Middle Schools in Eau Claire Area School District

The Eau Claire Area School District has three middle schools—DeLong Middle, South Middle, and Northstar Middle—serving grades 6–8 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, with 2,219 students combined. The district is rated 2 stars at the 48th percentile, but that summary hides major differences among its middle schools. South Middle is the clear standout: 4 stars, 70th percentile, the lowest chronic absenteeism (12.8%), and the lowest free/reduced lunch rate (33.38%). It beats district and state averages in every 2025–2026 tested area listed, including Social Studies 8 at 74.06% and Math 7 at 70.30%.

Northstar Middle is the smallest school (529 students) and the most improved, rising from the 52nd to 64th percentile. It has the highest Science 8 proficiency (58.93%) and strong Social Studies 8 gains (59.15% to 70.83%, +11.68 points), plus Math 8 at 62.50%. Its main concern is the highest chronic absenteeism at 20.8%. DeLong Middle is the largest school (893 students), has the highest per-student spending ($16,418), and the highest free/reduced lunch rate (43.56%), yet ranks lowest at the 52nd percentile. Its outcomes declined in ELA, math, social studies, and science year over year, and its Science 8 score (48.89%) is the lowest single proficiency rate in the group.

For parents comparing these schools, South Middle combines strong academics, better attendance, and lower spending ($14,652) with the highest student-teacher ratio (13.4). Northstar Middle offers science and math momentum but needs attendance improvement. DeLong Middle has the largest enrollment and highest spending but currently trails in most outcomes. All three report 0.0% dropout, so chronic absenteeism is the more useful engagement measure here. The biggest subject gap is Math 7: South Middle at 70.30% versus DeLong Middle at 55.04%, a 15.26-point difference. Science also varies widely: Northstar Middle at 58.93% versus DeLong Middle at 48.89%. Overall, the district’s 2-star rating undersells South Middle and Northstar Middle, while DeLong Middle is the school most in need of scrutiny.