31 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1
Rank: #1 - 31. - 3.
Nekoosa Academy
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
500 Cedar St
Nekoosa, WI 54457
(715) 886-8060
Gr: 9-12 | 23 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 35%
Rank: #4 - 64. - 6.
Banner Preparatory School Of Milwaukee
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
3517a W Courtland Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53209
(414) 461-9561
Gr: 6-12 | 49 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #4 - 64. - 6.
South Accelerated Academy
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
1515 W Lapham Blvd
Milwaukee, WI 53204
(414) 773-9858
Gr: 9-12 | 57 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1
Rank: #4 - 64. - 6.
Transition High School
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
1940 N 36th St
Milwaukee, WI 53208
(414) 212-2670
Gr: 9-12 | 90 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Rank: #7 - 97. - 9.
Doc Lincoln Hills/copper Lake School
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
W4380 Copper Lake Ave
Irma, WI 54442
(715) 536-8386
Gr: 6-12 | 38 students Student-teacher ratio: 6:1 Minority enrollment: 89%
Rank: #7 - 97. - 9.
Portage Academy Of Achievement
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
2505 New Pinery Rd
Portage, WI 53901
(608) 742-2165
Gr: 9-12 | 24 students Student-teacher ratio: 24:1 Minority enrollment: 12%
Rank: #7 - 97. - 9.
Project Stay-supporting Teachers And Youth
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
609 N 8th St
Milwaukee, WI 53233
(414) 298-9300
Gr: 9-12 | 114 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #10 - 1610. - 16.
Copper Lake School
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
W4380 Copper Lake Ave
Irma, WI 54442
(715) 536-8386
Gr: 7-12 | 14 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 50%
Rank: #10 - 1610. - 16.
Groppi High School
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
1312 N 27th St
Milwaukee, WI 53208
(414) 934-8200
Gr: 9-12 | 105 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Rank: #10 - 1610. - 16.
Innovative High School
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
1045 E Dayton St
Madison, WI 53703
(608) 204-4220
Gr: 9-12 | 138 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 84%
Rank: #10 - 1610. - 16.
Norris Academy Virtual School
Alternative School
Charter School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
W247s10395 Center Dr
Mukwonago, WI 53149
(262) 662-5911
Gr: K-12 | 21 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 48%
Rank: #10 - 1610. - 16.
North Star Academy
Alternative School
Charter School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
700 S 1st St
Cameron, WI 54822
(715) 458-4560
Gr: 9-12 | 38 students Student-teacher ratio: 38:1 Minority enrollment: 11%
Rank: #10 - 1610. - 16.
Robert Kupper Learning Center
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
1310 Townline Rd
Tomah, WI 54660
(608) 374-7020
Gr: PK-12 | 41 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
Rank: #10 - 1610. - 16.
Sparta Alternative Independent Learning School
Alternative School
Charter School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
900 East Montgomery St
Sparta, WI 54656
(608) 366-3400
Gr: 9-12 | 56 students Student-teacher ratio: 28:1 Minority enrollment: 27%
Rank: #1717.
New Horizons For Learning
Alternative School
Charter School
(Math: <50% | Reading: ≥50% )
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
1701 E Capitol Dr
Milwaukee, WI 53211
(414) 963-6921
Gr: 9-12 | 22 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
Rank: #18 - 2018. - 20.
Bay View
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
325 N Roosevelt St
Green Bay, WI 54301
(920) 448-2150
Gr: PK-12 | 15 students Minority enrollment: 27%
Rank: #18 - 2018. - 20.
Northeast Wisconsin Learning Academy
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
1717 Superior Ave
Oconto, WI 54153
(920) 834-7812
Gr: 5-12 | 13 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 39%
Rank: #18 - 2018. - 20.
Second Avenue School
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
721 Oxford Ave
Eau Claire, WI 54703
(715) 852-6901
Gr: 4-12 | 16 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 31%
Rank: #21 - 2221. - 22.
Merrill Adult Diploma Academy
Alternative School
Charter School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
1004 E 1st Street
Merrill, WI 54452
(715) 536-1431
Gr: 11-12 | 31 students Student-teacher ratio: 31:1 Minority enrollment: 26%
Rank: #21 - 2221. - 22.
Metro School
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
115 W Doty St, 7e
Madison, WI 53703
(608) 663-1634
Gr: 4-12 | 12 students Student-teacher ratio: 2:1 Minority enrollment: 75%
Rank: #23 - 2723. - 27.
Assata High School
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
3517 W Courtland Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53209
(414) 345-6113
Gr: 9-12 | 78 students Student-teacher ratio: 26:1
Rank: #23 - 2723. - 27.
Catalyst Academy
Alternative School
Charter School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
709 S Shawano St
New London, WI 54961
(920) 982-8686
Gr: 9-12 | 32 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 25%
Rank: #23 - 2723. - 27.
Charles F Fernandez Center Alt Learning
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
1900 W Zinda Dr
Stevens Point, WI 54481
(715) 345-5592
Gr: 9-12 | 77 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 36%
Rank: #23 - 2723. - 27.
Prairie Phoenix Academy
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
220 Kroncke Dr, Suite 13
Sun Prairie, WI 53590
(608) 834-6900
Gr: 9-12 | 88 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
Rank: #23 - 2723. - 27.
Shalom High School
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
1749 N 16th St
Milwaukee, WI 53205
(414) 933-5019
Gr: 9-12 | 101 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Rank: #28 - 2928. - 29.
Lad Lake Synergy School
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
2820 W Grant St
Milwaukee, WI 53215
(414) 647-1771
Gr: 6-12 | 22 students Student-teacher ratio: 4:1
Rank: #28 - 2928. - 29.
River Cities High School
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
2390 48th St S
Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54494
(715) 424-6798
Gr: 9-12 | 77 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 21%
Rank: #30 - 3130. - 31.
Enrich Excel Achieve Learning Academy
Alternative School
Charter School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: 21-39%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
2607 N 18th St
Wausau, WI 54403
(715) 261-2490
Gr: 6-12 | 38 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
Rank: #30 - 3130. - 31.
Shabazz-city High School
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: 21-39%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
1601 N Sherman Ave
Madison, WI 53704
(608) 204-2440
Gr: 9-12 | 106 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 45%
Rank: #32 - 3532. - 35.
Capital High School
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
3802 Regent St
Madison, WI 53705
(608) 204-4220
Gr: 9-12 | 129 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 86%
Rank: #32 - 3532. - 35.
Hillcrest School
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
4616 24th St
Kenosha, WI 53144
(262) 359-6118
Gr: 6-12 | 108 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 83%
Rank: #32 - 3532. - 35.
James E Dottke Project-based Learning High School
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
7815 W Lapham St
Milwaukee, WI 53214
(414) 604-4210
Gr: 9-12 | 168 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 39%
Rank: #32 - 3532. - 35.
Nova-northwest Opportunities Vocational Academy
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
2320 W Burleigh St
Milwaukee, WI 53206
(414) 874-0283
Gr: 9-12 | 104 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1
Show 60 more Alternative public schools in Wisconsin (out of 95 total schools)
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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked alternative public schools in Wisconsin?
The top-ranked alternative public schools in Wisconsin include Mckinley Charter School, Milwaukee County Community Reintegration Center and Nekoosa Academy.
How many alternative public schools are located in Wisconsin?
96 alternative public schools are located in Wisconsin.
What is the racial composition of students in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin alternative public schools minority enrollment is 65% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the Wisconsin public schools average of 34% (majority Hispanic).

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