Educating the Whole Child:
Mind, Body, and Spirit.
Kindness, respect, and Catholic Christian values have been our foundation since opening our doors in 1948. St. Francis School is a Catholic elementary school open to all faiths. We strive to create a strong child-centered, safe, learning environment that prepares young people for a successful future built upon strong academic instruction and Christian virtues.
We offer preschool through 5th grade with small class sizes of 20 or less.
More than 1,500 students have passed through our doors, going on to lead strong, successful lives.
Our curriculum consists of the core subjects plus Religion, Handwriting/Cursive, Technology, and Music. Hands-on learning is encouraged with field trips, robotics, STEM, and dramatic performances. We meet WI state standards and the standards for the Diocese of La Crosse. Many of our students have graduated as valedictorians, salutatorians, or honor students, proving that what kids learn at St. Francis serves them well their entire lives.
Our teachers, administration, and staff teach academic skills and guide children to learn about faith, virtues, morals, and spirituality through a patient, caring example. Our teachers are highly qualified and state-certified and support a top-level curriculum. Our low turnover of staff is a testament to the dedication and passion these individuals share for teaching students at St. Francis School.
We are committed to curriculum and instruction designed to meet not only the present needs of students but to prepare students to become just and prayerful adult Christian leaders. Our school creates an atmosphere of faith, hope, and prayer where teachers and students can nurture the image of God in one another. In addition to our faith-based studies, our 1st-5th grade students attend Mass weekly and take part as greeters, readers, cantors, gift bearers, and altar servers.
The Buddy Program provides a leadership role for 5th graders to meet monthly with kindergartners to read, help with projects, and play games. This teaches kindness and patience and gives students an opportunity to learn in a different way.
The same specialized services offered through the public school system are also available at St. Francis, including speech therapy, special education, Title I services, transportation, and 4YK at no tuition cost.
First through Fifth Grade Classrooms are fully equipped with Chromebooks. 4YK- 5th-grade classrooms each have Smartboards. As with the public school, Google is our technology choice. We're preparing kids for advancement into 6th grade.
Music education is an integral component of the curriculum. Our children show great talent performing a school-wide program each Christmas and Spring. The opportunity to learn cohesively as a student body allows older students to become role models while giving younger children confidence and excitement.
Safety is a top priority at St. Francis School. Procedures and protocols include locked doors and controlled entry by the school office, cameras installed at entries, safety drills implemented regularly, and successful background checks on all volunteers.
St. Francis complies with federal and state regulations for our hot lunch and breakfast programs. Nutritious meals are prepared on-site. Free or reduced meal programs are available to those who qualify.