Education

Lifelong Learning Opportunities

The Neenah public school system has earned a “Gold Star” rating in Expansion Management magazine’s Education Quotient review. The rating was based on high graduation rates, college board scores that are consistently higher than state and national averages, low teacher/student ratios, continued commitment to funding public education, and strong economic and educational demographic rankings.

Neenah’s public and parochial schools prepare students for personal and professional success. Three schools have received the national “EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION” award and our students consistently exceed standardized test score averages.

In 2009, the Neenah Joint School District implemented the Manufacturing & Engineering Academy. The academy will be driven by Project Lead the Way (PLTW), which provides contemporary curriculum that helps students excel in emerging engineering and technology-related post secondary education and occupations. PLTW forms partnerships with public schools, higher education institutions and the private sector to increase the quantity and quality of engineers and engineering technologists graduating from our educational system. Project Lead the Way Students enrolling in PLTW courses are immersed in real-world problem solving and hands-on projects. While they explore engineering career paths, the valuable math, science, and technology skills that students receive benefit them in whatever path they choose.

The Fox Cities Alliance for Education, an affiliate of the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc., helps area school districts and businesses collaborate on a wide variety of school-to-work initiatives. The organization provides direction to its regional career center, developed a highly recognized math/science/technology academy for teachers, and developed systems for placing students in job shadowing experiences.

For more information on Neenah’s public elementary and secondary schools, visit the Neenah Joint School District‘s homepage.

Post-Secondary
Opportunities for post high-school education are provided by several area institutions, including traditional colleges and Fox Valley Technical College (FVTC). Ranked among the nation’s top three vocational education schools, FVTC offers customized training programs to help business keep pace with changing technologies and specialized needs.  The educational systems provided in Neenah and the surrounding Fox Cities area ensure local businesses of an ample, highly-skilled workforce.

Fox Valley Technical College (FVTC) is a statewide leader in providing employee education and training, offering degrees in more than 80 programs. FVTC works with businesses of all sizes to deliver customized training solutions and advanced applications in areas including transportation, security/crime prevention, law enforcement, health care, flexographic printing, culinary arts, entrepreneurship and small business development. FVTC, through its Automated Manufacturing Systems lab, partners with local companies to provide customized training in areas such as welding. The FVTC Robotics Technology Center represents a unique partnership between the college and KUKA Robotics Corp. USA. FVTC offers the only technical diploma in flexographic printing in the U.S.

The UWO Fox Cities offers associate degrees as well as collaborative degree programs in engineering, organizational administration and American Studies at its Menasha campus. UW Oshkosh and UW-Green Bay, both within 30 minutes of the Fox Cities, provide a multitude of undergraduate and graduate level courses, with UW Oshkosh offering one of the nation’s top MBA programs.

Several highly rated private colleges designed with working adults in mind have outreach campuses in the Fox Cities such as Lakeland College, which has its Fox Cities campus located in the Neenah’s Southpark Industrial Center, and Rasmussen College with locations in both Appleton and Green Bay. These schools offer both traditional and nontraditional educational experiences including complete online degree programs.  Also, Downtown Appleton serves as home to Lawrence University, considered one of the nation’s top private schools.

There are 18 colleges and universities within an hour’s drive of the Fox Cities.