Bruce School District

Bruce School District in Wisconsin is a small, high-poverty district with three schools — one elementary (PK–5), one middle (6–8), and one high school (9–12) — all sharing the same address in Bruce, WI, and together serving 388 students. The district overall ranks 384th of 432 in Wisconsin, at the 11th percentile with 1 star, and economic need is very high: free/reduced lunch rates range from 94.83% at Bruce High to 100% at Bruce Middle, while per-student spending runs from $16,930 to $20,231.

The three schools look quite different from one another. Bruce High is the relative bright spot: 278th of 533 (48th percentile, 2 stars) in 2025–2026, the best current standing in the district, with a 92.1% graduation rate matching the district and slightly above the state's 92.0%. Its ACT results, though, fell from above state averages in 2024–2025 to below them in 2025–2026, while 10th-grade social studies improved to 50% versus the state's 48.25%. Bruce Middle has declined dramatically, from 4 stars and the 84th percentile in 2023–2024 to 1 star and the 23rd percentile in 2025–2026; 8th-grade social studies dropped from 75% to 46.15%. Bruce Elementary has been 1 star in all three recent years (14th percentile in 2025–2026), with every listed test score below state — 4th-grade ELA at 18.75% versus 53.87%.

Attendance is a district strength: chronic absenteeism is below the state's 17.3% at all three schools, ranging from 10.0% at Bruce Middle to 15.9% at Bruce High. Because enrollment is so small — 73 students at Bruce Middle — a few students changing proficiency can move percentages by several points, so year-to-year swings should be read with caution. High poverty and high spending have not guaranteed high outcomes here.