Southwestern Wisconsin School District

Southwestern Wisconsin School District in Hazel Green, WI, is a small, three-school district serving PK–12 students at Southwestern Wisconsin Elementary (PK–5, 281 students), Southwestern Wisconsin Community Middle (6–8, 96 students), and Southwestern Wisconsin High (9–12, 151 students), with 528 students total. The Southwestern Wisconsin School District is ranked 271st of 432 in Wisconsin—37th percentile with 2 stars—so district averages can hide differences among its schools.

Southwestern Wisconsin High is the strongest overall: 96.6% graduation vs. state 92.0%, the best rank history, 61st percentile and 3 stars in 2025–2026, and standout 2025–2026 social studies (63.64% vs. 48.25%) and ELA ACT (56.76% vs. 48.47%). It also has the lowest student-teacher ratio (10.1) and highest per-student spending ($18,068), but math and science ACT fell below state and chronic absenteeism is 14.3%. Southwestern Wisconsin Elementary shines in early grades: 3rd-grade math was 76.19% vs. state 54.75%, and chronic absenteeism is lowest at 6.8%, though its rank slipped from 66th to 47th percentile and upper-grade ELA is weak. Southwestern Wisconsin Community Middle has low absenteeism (7.5%) and gains in 6th-grade math and 8th-grade ELA/math, but remains lowest ranked (36th percentile, 2 stars), with several subjects below state and the highest free/reduced lunch rate at 30.21%.

For parents, the main takeaway is that each school has a distinct profile. The high school offers the strongest outcomes and resources, but its recent math/science dip and higher absenteeism are worth watching. The elementary school is excellent in early math and attendance, yet later ELA needs attention. The middle school has positive attendance and some improvement, but it is the district’s weakest by rankings and test scores. Because enrollment is small, year-to-year swings can reflect only a few students, so compare trends rather than single-year changes.