break this out into faqs subsections for each topic (ex: school, tuition, boarding students etc) -- maybe keep them all here OR breack them out into faq pages under each main section... TBD
HOW MUCH DOES THE SLIDING SCALE TUITION SLIDE?
"Every family meets with the Finance committee to determine a yearly pledge that is appropriate for the family. We have a few non-negotiable fees: a $25 new student application fee, a $500 supplies fee, and a $150 registration fee. There is a minimum pledge. We arrived at this number because we believe that a motivated student can easily earn enough money in a summer to pay their way. Every year some students pay all or some of their way. At the upper end, the sky’s the limit! We encourage any family that can pay more than the cost per student to do so, enabling families who can’t pay the full amount to attend. There are also occasional field trips and course expenses (e.g., Photography, Foods and Nutrition) that require nominal additional fees.
WHEN IS THE APPLICATION DEADLINE?
In order to make financial and pedagogical decisions we need applications by February 15th.
WHAT DOES YOUR CREDIT SYSTEM LOOK LIKE?
Our credit system assigns credit value to each class and minimum credit limits for graduation. Our requirements align with requirements of most universities, including the University of Wisconsin. Students who take a full course of study at YIHS have many options to pursue independent studies, internships and exchanges while still meeting the basic credit requirements. Our credit system maintains a balance of arts, sciences, and humanities while also valuing unique aspects of our curriculum like service hours and expeditions.
HOW MANY STUDENTS ARE IN THE SCHOOL?​
Approximately 70.
WHAT IS THE STUDENT TO TEACHER RATIO?
We have 6 full-time faculty and about 30 part-time faculty, who may teach several blocks or a path class. We limit each grade to 18 students and most elective classes run much smaller.
WHAT KINDS OF ART CLASSES ARE OFFERED?
YIHS offers a wide variety of required and elective art courses. Freshman and new students are required to take Intro to 2D and 3D, which are prerequisites for all other art courses. After that the student is given a variety of choices in Visual Arts, such as Drama, Painting, Drawing, Photography, Comics, Sculpture and Printmaking; in Manual Arts, such as Carpentry, Auto Mechanics, Woodcarving, Computers, and others; in Performing Arts, such as the Spring Play, Set-Design, Playwriting, and Circus Arts.
WHAT’S IN YOUR SCIENCE PROGRAM?
Our Science program offers instruction in theoretical foundations and hands-on, experiential learning. We have a full cycle of biology, chemistry and physics along with other offerings such as astronomy, genetics, meteorology, and water cycle. You can view a schedule of Main Lesson Blocks and a sampling of course descriptions and syllabi here.
WHAT’S IN YOUR MUSIC PROGRAM?
Music class meets twice a week for a total of 3 hours, and students have many choices: guitar, orchestra, rock band, ethnomusicology, songwriting and other. All music classes put on occasional performances throughout the year.
WHY ARE THERE NO LETTER GRADES?
YIHS believes learning should not be a competition and that knowledge is its own reward. Youth Initiative does not use letter grades nor does it rank students in any way. Youth Initiative faculty provide weekly and final narrative evaluations for each student for each class. These final evaluations are recorded in the student’s transcript, along with a “grade” of pass or fail. We believe that narrative evaluations are a more thorough and accurate representation of a student’s performance. And colleges agree; we have gotten positive feedback about our transcripts from a number of post-secondary institutions. For examples of these narrative evaluations download a sample final or weekly evaluation.
IS YIHS ACCREDITED?
YIHS is registered with the State of Wisconsin as a Non-Public School. In addition, we are a Developing Member of AWSNA, the national organization of Waldorf schools.  We offer a high school diploma and our students are able to attend the colleges of their choice.
DO GRADUATES GO TO COLLEGE?
Of the over 150 graduates of YIHS, some have gone on to prestigious universities, small liberal arts colleges, and foreign travel; some have also gone on to start their own business, farm organically, work in the media, work in Washington D.C. and start families. Some YIHS alumni have pursued advanced degrees in law, social sciences, public policy architecture and nursing. Several have returned to Viroqua and have taught at the Youth Initiative.
For a complete list of colleges that have accepted our graduates click here
WHAT SPORTS DOES YOUTH INITIATIVE OFFER?
YIHS has its own WIAA girls volleyball team. Our relationship with Viroqua High School allows students to participate in varsity football, tennis, cross-country, and several other sports. In addition YIHS students and parents were instrumental establishing Driftless United Athletics, sponsors of a co-ed intramural soccer team and our student participate in an intramural basketball league See our Sports Page for more info
ARE YOU GUYS A HIPPIE SCHOOL?
Insofar as hippies were creative, democratic, environmentally conscious, and convivial, “yes”, we are a hippie school. Insofar as hippies were unconstructive, wayward hedonists, then “no”, YIHS does not embody these values.
IS YIHS THE SAME THING AS PLEASANT RIDGE WALDORF SCHOOL ?
The short answer is no, but the two schools, although distinct financial and administrative entities, do share a pedagogical philosophy and many individuals are or have been associated with both schools.

Both Youth Initiative and Pleasant Ridge follow the guidelines of Waldorf education, which respect students as whole beings that think, feel and act. However, Waldorf education changes with the age of the children, subject matter and teaching style are developmentally appropriate. Thus, high school teachers don’t teach in the same manner as elementary teachers. In high school, the intellect of the students is the focus of development: the YIHS curriculum aims to inspire critical and creative thinking in students.

Each year several students attend YIHS who did not attend Waldorf grade school. These students sometimes need some orientation to vocabulary and some encouragement in the arts, but are more than able to meet the challenges of a Waldorf high school
WHAT DOES YOUR KALEIDOSCOPIC EMBLEM SYMBOLIZE?
Our logo is an image of a stained glass window that was produced by YIHS students as a fundraising project in the early years of the school. It is currently installed in the St. Joseph’s Ridge Catholic Church, about 20 miles from Viroqua. It is a great example of the work our students do to help fund their school and enrich the community—artistic, cooperative, beautiful.
WHAT’S YOUR MASCOT?
Our mascot is the goat. The goat is a symbol of resourcefulness, tenacity, and good-natured chicanery. It also represents our connection to small-scale, local agriculture.
HOW MUCH IS TUITION?
Costs for Boarding Students for 2016-17: $8,000 tuition / $650 Registration and supplies fees / $6200 boarding fees.
501(c)3, IS MY TUITION TAX-DEDUCTIBLE?
to come.
ARE YOU A WISCONSIN VOUCHER SCHOOL?
No. We are not a voucher school. We are an independent, private school that re
IS YOUR SCHOOL FINANCIALLY STABLE?
to come.
WHAT IS THE ADMISSIONS PROCESS LIKE?
to come
WHAT ARE THE SCHOOL BEHAVIORAL STANDARDS?
to come.
WHAT ARE THE SERVICE HOURS?
to come.
WHERE CAN I FIND ANSWERS TO MY QUESTIONS?
to come.