Ashland School District

Ashland School District in Wisconsin serves roughly 1,759 students across four schools — two elementary schools (PK–5), one middle school (6–8), one high school (9–12), and no alternative schools — and the district overall is rated 345th of 432 in the state, at the 20th percentile with 1 star. The schools are Lake Superior Elementary (603 students), Ashland High (589), Ashland Middle (383), and Marengo Valley Elementary (184).

Marengo Valley Elementary is the district's clear standout and the only school above the 50th percentile: it ranks 291 of 1,039 in 2025–2026 (72nd percentile, 4 stars), a big jump from 40th percentile and 2 stars the prior year. It scores above the state in 7 of its 8 reported test cells and has the lowest chronic absenteeism in the district at 9.6%, versus 28.3% districtwide and 17.3% statewide — roughly a third of the district rate. This comes despite having the highest free/reduced lunch share (67.93%), the lowest per-student spending ($15,450), and the highest student-teacher ratio (14.8).

The other three schools trail. Lake Superior Elementary ranks 812 of 1,039 (22nd percentile, 1 star); its 4th-grade math score of 24.44% is more than 28 points below the state's 52.87%, though its absenteeism (17.4%) is near the state rate. Ashland Middle ranks 481 of 643 (25th percentile, 1 star) with 34.0% chronic absenteeism and 7th-grade math at 25.64% versus 55.67% statewide. Ashland High ranks 389 of 533 (27th percentile, 1 star), with 40.2% chronic absenteeism — more than double the state — ACT math at 25.19% versus 42.93%, an 89.2% graduation rate (state: 92.0%), and a 1.5% dropout rate (state: 1.1%). Across the district, math is the weakest subject, and secondary absenteeism is the biggest engagement concern.