Wisconsin names first “Purple Star” Schools

Wisconsin is honoring schools that go the extra mile for students in military families.

Seventeen schools across Wisconsin have been named the state’s first Purple Star Schools—an honor celebrating strong support for students from military families. It’s part of a new Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction program designed to help children who often move many times during their school years and face shifting expectations and requirements. To earn the designation, schools must train staff, appoint a liaison for military families, offer programs that build social connections, and provide online resources to help students transition smoothly.

Nine of the seventeen schools Wisconsin has honored as Purple Star Schools are in the Tomah School District.

Schools named Wisconsin Purple Star Schools are: 

• Grantsburg High School (Grantsburg School District) 
• Osseo-Fairchild Elementary (Osseo-Fairchild School District) 
• Sparta Montessori School (Sparta Area School District) 
• St. Croix Falls Elementary School  (St. Croix Falls School District) 
• St. Croix Falls Middle School (St. Croix Falls School District) 
• St. Croix Falls High School (St. Croix Falls School District) 
• Eastside Elementary (Sun Prairie Area School District) 
• Prairie View Middle School (Sun Prairie Area School District) 
• Tomah High School (Tomah Area School District) 
• Tomah Middle School (Tomah Area School District) 
• LaGrange Elementary School (Tomah Area School District) 
• Miller Elementary School (Tomah Area School District) 
• Warrens Elementary School (Tomah Area School District) 
• Wyeville Elementary School (Tomah Area School District) 
• Tomah Area Montessori School (Tomah Area School District) 
• Camp Douglas and Oakdale Elementary School (Tomah Area School District) 
• Lemonweir Elementary School (Tomah Area School District) 

This marks the inaugural year of Wisconsin’s Purple Star School Program, which helps schools better support the unique educational and social-emotional needs of military-connected children.