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School Type

School Type: School Directory Public Portal, PI-1207

This data element provides descriptions for the available types of schools: elementary, combined elementary and secondary, middle, junior high, or high school.

Grades are defined in §115.01(2). The educational work of the public schools is divided into four-year-old kindergarten, five-year-old kindergarten, and 12 additional grades numbered from one to 12 beginning with grade one being the lowest and grade 12 being the highest.

In the PI-1207 Private School Report, this is the next option after the question on School Status data element if a school selects:

  • The school will be in operation during the 20XX-(XX+1) school year.

Uses

This data element is part of the School Directory, used to provide detailed information about schools in Wisconsin.

School Type: School Type Description & Guidance
School TypeSchool Type DescriptionSchool Type  Guidance
6Elementary SchoolThe first eight grades are the elementary grades. Where reference is made to “elementary grades", the reference includes kindergarten, where applicable.
7Combined Elementary and Secondary SchoolA school combined of some Elementary school and secondary (middle, junior and/or high school). 
5Middle SchoolA middle school is a school in which grades 5 to 8 are taught.
4Junior High SchoolA junior high school is a school in which grades 7 to 9 are taught.
3High SchoolThe last four grades are the high school grades.  A senior high school is a school in which grades 10 to 12 are taught.

FAQs, Details, and Points to Note

  1. State statute defines the parameters for public schools. However, there are many more types of schools besides public schools (e.g., private school, tribal schools, independent charter schools...). Non-public schools do not tie directly to the school types described in §115.01(2). DPI uses the school type guidance to help all schools use the most appropriate school type.

For More Information

Grade Level Placement data element page

School Directory Management Portal: Annual Required Updates webpage for information about the specific timing of the opening and closing of the Wisconsin School Directory Management Portal application and for further details of annual required updates.

School Directory Management Portal: User Guide landing page to view the full user guide for your agency type.


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Tags: WISE Data Elements - Years