Assumption High School

AHS

445 Chestnut Street
Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54494
715-422-0910
e-mail: Principal
or Secretary

The culmination of the education received by students in the Wisconsin Rapids Area Catholic Schools, Assumption High School is located centrally on the east side of Wisconsin Rapids, and has offered an academically rigorous curriculum to 9-12 grade students for over 50 years.

School and Community

Assumption High School is a 9-12 Catholic secondary school that was consolidated into the Wisconsin Rapids Area Catholic School system in 1999. AHS is an educational venture of the Diocese of La Crosse, subject to the policies and procedures established by the Director of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of La Crosse. The school currently enrolls 184 students from the Wisconsin Rapids area extending as far west as Pittsville, as far south as Adams Friendship and as far north as rural Rudolph. Parishes in Nekoosa, Rudolph, and Wisconsin Rapids maintain elementary schools in the WRACS system. A WRACS middle school operates in the same building as AHS.

Assumption High School has a longstanding reputation as a superior college preparatory school. The school continues to attract a small number of non-Catholics. In the past three years, 81% of AHS graduates have matriculated into two or four-year colleges. With the exception of two students, the rest have enrolled in technical colleges.

Curriculum

Assumption High School offers a wide variety of courses designed to afford all students the opportunities needed for growth in academic, spiritual, physical, and emotional maturity. The Program for Advanced College Credit (PACC) offered through St. Mary's University of Minnesota offers AHS juniors and seniors elective college courses in science and English. Two AP prep courses--in psychology and biology--afford Assumption students additional opportunities for college credit. All students are required to take four years of religion courses including courses in Scripture, church history, apologetics, and ecclesiology. The school employs a chaplain and youth minister as well as a guidance counselor, and area priests are involved in the fostering of students' sacramental growth. Core requirements in English, math, science, and social studies exceed state requirements, and the academic rigor of AHS courses has resulted in consistent excellence on the ACT and other standardized tests.

Assumption High School Graduation Standards

  • Demonstrates a strong faith and love of God through prayer.
  • Supports the mission of the Catholic Church.
  • Possesses principles of integrity including honesty, patience, fortitude, generosity, and self-control.
  • Recognizes and fulfills responsibility to community, society, and the world.
  • Affirms principles of loyalty, commitment, sacrifice, and trust.
  • Recognizes and respects the dignity and achievement of others.
  • Models Christian standards of ethical behavior in the workplace including charity toward others, respect for authority, pride in achievement, and the ability to be an effective team member.
  • Demonstrates an appreciation of the arts.
  • Exhibits leadership skills.
  • Formulates and effectively pursues worthwhile goals founded on the discernment of personal vocation.
  • Displays practical life skills, competency in math, writing skills, reading comprehension, scientific reasoning, use of technology, and research skills.
  • Develops habits of lifelong learning and employs critical and creative thinking as well as organizational skills.

Assessment and Assistance

Assumption High School students are tested regularly, challenged rigorously, and assisted daily to reach the goals embraced by our graduation standards. Students take the ITBS in spring before entering high school, the PLAN as first-semester sophomores, the Stanford 10 as second-semester sophomores, the PSAT as first-semester juniors, and the ACT as second-semester juniors. The Diocese of La Crosse requires students to take a religious assessment grades 4, 8, and 11. Scores on all assessments, along with the results of numerous surveys, are used to develop long-range school improvement plans every five years.
In addition, the school requires semester exams in virtually all subjects, expects teachers to assign homework that helps students develop in the skills of reading, mathematics, and problem-solving, and seeks to consistently enforce standards of dress, behavior, and punctuality. For the past four years, Assumption has employed a professional tutoring service through our Assisted Study Center.

  • Graphs comparing ACT scores of local schools. Data taken from the DPI website.
  • Graph showing Assumption High School junior students' achievements on Diocesan Religious Education Asessment
  • Graph showing AHS Plan test results taken by sophomores.

Mission of Assumption High School

The mission of Assumption High School is to inspire excellence and individual growth through education grounded in Catholic principles and tradition. The school cooperates with parents in building a foundation for sound decision-making and encouraging vocations of service formed by charity. In its core curriculum, Assumption High School provides quality academic and moral preparation for life.

© 2007 Wisconsin Rapids Area Catholic Schoools
Peg Klinkhammer
Last updated: May 29, 2008
http://www.wracs.org