Summary:
Rhinelander, Wisconsin has six schools serving about 2,238 students in grades PK through 12 — four elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. Five belong to the Rhinelander School District (ranked 292 of 432 districts statewide, 32nd percentile, 2 stars): Rhinelander High, James Williams Middle, Crescent Elementary, Central Elementary, and Pelican Elementary. Sugar Camp Elementary belongs to the much higher-ranked Three Lakes School District (58 of 432, 87th percentile, 4 stars).
Two schools stand out. Sugar Camp Elementary is the clear leader: 4 stars, 81st percentile, the smallest enrollment at 111, the lowest free/reduced lunch rate at 22.52%, low chronic absenteeism at 6.4%, and the highest per-student spending at $24,755. Its 2025–2026 4th grade results were exceptional — 90.48% proficient in ELA, 85.71% in math and social studies, and 80.95% in science. Rhinelander High is the bright spot inside its own district, at 3 stars and the 60th percentile, up from 2 stars and the 38th percentile three years ago, with a 96.4% graduation rate, a 0.2% dropout rate, and 62.57% social studies proficiency versus 48.25% statewide. Its chronic absenteeism, however, is 19.6%, above both district and state.
The remaining schools are more mixed. Pelican Elementary (2 stars) posts strong 4th grade scores but weaker 3rd and 5th grade results, while Central Elementary (2 stars) shows math bright spots alongside uneven performance by grade. James Williams Middle (2 stars) improved from a 1-star year, helped by an 8th grade social studies score of 67.30%. Crescent Elementary (1 star) has the lowest absenteeism in the group at 5.7% but the lowest achievement. Across the area, social studies is a consistent strength and math a common weakness.
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