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Franklin Elementary

Summary:

Franklin Elementary is a public elementary school in Wausau, Wisconsin, serving 202 students from kindergarten to 5th grade. While part of the Wausau School District, which is ranked 241 out of 428 school districts in the state, Franklin Elementary faces several challenges that set it apart from nearby schools.

One key issue is the school's consistently high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 15.1% to 36.7% in recent years, significantly higher than the 9.4% and 8.3% rates at Stettin Elementary and Rib Mountain Elementary, respectively. This high absenteeism likely contributes to Franklin Elementary's lower academic performance, with proficiency rates in 3rd-grade English Language Arts and Mathematics lagging behind both the district and state averages.

Further, Franklin Elementary exhibits concerning disparities in student group performance, with Asian and Hispanic students consistently underperforming their White and overall peers. The school's high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 60.66% to 71.78%, is also significantly higher than nearby schools. These equity concerns, combined with Franklin Elementary's higher per-student spending compared to some neighboring schools, suggest the need for a comprehensive review of the school's practices and resource allocation to better support all students and improve overall outcomes.


Detail:

Public K-5

 1509 N 5th St
       Wausau, WI  54403-3563

(715) 261-0000

District: Wausau School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
841st of 1,061 Wisconsin Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $16,355 Help


Students who attend Franklin Elementary usually attend:

Middle:    Horace Mann Middle
High:    East High

Student/teacher ratio:  10.3 Help
Number of students:  202

Racial breakdown:

White:
48.5%
Asian:
20.8%
Hispanic:
15.3%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  71.8% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details Franklin Elementary ranks worse than 79.3% of elementary schools in Wisconsin. It also ranks 13th among 14 ranked elementary schools in the Wausau School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 26.35. (See more...)
Help
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
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Compare Details Student population at Franklin Elementary is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (48.5%), Asian (20.8%), Hispanic (15.3%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 71.8% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the highest percentage in the Wausau School District. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Franklin Elementary is 10.3, which is the 2nd best among 14 elementary schools in the Wausau School District. (See more...)
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Compare Franklin Elementary employs 19.5 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Franklin Elementary is $16,355, which is the 5th highest among 14 elementary schools in the Wausau School District.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Franklin Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Franklin Elementary 841st of 1061 Wisconsin public elementary schools. (See Franklin Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
Asian students:
White students:


Wausau School District:

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

Average Parent Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for Franklin Elementary.

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Rank History for Franklin Elementary

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Rank History for all students at Franklin Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 17.14 549th 633 13.3%
2005 39.20 455th 632 28.0%
2006 37.53 543rd 712 23.7%
2007 32.02 550th 689 20.2%
2008 32.29 833rd 1021 18.4%
2009 25.93 889th 1030 13.7%
2010 32.73 842nd 1045 19.4%
2011 43.96 759th 1046 27.4%
2012 53.39 611th 1045 41.5%
2013 46.86 664th 1053 36.9%
2014 56.39 508th 1061 52.1%
2015 38.45 790th 1076 26.6%
2016 24.48 873rd 1075 18.8%
2017 22.76 887th 1071 17.2%
2018 20.13 866th 1025 15.5%
2019 24.36 842nd 1037 18.8%
2021 18.17 893rd 1050 15.0%
2022 37.51 750th 1067 29.7%
2023 26.48 850th 1067 20.3%
2024 26.35 841st 1061 20.7%
See the entire list of Wisconsin Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Franklin Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 36.58 184th 287 35.9%
2019 50.66 109th 275 60.4%
2021 27.75 187th 222 15.8%
2022 29.70 198th 248 20.2%
See the entire list of Best Wisconsin Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Franklin Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 26.33 570th 721 20.9%
2019 32.43 513th 742 30.9%
2021 16.97 703rd 746 5.8%
2024 27.35 613th 790 22.4%
See the entire list of Best Wisconsin Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Franklin Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 18.93 775th 854 9.3%
2019 26.63 724th 874 17.2%
2021 16.66 778th 847 8.1%
2022 37.18 586th 859 31.8%
2023 30.65 679th 871 22.0%
2024 18.08 776th 866 10.4%
See the entire list of Best Wisconsin Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Franklin Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 16.43 872nd 997 12.5%
2019 11.05 903rd 1002 9.9%
2021 10.04 909th 1004 9.5%
2022 20.21 861st 1017 15.3%
2023 25.00 809th 1010 19.9%
2024 27.45 801st 1011 20.8%
See the entire list of Best Wisconsin Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Franklin Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 27.87 800th 997 19.8%
2019 46.65 595th 1002 40.6%
2021 31.82 752nd 1003 25.0%
2022 59.30 413th 1017 59.4%
2023 31.91 759th 1011 24.9%
2024 28.44 793rd 1012 21.6%
See the entire list of Best Wisconsin Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Franklin Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 15.59 97th 107 9.3%
2019 19.51 102nd 122 16.4%
2021 19.85 93rd 106 12.3%
2022 12.21 102nd 110 7.3%
2023 17.45 103rd 116 11.2%
2024 22.15 100th 123 18.7%
See the entire list of Best Wisconsin Elementary Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Franklin Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 18.62 259th 274 5.5%
2023 15.09 274th 290 5.5%
See the entire list of Best Wisconsin Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Franklin Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 13.90 637th 686 7.1%
2019 22.61 614th 718 14.5%
2021 15.35 637th 699 8.9%
2022 37.79 477th 704 32.2%
2023 27.08 572nd 715 20.0%
2024 27.75 572nd 727 21.3%
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.

Franklin Elementary Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 
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Data source: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)
100%

0%

0%

0%

0%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Friday, March 22, 2019

Open Quote Great little school in the heart of the city. Caring staff and supportive families. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Franklin Elementary

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1989 334 2 116 1 6 n/a n/a 0 459
1990 339 0 122 2 6 n/a n/a 0 469
1991 345 1 156 1 3 n/a n/a 0 506
1992 284 1 148 4 1 n/a n/a 0 438
1993 273 2 180 4 0 n/a n/a 0 459
1994 322 2 118 2 0 n/a n/a 0 444
1995 295 4 129 1 4 n/a n/a 0 433
1996 295 4 129 1 4 n/a n/a 0 433
1997 254 2 128 3 4 n/a n/a 0 391
1998 234 7 145 2 9 n/a n/a 0 397
1999 263 6 144 2 12 n/a n/a 0 427
2000 241 12 143 3 11 n/a n/a 0 410
2001 226 5 111 7 12 n/a n/a 0 361
2002 201 13 98 7 10 n/a n/a 0 329
2003 201 13 98 7 10 n/a n/a 0 329
2004 182 16 99 5 2 n/a n/a 0 304
2005 183 12 99 4 5 n/a n/a 0 303
2006 186 12 73 2 5 n/a n/a 0 278
2007 231 12 83 1 5 n/a n/a 0 332
2008 236 12 68 4 6 n/a n/a 0 326
2009 211 14 70 5 3 n/a n/a 0 303
2010 227 19 62 10 8 n/a n/a 0 326
2011 221 13 52 21 0 0 26 0 333
2012 239 15 59 18 1 1 21 0 354
2013 222 14 72 18 1 1 29 0 357
2014 201 19 76 19 1 1 28 0 345
2015 178 16 65 28 2 0 35 0 324
2016 168 16 68 23 4 0 31 0 310
2017 176 14 67 27 2 0 26 0 312
2018 169 11 72 28 1 0 20 0 301
2019 135 8 70 36 2 0 23 0 274
2020 119 6 62 27 2 0 20 0 236
2021 108 6 54 26 1 0 18 0 213
2022 109 4 46 26 1 0 25 0 211
2023 98 5 42 31 1 0 25 0 202

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 Franklin Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1989 459 23.8 19.2 30.7
1990 469 24.5 19.1 30.1
1991 506 23.1 21.9 14.2
1992 438 25.6 17.1 16.9
1993 459 31.4 14.6 22.7
1994 444 28.5 15.6 22.1
1995 433 29.1 14.9 25.9
1996 433 29.1 14.9 25.9
1997 391 24.6 15.9 26.3
1998 397 26.9 14.8 28
1999 427 28.4 15.0 34.4
2000 410 28.7 14.3 32.4
2001 361 28.2 12.8 32.7
2002 329 26.9 12.2 52.6
2003 329 26.9 12.2 52.6
2004 304 25.8 11.8 51
2005 303 27.4 11.1 n/a
2006 278 24.6 11.3 n/a
2007 332 25.6 13.0 47.3
2008 326 27.7 11.8 45.7
2009 303 29.1 10.4 49.2
2010 326 31.3 10.3 50.9
2011 333 29.7 11.2 52
2012 354 29.5 11.9 55.9
2013 357 31.4 11.3 54.6
2014 345 29.2 11.7 59.4
2015 324 n/a n/a 66
2016 310 27.0 11.4 68.4
2017 312 26.4 11.7 65.7
2018 301 27.6 10.9 61.5
2019 274 25.8 10.6 65
2020 236 26.6 8.8 55.1
2021 213 21.6 9.8 66.7
2022 211 20.0 10.5 60.7
2023 202 19.5 10.3 71.8

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 Franklin Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1989 459 23.8 19.2 30.7
1990 469 24.5 19.1 30.1
1991 506 23.1 21.9 14.2
1992 438 25.6 17.1 16.9
1993 459 31.4 14.6 22.7
1994 444 28.5 15.6 22.1
1995 433 29.1 14.9 25.9
1996 433 29.1 14.9 25.9
1997 391 24.6 15.9 26.3
1998 397 26.9 14.8 28
1999 427 28.4 15.0 34.4
2000 410 28.7 14.3 32.4
2001 361 28.2 12.8 32.7
2002 329 26.9 12.2 52.6
2003 329 26.9 12.2 52.6
2004 304 25.8 11.8 51
2005 303 27.4 11.1 n/a
2006 278 24.6 11.3 n/a
2007 332 25.6 13.0 47.3
2008 326 27.7 11.8 45.7
2009 303 29.1 10.4 49.2
2010 326 31.3 10.3 50.9
2011 333 29.7 11.2 52
2012 354 29.5 11.9 55.9
2013 357 31.4 11.3 54.6
2014 345 29.2 11.7 59.4
2015 324 n/a n/a 66
2016 310 27.0 11.4 68.4
2017 312 26.4 11.7 65.7
2018 301 27.6 10.9 61.5
2019 274 25.8 10.6 65
2020 236 26.6 8.8 55.1
2021 213 21.6 9.8 66.7
2022 211 20.0 10.5 60.7
2023 202 19.5 10.3 71.8

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 Franklin Elementary

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $999 (6.7%) $13,966 (93.3%) $14,965
2020 $1,121 (7.1%) $14,728 (92.9%) $15,850
2021 $1,222 (7.5%) $15,133 (92.5%) $16,355

Data source: Wisconsin Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Franklin 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 842nd of 1037 Elementary schoolsRanks 850th of 1067 Elementary schools
 1.5%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 % proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Franklin Elementary)2020
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Wausau School District)37.440.2
 2.8%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Wisconsin)39.537.9
 1.6%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Franklin Elementary)3526.7
 8.3%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Wausau School District)47.353.6
 6.3%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Wisconsin)50.548.8
 1.7%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Franklin Elementary)35.420.7
 14.7%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Wausau School District)43.646.4
 2.8%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Wisconsin)43.945.8
 1.9%
4th Grade Mathematics (Franklin Elementary)29.234.5
 5.3%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Wausau School District)36.548.7
 12.2%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Wisconsin)46.246.5
 0.2%
4th Grade Social Studies (Franklin Elementary)39.641.4
 1.8%
   4th Grade Social Studies (Wausau School District)55.959
 3.1%
   4th Grade Social Studies (Wisconsin)53.459.7
 6.4%
4th Grade Science (Franklin Elementary)41.737.9
 3.7%
   4th Grade Science (Wausau School District)53.653.7
 0.1%
   4th Grade Science (Wisconsin)53.952.1
 1.8%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Franklin Elementary)2526.7
 1.7%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Wausau School District)39.243.5
 4.2%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Wisconsin)40.939.2
 1.7%
5th Grade Mathematics (Franklin Elementary)34.146.7
 12.6%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Wausau School District)46.149.5
 3.4%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Wisconsin)47.848.4
 0.5%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
Total Students274202
 26.3%
African American85
 37.5%
American Indian21
 50%
Asian7042
 40%
Hispanic3631
 13.9%
Pacific Islander00
White13598
 27.4%
Two or More Races2325
 8.7%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients65%71.8%
 6.8%

Schools Near Franklin Elementary








Frequently Asked Questions about Franklin Elementary

Franklin Elementary ranks in the bottom 20.7% of Wisconsin elementary schools.

In the 2022-23 school year, 202 students attended Franklin Elementary.

Students at Franklin Elementary are 49% White, 21% Asian, 15% Hispanic, 12% Two or more races, 2% African American.

Students who attend Franklin Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Horace Mann Middle
High : East High


Rate Franklin Elementary!



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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.




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