Is South Mountain Elementary a good school?

Yes. South Mountain Elementary ranks in the top 10.0% of Wisconsin elementary schools.

How many students attend South Mountain Elementary?

In the 2022-23 school year, 233 students attended South Mountain Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of South Mountain Elementary?

Students at South Mountain Elementary are 79% White, 13% Asian, 4% Two or more races, 3% Hispanic.

What schools do graduates of South Mountain Elementary attend?

Students who attend South Mountain Elementary usually go on to attend: Middle : John Muir Middle High : West High

South Mountain Elementary

Summary:

South Mountain Elementary is a public elementary school located in Wausau, Wisconsin, serving 233 students from kindergarten to 5th grade. This high-performing school consistently ranks among the top 15% of Wisconsin elementary schools and outperforms the Wausau School District and the state of Wisconsin on academic measures.

South Mountain Elementary's academic performance is particularly impressive, with 81.08% of 3rd-grade students proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to 57.09% for the district and 52.07% for the state. The school's mathematics performance is even stronger, with 89.19% of 3rd-grade students and 77.27% of 4th-grade students scoring proficient or better. South Mountain Elementary also outperforms nearby schools like Hawthorn Hills Elementary, Franklin Elementary, and Stettin Elementary on these academic measures.

In addition to its strong academic performance, South Mountain Elementary has relatively low chronic absenteeism rates and a low student-teacher ratio, ranging from 10.5 to 11.2 students per teacher over the past three school years. The school's consistent high performance and efficient use of resources make it a standout institution in the Wausau School District.

Detail:

Public K-5

5400 Bittersweet Rd
Wausau, WI 54401-7588

(715) 261-0235

District: Wausau School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
106^th of 1,061 Wisconsin Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $14,679

Students who attend South Mountain Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	John Muir Middle
High:	West High

Student/teacher ratio: 11.0

Number of students: 233

Racial breakdown:

White:

78.5%

Asian:

12.9%

Two or more races:

4.3%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 21.9%

See top rated Wisconsin elementary schools

Compare South Mountain Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details South Mountain Elementary ranks better than 90% of elementary schools in Wisconsin. It also ranks first among 14 ranked elementary schools in the Wausau School District! (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 83.9. (See more...)

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 (78.5%), Asian (12.9%), two or more races (4.3%). (See more...)

Compare Details 21.9% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the lowest percentage in the Wausau School District. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at South Mountain Elementary is 11, which is the 3^rd best among 14 elementary schools in the Wausau School District. (See more...)

Compare South Mountain Elementary employs 21 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at South Mountain Elementary is $14,679. 7 elementary schools in the Wausau School District spend more per student.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

South Mountain Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks South Mountain Elementary 106^th of 1061 Wisconsin public elementary schools. (See South Mountain Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

White students:

Wausau School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Wausau School District 241^st of 428 Wisconsin school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for South Mountain Elementary

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Rank History for all students at South Mountain Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	WI State Percentile
2005	81.72	61^st	632	90.3%
2008	76.30	157^th	1021	84.6%
2009	76.72	154^th	1030	85.0%
2010	73.47	210^th	1045	79.9%
2011	77.48	135^th	1046	87.1%
2012	79.87	76^th	1045	92.7%
2013	64.44	353^rd	1053	66.5%
2014	83.03	91^st	1061	91.4%
2015	81.48	107^th	1076	90.1%
2016	77.23	190^th	1075	82.3%
2017	73.77	241^st	1071	77.5%
2018	77.09	182^nd	1025	82.2%
2019	79.33	160^th	1037	84.6%
2021	79.68	156^th	1050	85.1%
2022	81.17	149^th	1067	86.0%
2023	87.49	71^st	1067	93.3%
2024	83.90	106^th	1061	90.0%

See the entire list of Wisconsin Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at South Mountain Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	WI State Percentile
2022	69.34	174^th	859	79.7%
2023	79.41	78^th	871	91.0%
2024	87.78	35^th	866	96.0%

See the entire list of Best Wisconsin Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at South Mountain Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	WI State Percentile
2018	77.93	163^rd	997	83.7%
2019	85.84	62^nd	1002	93.8%
2021	75.89	187^th	1004	81.4%
2022	82.58	111^th	1017	89.1%
2023	85.86	75^th	1010	92.6%
2024	85.48	69^th	1011	93.2%

See the entire list of Best Wisconsin Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at South Mountain Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	WI State Percentile
2018	74.67	189^th	997	81.0%
2019	68.58	276^th	1002	72.5%
2021	80.12	129^th	1003	87.1%
2022	76.48	188^th	1017	81.5%
2023	83.83	101^st	1011	90.0%
2024	77.98	176^th	1012	82.6%

See the entire list of Best Wisconsin Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for White students at South Mountain Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	WI State Percentile
2018	82.80	73^rd	686	89.4%
2019	70.55	168^th	718	76.6%
2021	85.47	53^rd	699	92.4%
2022	66.70	202^nd	704	71.3%
2023	86.60	45^th	715	93.7%
2024	79.61	103^rd	727	85.8%

See the entire list of Best Wisconsin Elementary Schools for White Students!

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

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction

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Enrollment information for South Mountain Elementary

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1998	226	1	41	3	1	n/a	n/a	0	272
1999	237	1	41	3	0	n/a	n/a	0	282
2000	241	0	38	2	3	n/a	n/a	0	284
2001	240	0	31	1	3	n/a	n/a	0	275
2002	250	1	22	3	2	n/a	n/a	0	278
2003	250	1	22	3	2	n/a	n/a	0	278
2004	235	1	16	4	2	n/a	n/a	0	258
2005	264	0	17	4	1	n/a	n/a	0	286
2006	258	0	23	4	0	n/a	n/a	0	285
2007	244	0	22	3	0	n/a	n/a	0	269
2008	223	1	25	4	0	n/a	n/a	0	253
2009	191	0	30	4	0	n/a	n/a	0	225
2010	185	0	30	4	0	n/a	n/a	0	219
2011	188	1	25	1	0	0	0	0	215
2012	197	1	25	2	2	0	0	0	227
2013	208	2	29	3	1	0	0	0	243
2014	220	2	24	3	0	0	0	0	249
2015	223	4	23	4	0	0	2	0	256
2016	226	5	25	2	0	0	2	0	260
2017	192	4	18	4	0	0	4	0	222
2018	201	4	33	2	0	0	4	0	244
2019	198	5	33	3	1	0	4	0	244
2020	197	4	28	3	1	0	5	0	238
2021	172	2	30	2	1	0	5	0	212
2022	189	0	33	2	1	0	7	0	232
2023	183	1	30	7	1	0	10	1	233

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 South Mountain Elementary

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1998	272	15.0	18.1	27.9
1999	282	14.8	19.1	34.4
2000	284	18.1	15.7	32
2001	275	15.6	17.6	32.4
2002	278	16.4	17.0	12.2
2003	278	16.4	17.0	12.2
2004	258	15.0	17.2	9.7
2005	286	16.8	17.0	n/a
2006	285	16.8	17.0	n/a
2007	269	16.1	16.7	13.4
2008	253	14.9	17.0	15
2009	225	15.1	14.9	17.8
2010	219	15.0	14.5	17.4
2011	215	15.2	14.1	17.7
2012	227	13.6	16.5	23.3
2013	243	14.2	17.0	27.2
2014	249	16.6	14.9	17.3
2015	256	n/a	n/a	19.1
2016	260	20.0	13.0	18.5
2017	222	17.7	12.5	14
2018	244	19.7	12.3	13.5
2019	244	19.1	12.7	19.7
2020	238	19.6	12.1	17.2
2021	212	20.1	10.5	23.1
2022	232	20.6	11.2	20.3
2023	233	21.0	11.0	21.9

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 South Mountain Elementary

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1998	272	15.0	18.1	27.9
1999	282	14.8	19.1	34.4
2000	284	18.1	15.7	32
2001	275	15.6	17.6	32.4
2002	278	16.4	17.0	12.2
2003	278	16.4	17.0	12.2
2004	258	15.0	17.2	9.7
2005	286	16.8	17.0	n/a
2006	285	16.8	17.0	n/a
2007	269	16.1	16.7	13.4
2008	253	14.9	17.0	15
2009	225	15.1	14.9	17.8
2010	219	15.0	14.5	17.4
2011	215	15.2	14.1	17.7
2012	227	13.6	16.5	23.3
2013	243	14.2	17.0	27.2
2014	249	16.6	14.9	17.3
2015	256	n/a	n/a	19.1
2016	260	20.0	13.0	18.5
2017	222	17.7	12.5	14
2018	244	19.7	12.3	13.5
2019	244	19.1	12.7	19.7
2020	238	19.6	12.1	17.2
2021	212	20.1	10.5	23.1
2022	232	20.6	11.2	20.3
2023	233	21.0	11.0	21.9

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 South Mountain Elementary

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$691 (5.2%)	$12,540 (94.8%)	$13,231
2020	$536 (4.0%)	$12,819 (96.0%)	$13,355
2021	$723 (4.9%)	$13,956 (95.1%)	$14,679

Data source: Wisconsin Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on South Mountain Elementary

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 160^th of 1037 Elementary schools	Ranks 71^st of 1067 Elementary schools	8.8%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (South Mountain Elementary)	58.1	68.2	10%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Wausau School District)	37.4	40.2	2.8%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Wisconsin)	39.5	37.9	1.6%
3rd Grade Mathematics (South Mountain Elementary)	69.8	72.7	3%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Wausau School District)	47.3	53.6	6.3%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Wisconsin)	50.5	48.8	1.7%
4th Grade English Language Arts (South Mountain Elementary)	60	70.4	10.4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Wausau School District)	43.6	46.4	2.8%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Wisconsin)	43.9	45.8	1.9%
4th Grade Mathematics (South Mountain Elementary)	42.9	70.4	27.5%
4th Grade Mathematics (Wausau School District)	36.5	48.7	12.2%
4th Grade Mathematics (Wisconsin)	46.2	46.5	0.2%
4th Grade Social Studies (South Mountain Elementary)	68.6	74.1	5.5%
4th Grade Social Studies (Wausau School District)	55.9	59	3.1%
4th Grade Social Studies (Wisconsin)	53.4	59.7	6.4%
4th Grade Science (South Mountain Elementary)	71.4	66.7	4.8%
4th Grade Science (Wausau School District)	53.6	53.7	0.1%
4th Grade Science (Wisconsin)	53.9	52.1	1.8%
5th Grade English Language Arts (South Mountain Elementary)	64.3	63.4	0.9%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Wausau School District)	39.2	43.5	4.2%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Wisconsin)	40.9	39.2	1.7%
5th Grade Mathematics (South Mountain Elementary)	71.4	70.7	0.7%
5th Grade Mathematics (Wausau School District)	46.1	49.5	3.4%
5th Grade Mathematics (Wisconsin)	47.8	48.4	0.5%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	244	233	4.5%
African American	5	1	80%
American Indian	1	1
Asian	33	30	9.1%
Hispanic	3	7	133.3%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	198	183	7.6%
Two or More Races	4	10	150%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	19.7%	21.9%	2.2%

Schools Near South Mountain Elementary

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				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	Forward Exam English Language Arts 3rd Grade	Forward Exam English Language Arts 4th Grade	Forward Exam English Language Arts 5th Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 3rd Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 4th Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 5th Grade	Forward Exam Social Studies 4th Grade	Forward Exam Science 4th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
South Mountain Elementary	Public	K-5	5400 Bittersweet Rd	Wausau	54401	Marathon County	Wausau School District	No	No	No	No	(715) 261-0235	233	21	11.0	21.9%	183 (78.5%)	1 (0.4%)	7 (3.0%)	30 (12.9%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (4.3%)	83.9	106^th of 1061 public elementary schools	90.0%		87.5	71^st of 1067 public elementary schools	93.3%	35	81.1	65.9	76.0	89.2	77.3	68.0	81.8	68.2	$14,679	$723	$13,956
Rib Mountain Elementary	Public	K-5	2701 Robin Ln	Wausau	54401	Marathon County	Wausau School District	No	No	No	No	(715) 261-0220	206	15	13.7	30.1%	152 (73.8%)	3 (1.5%)	6 (2.9%)	36 (17.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (4.4%)	81.1	148^th of 1061 public elementary schools	86.1%		83.9	115^th of 1067 public elementary schools	89.2%	33	70.8	69.7	75.0	83.3	72.7	86.4	72.7	57.6	$14,259	$311	$13,949
Rothschild Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	810 1st St	Rothschild	54474	Marathon County	D C Everest Area School District	No	No	No	Yes	(715) 359-3186	403	28	14.1	47.1%	294 (73.0%)	10 (2.5%)	15 (3.7%)	64 (15.9%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (4.2%)	50.6	623^rd of 1061 public elementary schools	41.3%		34.6	776^th of 1067 public elementary schools	27.3%	153	62.7	47.3	42.6	71.6	54.6	48.4	54.6	45.5	$13,225	$952	$12,273
G D Jones Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1018 S 12th Ave	Wausau	54401	Marathon County	Wausau School District	No	No	No	Yes	(715) 261-0950	539	35	15.2	49.2%	295 (54.7%)	11 (2.0%)	24 (4.5%)	160 (29.7%)	6 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	43 (8.0%)	22.8	865^th of 1061 public elementary schools	18.5%		32.4	791^st of 1067 public elementary schools	25.9%	74	44.9	17.7	34.0	60.0	33.3	29.8	31.4	29.4	$11,890	$742	$11,148
John Marshall Elementary	Public	K-5	1918 Lamont St	Wausau	54403	Marathon County	Wausau School District	No	No	No	Yes	(715) 261-0060	225	20	11.3	52.9%	139 (61.8%)	8 (3.6%)	25 (11.1%)	34 (15.1%)	2 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (7.6%)	41.7	712^th of 1061 public elementary schools	32.9%		42.7	689^th of 1067 public elementary schools	35.4%	23	52.9	42.5	44.7	64.7	48.8	47.4	48.8	43.9	$15,288	$905	$14,383
Lincoln Elementary	Public	K-5	720 S 6th Ave	Wausau	54401	Marathon County	Wausau School District	No	No	No	Yes	(715) 261-0965	209	24	8.6	70.8%	70 (33.5%)	7 (3.3%)	38 (18.2%)	69 (33.0%)	3 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (10.5%)	28.4	823^rd of 1061 public elementary schools	22.4%		36.3	754^th of 1067 public elementary schools	29.3%	69	34.3	51.4	28.6	31.4	42.9	20.0	57.1	48.6	$20,631	$1,574	$19,056
Stettin Elementary	Public	K-5	109 N 56th Ave	Wausau	54401	Marathon County	Wausau School District	No	No	No	No	(715) 261-0205	329	19	17.6	27.7%	241 (73.3%)	2 (0.6%)	23 (7.0%)	39 (11.9%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (6.7%)	83	117^th of 1061 public elementary schools	89.0%		83.6	119^th of 1067 public elementary schools	88.8%	2	78.3	61.5	79.2	90.0	67.3	77.1	76.9	71.2	$10,981	$286	$10,695
Evergreen Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1610 Pine Rd	Rothschild	54474	Marathon County	D C Everest Area School District	No	No	No	No	(715) 359-6591	445	29	15.3	27.6%	346 (77.8%)	6 (1.3%)	18 (4.0%)	60 (13.5%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	13 (2.9%)	60.6	480^th of 1061 public elementary schools	54.8%		61.6	432^nd of 1067 public elementary schools	59.5%	48	62.0	52.9	61.5	74.7	59.8	64.6	57.5	50.6	$12,367	$554	$11,813
Grant Elementary	Public	K-5	500 N 4th Ave	Wausau	54401	Marathon County	Wausau School District	No	No	No	Yes	(715) 261-0190	181	16	11.1	63.5%	66 (36.5%)	5 (2.8%)	12 (6.6%)	74 (40.9%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (12.7%)	38.3	747^th of 1061 public elementary schools	29.6%		36	758^th of 1067 public elementary schools	29.0%	11	57.1	51.9	25.0	53.6	44.4	30.0	48.2	48.2	$16,556	$1,394	$15,162
Hawthorn Hills Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1600 Kickbusch St	Wausau	54403	Marathon County	Wausau School District	No	No	No	Yes	(715) 261-0045	232	21	11.0	62.9%	118 (50.9%)	13 (5.6%)	33 (14.2%)	40 (17.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (12.1%)	42.9	698^th of 1061 public elementary schools	34.2%		38.8	723^rd of 1067 public elementary schools	32.2%	25	57.7	38.1	52.9	69.2	33.3	44.4	52.4	38.1	$17,049	$1,559	$15,491

South Mountain Elementary

South Mountain Elementary:

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Wausau School District:

What do you think?

Rank History for South Mountain Elementary

Rank History for all students at South Mountain Elementary

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at South Mountain Elementary

Rank History for Female students at South Mountain Elementary

Rank History for Male students at South Mountain Elementary

Rank History for White students at South Mountain Elementary

Enrollment information for South Mountain Elementary

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at South Mountain Elementary

Student/Teacher Ratio South Mountain Elementary

Per Pupil Expenditures for South Mountain Elementary

Impact of COVID-19 on South Mountain Elementary

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near South Mountain Elementary