The Spooner Schools Before & After School Programming supports learning for all students in the Spooner Community.
The Spooner Area School District proudly holds two Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CLC) grants, inviting the Spooner Area Community to participate in high-quality Out-of-School Time (OST) programming. These programs are held at Spooner Elementary School (SES) for students in grades K–4 and at Spooner Middle School (SMS) for students in grades 5–8.
We believe in Place-Based Education. Our students are rooted in holistic learning experiences centered on the rich natural resources and culture of the Northwoods of Wisconsin. Through engaging clubs and hands-on opportunities, students build meaningful connections and healthy lifestyles.
We are grateful for the support and collaboration of organizations such as Oak, Scouts, 4-H, UW Extension, Spooner Health, Lakeland Family Resource Center, St. Francis School and the Humane Society. Most importantly, a majority of our clubs are led by dedicated SASD and St. Francis teachers who bring passion and expertise to every session.
Each club is intentionally designed to empower students with choice, allowing them to take ownership of their learning. Our grant prioritizes literacy and math development, works towards barriers to access, and supports improved GPAs while reducing disciplinary behaviors.
Families are an essential part of our program. Through Family Enrichment events, we create meaningful opportunities for families to celebrate their child’s growth and achievements. Each of our programs celebrate with families at least 4 times within the school year.
In the past year, Spooner Elementary has seen test score increases of 12.5 points, with English Language Arts (ELA) and math scores exceeding statewide averages. Third-grade reading proficiency has risen to 59.7%, surpassing the state average. Spooner Middle School has been rated as exceeds expectations on the WI DPI Report Card in 5 out of the last 6 years. Spooner Middle School students far exceeded the state average for students reading at or above grade level during the 2024-2025 school year. 64% of 8th grade students in ELA and 54% of 8th grade students in math were meeting or advanced on the most recent state testing which was above the state average. Our OST programs focus on participation. Mighty Engines maintains an average daily attendance above 60% and our Mighty Rails Clubs stay above 40%, meeting DPI needs of our grant status.
Spooner Mighty Engines and Spooner Rails Clubs are proud to stand alongside these accomplishments.
