Northern Waters Environmental School

Summary:

Northern Waters Environmental School is a public charter high school located in Hayward, Wisconsin, serving grades 6-12 with a total enrollment of 31 students. The school is part of the Hayward Community School District, which is ranked 253 out of 428 districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Despite its small size, Northern Waters Environmental School has consistently outperformed the district and state in several academic areas, particularly in Social Studies and Science. The school has had a remarkable 0% dropout rate and 0% chronic absenteeism for the past three school years, significantly better than the nearby Hayward High School. Additionally, Northern Waters has a lower student-teacher ratio of 10.3, compared to 12.8 at Hayward High School and 11.2 at Northwood High/Middle School.

While Northern Waters Environmental School is outperforming the nearby Hayward High School, it is interesting to note that Northwood High/Middle School, another public charter school, has a higher statewide ranking and better test scores in some areas. Additionally, Northern Waters has a higher percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch at 41.94%, compared to 48.58% at Hayward High School and only 2.08% at Northwood High/Middle School, suggesting that the school may be serving a more economically disadvantaged population.

Detail:

Public, Charter 6-12

10256 Greenwood Ln
Hayward, WI 54843

(715) 634-2619

District: Hayward Community School District

Per Pupil Expenditures: $10,196

Student/teacher ratio: 10.3

Number of students: 31

Racial breakdown:

White:

83.9%

American Indian:

6.5%

Two or more races:

6.5%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 41.9%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Northern Waters Environmental School ranks worse than 72.1% of middle schools in Wisconsin. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 35.07. (See more...)

The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.

Chronic absenteeism in a high school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (83.9%), American Indian (6.5%), two or more races (6.5%). (See more...)

Compare Details 41.9% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Northern Waters Environmental School is 10.3. (See more...)

Compare Northern Waters Environmental School employs 3 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Northern Waters Environmental School is $10,196.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Northern Waters Environmental School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

SchoolDigger ranks Northern Waters Environmental School 462^nd of 641 Wisconsin public middle schools. (See Northern Waters Environmental School in the ranking list.)

Hayward Community School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Hayward Community School District 253^rd of 428 Wisconsin school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Northern Waters Environmental School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	WI State Percentile
2015	51.99	336^th	612	45.1%
2016	53.14	304^th	609	50.1%
2017	54.51	272^nd	612	55.6%
2018	48.46	330^th	579	43.0%
2019	25.58	485^th	594	18.4%
2021	55.70	267^th	613	56.4%
2023	37.32	433^rd	640	32.3%
2024	35.07	462^nd	641	27.9%

See the entire list of Wisconsin High School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Data source: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction

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Enrollment information for Northern Waters Environmental School

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Year	White	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2013	13	0	0	4	0	3	20
2014	11	0	0	5	1	3	20
2015	17	0	1	5	1	3	27
2016	26	0	2	7	1	2	38
2017	27	0	2	9	0	1	39
2018	25	0	1	12	0	1	39
2019	26	1	0	14	0	1	42
2020	24	1	0	10	0	0	35
2021	22	1	1	4	0	2	30
2022	28	1	0	4	0	5	38
2023	26	1	0	2	0	2	31

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Northern Waters Environmental School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2013	20	0.8	25.0	40
2014	20	0.8	25.0	45
2015	27	n/a	n/a	48.1
2016	38	2.0	19.0	44.7
2017	39	2.0	19.5	43.6
2018	39	2.0	19.5	35.9
2019	42	4.0	10.5	47.6
2020	35	4.0	8.7	51.4
2021	30	3.0	10.0	50
2022	38	3.0	12.6	50
2023	31	3.0	10.3	41.9

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Northern Waters Environmental School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2013	20	0.8	25.0	40
2014	20	0.8	25.0	45
2015	27	n/a	n/a	48.1
2016	38	2.0	19.0	44.7
2017	39	2.0	19.5	43.6
2018	39	2.0	19.5	35.9
2019	42	4.0	10.5	47.6
2020	35	4.0	8.7	51.4
2021	30	3.0	10.0	50
2022	38	3.0	12.6	50
2023	31	3.0	10.3	41.9

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Northern Waters Environmental School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$202 (2.4%)	$8,050 (97.6%)	$8,252
2020	$202 (2.2%)	$9,101 (97.8%)	$9,303
2021	$683 (6.7%)	$9,513 (93.3%)	$10,196

Data source: Wisconsin Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Northern Waters Environmental School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 485^th of 594 Middle schools	Ranks 433^rd of 640 Middle schools	14%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
7th Grade English Language Arts (Northern Waters Environmental School)	50	16.7	33.3%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Hayward Community School District)	47.3	40	7.3%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Wisconsin)	45.5	38.6	6.9%
7th Grade Mathematics (Northern Waters Environmental School)	33.3	16.7	16.7%
7th Grade Mathematics (Hayward Community School District)	45.3	39.5	5.8%
7th Grade Mathematics (Wisconsin)	39.7	34.4	5.4%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Northern Waters Environmental School)	28.6	25	3.6%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Hayward Community School District)	41	33.9	7.2%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Wisconsin)	37.3	37.8	0.5%
8th Grade Mathematics (Northern Waters Environmental School)	0	12.5	12.5%
8th Grade Mathematics (Hayward Community School District)	32.8	41.1	8.3%
8th Grade Mathematics (Wisconsin)	36.5	31.8	4.7%
8th Grade Social Studies (Northern Waters Environmental School)	28.6	62.5	33.9%
8th Grade Social Studies (Hayward Community School District)	46.6	58.9	12.3%
8th Grade Social Studies (Wisconsin)	52.1	59.2	7.1%
8th Grade Science (Northern Waters Environmental School)	28.6	62.5	33.9%
8th Grade Science (Hayward Community School District)	54.1	47.6	6.6%
8th Grade Science (Wisconsin)	54.6	49.4	5.3%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	42	31	26.2%
African American	0	0
American Indian	14	2	85.7%
Asian	1	1
Hispanic	0	0
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	26	26
Two or More Races	1	2	100%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	47.6%	41.9%	5.7%

Schools Near Northern Waters Environmental School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				ACT English Language Arts (2024)	ACT Mathematics (2024)	ACT Science (2024)	Forward Exam English Language Arts (2024)			Forward Exam Mathematics (2024)			Forward Exam Social Studies (2024)		Forward Exam Science (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2021)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	ACT English Language Arts 10th Grade	ACT Mathematics 10th Grade	ACT Science 10th Grade	Forward Exam English Language Arts 6th Grade	Forward Exam English Language Arts 7th Grade	Forward Exam English Language Arts 8th Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 6th Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 7th Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 8th Grade	Forward Exam Social Studies 8th Grade	Forward Exam Social Studies 10th Grade	Forward Exam Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Northern Waters Environmental School	Public, Charter	6-12	10256 Greenwood Ln	Hayward	54843	Sawyer County	Hayward Community School District	Yes	No	No	No	(715) 634-2619	31	3	10.3	41.9%	26 (83.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (3.2%)	2 (6.5%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (6.5%)								(n/a)				66.7	37.5		33.3	25.0					$10,196	$683	$9,513
Hayward High	Public	9-12	10320 N Greenwood Ln	Hayward	54843	Sawyer County	Hayward Community School District	No	No	No	Yes	(715) 634-2619	529	41	12.8	48.6%	345 (65.2%)	6 (1.1%)	27 (5.1%)	5 (0.9%)	120 (22.7%)	2 (0.4%)	24 (4.5%)	41.2	273^rd of 431 public high schools	36.7%		57.1	168^th of 415 public high schools	59.5%	105	45.3	48.3	35.9								35.0		$13,389	$740	$12,649
WOLI/Akii'gikinoo'amaading Environmental School	Public, Charter	6-12	8575 N Trepania Rd	Hayward	54843	Sawyer County	Waadookodaading Ojibwe Language Institute Inc	Yes	No	No	No	(715) 558-7394	13	0	68.4	100.0%	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (15.4%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (84.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Northwood High/Middle	Public, Charter	6-12	N14463 Highway 53	Minong	54859	Washburn County	Northwood School District	Yes	No	No	No	(715) 466-2297	144	13	11.2	2.1%	122 (84.7%)	1 (0.7%)	9 (6.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (8.3%)	47.6	238^th of 431 public high schools	44.8%		59.2	155^th of 415 public high schools	62.7%	83		44.4	61.1	53.3	18.8	17.4	33.3	6.3	13.0	30.4	20.0	21.7	$17,294	$939	$16,357
Gordon Correctional Center	Public	7-12	10401 E County Road G	Gordon	54838	Douglas County	Wisconsin Department of Corrections	No	No	No	No	(715) 376-2680	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)

Frequently Asked Questions about Northern Waters Environmental School

What is the racial makeup of Northern Waters Environmental School?

Students at Northern Waters Environmental School are 84% White, 6% American Indian, 6% Two or more races, 3% Asian.

How many students attend Northern Waters Environmental School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 31 students attended Northern Waters Environmental School.

What district is Northern Waters Environmental School in?

Hayward Community School District

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.