Summary:
Kiel Area School District serves roughly 1,299 students across five schools — two elementary, one middle, and two high schools — including two virtual options, Between the Lakes Virtual Academy (PK–8) and Kiel eSchool (9–12). The district ranks 189th of 432 Wisconsin districts, in the 56th percentile with 3 stars, a mid-pack result that masks wide differences among its individual schools. Enrollment is largest at Zielanis Elementary (412), followed by Kiel High (375), Kiel Middle (338), Between the Lakes (111), and Kiel eSchool (63).
Academically, Kiel Middle is the clear standout: it ranked 59th of 643 Wisconsin middle schools in 2025–2026 (91st percentile, 5 stars), up from the 82nd percentile two years earlier, with proficiency well above the state — 6th-grade math 80% vs. 53.6% and 8th-grade ELA 76.14% vs. 54.38% — though a few scores dipped this year. Zielanis Elementary also beats the state in every reported subject, including 4th-grade social studies at 80.95% vs. 65.51%, but its state rank slid from the 79th to the 64th percentile (3 stars). Kiel High shows contrasts: strong ACT ELA (62.07% vs. 48.47%) and science (54.02% vs. 43.2%), but ACT math fell to 42.53%, just below the state, and social studies is also under state. The two virtual schools post the district's weakest test results, and their small enrollments make those figures volatile.
Attendance is a district-wide strength: chronic absenteeism is 4.1% versus 17.3% statewide, and every school is under 5%. Graduation rates are high — 98.1% at Kiel High and 100% at Kiel eSchool vs. 92% statewide — but dropout rates diverge sharply, from 0.0% at Kiel Middle and 0.8% at Kiel High to 9.6% at Kiel eSchool and 25.0% at Between the Lakes. Spending is highest at the virtual schools ($19,510 and $18,592 per pupil) and lowest at Zielanis ($15,786).
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