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Our School

A group of children standing on a dock, overlooking a river with trees and a clear blue sky in the background.
A group of children, wearing various colored shirts and hats, stand in a lush, green forest, surrounded by tall trees and dense vegetation.
Nature and Knowledge at Fox River Academy
Outdoor Learning: Fox River Academy’s Unique Approach

Belief Statement

We are working to become effective learners and ethical people so that we can contribute to a better world.

Fox River Academy is a K-8 place-based public environmental charter school within the Appleton Area School District in Appleton, WI.

With multi-age classrooms starting in 1st grade, core subject areas are taught through an integrated, engaging curriculum. Emphasis is placed on empowering students to make critical connections between hands-on observations and learned knowledge using analytical thinking skills.

Weekly field experiences bring the classrooms outdoors and inspire students to be passionate stewards and involved citizens. 

The Founding of Fox River Academy

Fox River Academy was started in 2005 by two motivated traditional teachers, Sandra Benton and Julie Spalding, who noticed that at the end of the year, what their students remembered the most from the past year were the hands-on lessons that often incorporated outdoor activity.

With the support of the Appleton Area School District and the community, Fox River Academy opened in September 2005 with the goal of providing real-world experiences to kindergarten through 8th-grade students.

Green Ribbon Schools

Fox River Academy is a Green Ribbon School

Green Ribbon Schools are recognized for:

  • Reducing environmental impact and costs

  • Improving the health and wellness of schools, students, and staff
  • Providing environmental education, which teaches many disciplines, and is especially good at effectively incorporating STEM, civic skills, and green career pathways.