Enrollment: 295
District/Student Demographics
The Argyle School District is a rural district located in Argyle, Wisconsin and serves a student population of 295 students from Lafayette and Grant Counties. The elementary school serves approximately 150 students in grades 4K-5. The middle school serves approximately 65 students in grades 6-8. And the high school serves 80 students in grades 9-12. Argyle School District serves approximately 5% minority students and approximately 39% economically disadvantaged students.
The Argyle School District is a rural district comprised of the village of Argyle and several surrounding townships. The community of Argyle is located in Southwest Wisconsin in Eastern Lafayette County. The charming Main Street is at the intersection of State highways 78 & 81. Argyle is the boyhood home of “Fighting Bob” La Follette.
Labor Market / County Demographics
Employment areas in Lafayette County include: Manufacturing; trade, transportation and utilities; education and health. Average household income for Lafayette County is $56,523.
Economic development has seen significant changes in Lafayette County through the years. Established by Irish immigrants and lead miners in the early 1800’s, the lead mining industry continued in importance through World War II and into the 1970’s. Today, manufacturing and agriculture lead the county’s economic profile. Tourism also contributes significantly to the county’s economy.
Darlington is the county seat and the largest city. Other leading communities include Shullsburg, Belmont, Argyle, Benton, Blanchardville, Gratiot and South Wayne. Formed in 1847, Lafayette County has a total area of 643 square miles and a population of just over 16,000.
Manufacturing:
Manufacturing is the leading industry providing employment in Lafayette County with metal workers, plastic workers and other production workers accounting for the largest percentage of manufacturing options.
Economic development and financial incentives are available for new businesses and companies looking to expand or relocate to Lafayette County. Darlington has a modern industrial park with a complete infrastructure and a large number of support services.
The Lafayette County area is well-suited for agricultural and food-related industries. The Shullsburg Creamery, Roelli Cheese Company and several other specialty cheese and dairy production plants are located within this highly productive agricultural county.
Agriculture:
Agriculture accounts for about 85% of the total business sales and provides about 54% of the jobs in Lafayette County. Dairy is the key agricultural industry with 13 dairy and specialty cheese production plants in the county. Agricultural diversity is important in Lafayette County; current rank:
- Second in the state in sheep and goat production
- Fourth in the state in swine production
- Fourth in cattle and calf production
- First in the number of bee colonies
- Third in alfalfa hay production
- Fourth in corn for grain
Direct marketing sales contribute significantly to the county agricultural sales. Farmers own and manage 85% of the land within the county, incorporating conservation methods into their farming practices to protect the natural environment.
Mission and Goals
With strong community support, the mission of the Argyle School District is to provide a safe, stimulating and supporting learning environment to inspire students and encourage personal growth while challenging abilities and accommodating individual learning styles. Provide resources and learning opportunities to achieve and maintain high academic standards. Graduate confident, well-rounded students who can realize their aspirations as well as become creative, contributing citizens.
Our educational program will impart the necessary skills to excel in a changing and progressing society. Student learning and achievement is at the core of everything we do in our district. In order to reach and maintain our potential as a district, we must have a clear sense of our goals and we must define the characteristics of what it means to demonstrate high achievement. Our goal is that all students will be college and/or career ready upon graduation.
WHAT IS PI 26?
Chapter PI 26 (Education for Employment Plans and Program) is a state law that mandates “every school board shall provide access to an education for employment program approved by the state superintendent . . . the state superintendent shall ensure that every school board is providing academic and career planning services to pupils enrolled in grades 6-12 in the school district beginning in the 2017-18 school year.”
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF ACADEMIC AND CAREER PLANNING?
The purpose of academic and career planning services is to assist pupils with planning and preparing for opportunities after graduating from high school. ACP is a student-driven, adult-supported ongoing process that actively engages students enabling them to:
- Understand their own interests, strengths, values, learning styles
- Create a vision of their future
- Develop individual goals
- Prepare a personal plan for achieving their vision and goals
Students create and cultivate their own unique and information-based visions for post-secondary success, obtained through self-exploration, career exploration, and the development of career management and planning skills. Students in grades 6-12 will participate in ACP programming.
A major tool in the implementation of academic and career planning will be the use of XELLO, a career development software, as a primary tool in grades 6-12 to help students gain self-awareness, explore postsecondary and career options, document their academic and career plans, and review and revise their plans, as needed. Homeroom advisors will stay with their mentees throughout high school in order to build relationships and continue to guide students in their career goals and fulfillment of those goals. Students own and control the direction of their ACP process, are ultimately responsible for completing the portfolio requirements within their ACP, and following through with the goals and directions they establish within their plan, all with the support of parents, educators, and mentors along the way.
HOW WE HELP STUDENTS BECOME COLLEGE AND CAREER READY?
- Extensive course offerings in core education, physical education, CTE (Agriculture Education, Business & Information Technology, Family & Consumer Education, and Technology Education), foreign language, and fine arts (art, instrumental music, and vocal music).
- AP (Advanced Placement) offerings with AP credit opportunities through AP exams
- Southwest Technical College transcripted credit offering
- Credit recover programing
- Use of XELLO software for personal assessments, career exploration, and electronic portfolios beginning in sixth grade and continuing through twelfth grade
- Partnerships with local businesses including guest speakers, job shadows, mock interviews, and department staff meetings
- Small group and individual mentoring via advisory periods
- Co-curricular organizations and opportunities
- Sophomore career academy course requirement - Includes guided career exploration, resume writing, job applications, interviewing skills, soft skills, guest speakers, work-site visits, and job shadows
- Parent/teacher conferences
- Multiple communications with parents
- Early College Credit Program and Start College Now Program for dual credit opportunities
- Youth Apprenticeships
- Employability Skills Certificates
- Job shadows
- College fairs
- Two-year and four-year post-secondary institution tours
- Local on campus visits from college and military representatives
- Volunteer opportunities
- Individual college and worksite visits
- Informational Parent Meetings
- Personal Finance Literacy
PARTNERS IN EDUCATION
The Argyle School District partners and collaborates with a number of businesses. Our partners work with school representatives to help expose our students to local career opportunities and lend support to our students in multiple ways including job shadows, leadership opportunities, speaking engagements, and more. The Argyle School District and Southwest Technical College have a partnership and work collaboratively in a number of ways including transcripted credit, college tours, youth options and more.
Additional Resources
Implementing Academic and Career Planning (ACP)
ACP Frequently asked questions
Xello:
Resources used to create this document include
Department of Workforce Development data,
DPI publications, and Argyle School District publications.
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