Winona Area Public SchoolsWhy should you choose Winona Area Public Schools?
Is there a future Winhawk in your family?
Registration is now open for the 2024-25 school year at Winona Area Public Schools.
Discover why generations of Winona families chose — and continue to choose — Winona Area Public Schools to inspire, engage and empower their child.
From preschool and kindergarten to the middle and high school, we are welcoming students at all grade levels.
At Winona Area Public Schools, our mission is to inspire curiosity, empower resiliency and engage community. We have been the top choice for generations and generations of Winona area families since 1861, and we hope to continue to be the top choice for generations to come.
We believe that every student can achieve to the best of their ability,
and we are committed to building systems that ensure all learners
have access to high-quality instruction with individualized support.
Our curriculum is built around state and locally-approved standards. It requires students to develop skills to think critcally, solve problems and work collaboratively. The curriculum also ensures students are given opportunities to understand multicultural perspectives and how inclusion is important in a democratic society.
The Ríos Dual Language Spanish Immersion program is the only dual language immersion program in Winona County. Students will become fluent in Spanish and English while mastering academic standards and developing an appreciation other cultures.
Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) helps students develop the skills, knowledge and confidence to be successful in college, career and life. Teachers receive training and support to facilitate learning in inquiry-based, student-centric classrooms. Students learn skills in organization, communication, study habits and self-advocacy to take control of their learning.
There is no other educational option in the Winona area that offers the same level of student support. All students at Winona Area Public Schools have access to a licensed school counselor, a licensed school social worker and a licensed school psychologist. Grades K-8 have embraced Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), a school-wide approach that emphasizes the prevention of behavioral issues through clear expectations, positive reinforcement and data-driven decision making.
We have amazing educators
WAPS teachers are kind, caring, loving and compassionate. They educate, inspire and advocate, while collaborating with families and the community to serve as cheerleaders for student success. Don't believe us? Scroll through these thank you postcards from families.
#WhyWAPS stories from our families
We are proud to have been the top choice for generations of Winona area families since 1861. But why do our families continue to choose Winona Area Public Schools? Scroll through a few of these testimonials to learn more.
'Our child will be better equipped'
'Our child will be better equipped'
We chose WAPS because we feel the population is more representative of our community and that our child will be better equipped in the world because of a more diverse perspective.
– Lindsey, Mark, Silas, Felix and Odessa
'Our child is thriving'
'Our child is thriving'
We talked to everyone we knew and we visited three kindergarten options in Winona. We couldn't go wrong – every option had great strengths. We chose the Rios Spanish Immersion program at Jefferson Elementary because we want to challenge our child with the gift of a second language. Our child is thriving within the nurturing environment that the teachers and staff have created for our community's next generation. Thank you, WAPS!
– Caylan, Marcy, Cormac and Wendell
'All of the staff show love and support'
'All of the staff show love and support'
"I chose WAPS because of the loving, caring, and dedicated teachers. All of the staff members that I have had encounters with, and that my son has had encounter with, all show such love and support for the students. I can even remember the time and effort that they took when my nephew (who is now a 6th grader) was attending Goodview Elementary."
– Danielle, Taylor and Charlie
'The teachers are invested in my children'
'The teachers are invested in my children'
We choose WAPS because the teachers are invested in my children both in and out of school. When my daughter was hospitalized during her kindergarten year, the school was a great support for us and pictures from classmates decorated her room. The staff at W-K went above and beyond for us!
– Amanda, Paul, Jackson and Kaitlyn
'The public school is great for preparing our kids'
'The public school is great for preparing our kids'
I was part of WAPS from K-12 and wanted my kids to have the same experience as I had. The public school is great for preparing our kids for everything they will have to experience in the future.
– Jim Baertsch '00, Jenny, Tessa, Chase
'They have supported all of us'
'They have supported all of us'
We choose WAPS because ever since my family moved to this country, they have supported all of us through early childhood, preschool, and now we have a 1st grader. She speaks 3 languages due to their amazing Spanish immersion program. They have a fantastic staff and people that care about you.
– Rodrigo, Amanda, Julia and Nick
'Our kids felt safe, cared for, and appreciated'
'Our kids felt safe, cared for, and appreciated'
Our children are fourth generation WAPS students. WAPS has paved the way for incredible educational experiences for all four generations. Our three children are literally quite different in every way possible, and not once have we not felt cared for, seen, heard or advocated for by the WAPS staff. Inclusivity is a really important core value for our family, and we are so proud to have our children surrounded by all the different cultures, abilities, backgrounds and languages our beautiful community encompasses. Our children come home with a smile on their faces and a heart full of love from their WAPS family every single day. We are Winhawk Proud!
– Marshal, Dallas, Zoe, Nora and Felix