Strategic investments and trail‑blazing partnerships fuel one of the state’s fastest comebacks.
Four years ago, Fond du Lac School District ranked 375th of 421 Wisconsin public school systems. Today, it has leapt to 205th, landing squarely in the state’s top half and still climbing.
Such progress does not happen by accident. It happens when teachers are empowered to lead, students receive individualized supports that empower them to excel and when a community unites behind a shared mission: to improve outcomes for each and every student.
Independent, nationally-conducted research backs the surge. The Harvard‑Stanford Educational Recovery Scorecard names Fond du Lac:
Fastest Math Improvement – From 2022 to 2024, Fond du Lac showed the greatest improvement in math scores out of the 20 largest school districts in the state, surpassing pre-pandemic math levels. The district also had one of the highest positive changes in math achievement in the entire state of Wisconsin.
Top Reading Growth – Fond du Lac experienced the highest positive change in reading growth in all Wisconsin school districts from 2022 to 2024.
“Our teachers didn’t just weather the past few years, they rewrote what success looks like for Fond du Lac students,” said Matt Steinbarth, Superintendent of Fond du Lac School District. “Their relentless focus on each and every learner is the engine behind our dramatic rise in the state rankings. This success story belongs to them: they chose innovation over routine, teamwork over isolation, and our students are thriving because of it.”
At Fond du Lac, our commitment to continuous improvement is transforming our schools and changing student lives. Every day, our educators are making a greater impact with strategic use of data-driven insights, collaboration and innovation to accelerate student outcomes. Our classrooms are driven by purpose, and the results speak for themselves.
This recognition places Fond du Lac among Wisconsin’s most improved and fastest-rising school districts. But more importantly, it validates what our staff, students and families already know:
We are not just recovering — we are leading.
THE PATH TO SUCCESS
Since 2021, the Fond du Lac School District has embarked on a transformational journey grounded in intentional, system-wide investments to ensure the success of each and every student. Guided by a clear vision to implement strategic actions designed to empower both students and staff across all schools.
Central to this transformation are two pivotal partnerships: InitiativeOne (iOne) and the University of Virginia Partnership for Leaders in Education (UVA-PLE). These collaborations have played a key role in reshaping the district's leadership approach and instructional framework. Through iOne, school and district leaders have engaged in high-impact professional development focused on cultivating a culture of trust, accountability and continuous growth. Simultaneously, the UVA-PLE partnership - which focuses on leadership development - has enabled Fond du Lac to redesign its systemic structures, ensuring coherence in curriculum, instruction and support services.
As a result of these aligned efforts, our district has established a unified language, consistent instructional practices and a culture of high expectations across all schools. These initiatives have enhanced academic outcomes, increased staff capacity and prepared students not only for academic success but also for life beyond graduation.
"Fond du Lac's transformation is real and it's inspirational,” said LaToya W. Harrison, UVA-PLE District Support Chief. “With Fond du Lac, we see what happens when districts invest in their leadership to create a compelling vision, bring people along with them, build durable systems, and adapt based on data and learning. We're excited to continue our partnership with Fond du Lac and drive more positive results."
Additionally, before- and after-school programs have been offered through partnerships with the YMCA and Boys and Girls Club as a comprehensive approach to extending education outside of the school day. Other investments involve upgrading classroom libraries, implementing college readiness programs like AVID and more.
Over the past four years, Fond du Lac has experienced dramatic and sustained positive growth, with remarkable improvements in academic performance and district culture. This transformation is driven by the district’s guiding mission of Changing Outcomes — a commitment to make a lasting impact on each and every student and their life trajectory.
Our Fond du Lac community and those in our schools have turned our backs on the days of underperformance and embraced a future filled with possibility. The academic and life trajectories of our students are changing because of the people in this district and the shared belief that each and every student can achieve.
Fond du Lac is on the rise. And this is just the beginning.