Wausau School District

The Wausau School District in Wisconsin serves over 10,000 students across 20 schools, including 14 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, 3 high schools, and 1 alternative school. The district showcases a mix of high-performing and lower-performing schools, with several standout elementary schools like Stettin Elementary, South Mountain Elementary, and Rib Mountain Elementary ranking among the top 10-15% of Wisconsin elementary schools. These high-performing schools boast exceptional test scores, low chronic absenteeism, and relatively low free/reduced lunch rates.

In contrast, some elementary schools like Lincoln Elementary, Franklin Elementary, and Grant Elementary rank in the bottom 20-30% of Wisconsin elementary schools, struggling with low test scores, high chronic absenteeism, and high free/reduced lunch rates. The district's high schools also show varying performance, with East High boasting a 95.6% graduation rate, while Wausau Area Virtual Education has a lower 80.8% graduation rate.

The data suggests a strong correlation between socioeconomic status and academic performance, with the schools serving higher-poverty populations generally underperforming. However, the district also has examples of schools like Hewitt-Texas Elementary that are able to achieve strong results despite serving economically disadvantaged communities. Overall, the Wausau School District presents a complex landscape, with opportunities to learn from the highest-performing schools and implement targeted interventions to support the lower-performing ones.