Best Public Schools in La Crosse, WI

The city of La Crosse, Wisconsin is home to 18 schools that serve students from elementary through high school, all part of the La Crosse School District. The district is ranked 303 out of 428 districts in Wisconsin and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger. However, the data reveals a wide disparity in performance between the top-performing schools and the lower-performing ones, highlighting the challenges in providing equitable education across the district.

Among the standout schools is the School of Technology and Arts I (SOTA I), a public charter elementary school that consistently ranks among the top in Wisconsin, with a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger and impressive test scores. Another high-performing school is Central High School, which has the highest graduation rate (93.5%) and lowest dropout rate (1.5%) among the high schools in the data set, as well as strong academic performance. The La Crosse Polytechnic School, a public charter high school, also stands out with a 4-star rating and a 91.6% four-year graduation rate.

However, the data also reveals significant challenges in the district, with some schools struggling to meet proficiency levels and having high rates of chronic absenteeism. The wide range in performance suggests a correlation between socioeconomic factors and student outcomes, highlighting the need for targeted interventions and support to ensure all students in the La Crosse area receive a high-quality education.