Summary:
Hartford, Wisconsin has six public schools serving about 3,465 students: four elementary schools (one of which, Erin Elementary, spans PK–8), one middle school, and one high school. Students here are served by four separate districts — Hartford J1 School District, Hartford Union High School School District, Slinger School District, and Erin School District — so grade spans and school types are not directly comparable across the list.
Addison Elementary is the strongest overall performer, ranking in the 87th percentile with 4 stars, posting a 74.0% simple average proficiency against a 54.7% state average, and recording just 0.5% chronic absenteeism versus 17.3% statewide. Rossman Elementary is the bright spot inside Hartford J1, at the 83rd percentile with 4 stars, 10.2% absenteeism, and a 76.5% simple average proficiency in 2024–25. Erin Elementary sits in the 72nd percentile with 4 stars, has only 1.4% chronic absenteeism, and reaches 68.2% proficiency while spending the least per student at $11,824 — a sign that higher spending and smaller classes do not automatically mean better results here.
Central Middle is the clearest priority: three straight years in the low 30s percentile, a 2-star rating, 26.1% chronic absenteeism, a 1.6% dropout rate, and 2025–26 8th-grade results far below state in ELA (37.68% vs 54.38%), math (43.48% vs 53.67%), science (36.23% vs 51.86%), and social studies (50.72% vs 64.63%). Lincoln Elementary has the highest free/reduced lunch rate at 48.7% and above-state absenteeism at 19.6%, yet still scores 61.5% proficiency, though 3rd-grade math fell to 50.79%. Hartford High graduates 96.8% of students with a 0.6% dropout rate and above-state ACT scores, but social studies dropped to 41.92% (below the 48.25% state figure) and absenteeism sits slightly high at 18.3%.
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