November 11, 2025 – Saukville, WI — Sugar Maple Nature School (SMNS), a tuition-free public charter school authorized by the Northern Ozaukee School District, has earned a 5-Star rating (“Significantly Exceeds Expectations”) on the 2025 Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction School Report Card, achieving an impressive overall score of 87.6.
The 5-Star score marks the school’s highest rating to date and continues a steady upward trajectory since opening its doors in 2019.
This recognition places Sugar Maple Nature School among the highest-performing public schools in the state—an accomplishment that reflects the success of its unique nature-based, inquiry-driven, and community-centered approach to education.
A Model Rooted in Applied Learning and Stewardship
At Sugar Maple Nature School, students learn through an interdisciplinary model that balances hands-on applied science, project-based learning, and environmental stewardship.
Lessons take place both in classrooms and in the surrounding natural environment, allowing students to explore real-world concepts through meaningful, authentic experiences at Hawthorne Hills County Park including Shady Lane Natural Area (part of the larger Milwaukee River Mesic Woods Natural Area).
This approach fosters critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and problem-solving—essential “transportable skills” that equip students for success in any future pathway. From renewable energy design challenges to watershed restoration and citizen science, students are not just learning about nature—they are learning in it and through it.
“This rating is a celebration of our students, staff, and families who believe that learning should be active, meaningful, and connected to the world around us,” said Cindy Raimer, Director of Education at Sugar Maple Nature School.
“Our hands-on, project-based approach encourages curiosity, a growth mindset, and communication—skills that prepare our students not just for tests, but for life.
Now in its seventh year, Sugar Maple Nature School draws students from 17 different school districts across southeastern Wisconsin, creating a vibrant learning community united by a shared commitment to curiosity, creativity, and connection with the natural world.
“Sugar Maple Nature School continues to demonstrate what’s possible when innovation, community partnerships, and student engagement come together,” said Dave Karrels, Superintendent of the Northern Ozaukee School District.
“The school’s success is a testament to the strength of its learning model. We’re proud to partner with such a forward-thinking charter school.”
The school’s recent collaboration with Ozaukee County has provided a home within Hawthorne Hills County Park, where students have daily access to hundreds of acres of outdoor “classrooms” along the Milwaukee River, including ponds, prairies, woodlands, and wetlands.
This partnership integrates environmental education, recreation, and community engagement—offering unparalleled opportunities for exploration and stewardship. The partnership between SMNS and Ozaukee County through the Planning and Parks Department was recently recognized with a 2025 National Association of Counties Achievement Award for its creative integration of education, park stewardship, and public-private investment.
“This partnership reflects the very best of what public education can be—when schools and communities work together to create meaningful, lasting impact,” said Andrew Struck, Director of Ozaukee County Planning and Parks.
“By providing access to these natural areas, we’re helping students learn from the land, connect to local ecosystems, and develop a lifelong sense of stewardship.”
Growing Opportunities for New Students
Sugar Maple Nature School currently serves students in kindergarten through seventh grade and will expand to include eighth grade in 2026. Following this year’s outstanding report card results, limited seats remain available for prospective students in our intermediate grades (2nd to 7th grade).
Families interested in joining this thriving learning community are encouraged to visit www.sugarmaplenatureschool.org to learn more or schedule a tour.
Looking Ahead: A Call to Action
Building on this success, Sugar Maple Nature School has launched a capital campaign to expand its facilities to accommodate growing enrollment and enhance outdoor learning spaces at Hawthorne Hills County Park. Planned additions include a natural playground for school and community use and expanded classroom space.
“This achievement shows what happens when a community invests in curiosity. Our students are thriving—and our next step is to grow the spaces where that learning happens. Outdoor learning not only strengthens academic engagement, but also supports physical health, creativity, and emotional well-being. At Sugar Maple, our ‘hallways’ are winding forest trails, and our classrooms extend into the fields and rivers around us. When students spend their days hiking, building projects, and learning in nature, they’re developing confidence, resilience, and a lifelong love of learning.”