New Holstein School District

The New Holstein School District in Wisconsin serves about 981 students across three schools — New Holstein Elementary (PK–5, 437 students), New Holstein Middle (6–8, 235 students), and New Holstein High (9–12, 309 students). The district ranks 62nd of 432 Wisconsin districts — the 86th percentile — with a 4-star rating, and all three schools currently carry 4 stars in 2025–2026. Every one of the 20 listed current school test scores is above its state average.

Comparing the three schools, New Holstein Middle is the strongest current performer, with the district's highest rank percentile (87th, 82nd of 643), 4 stars in all three years of rank history, and the lowest chronic absenteeism at 3.0%. New Holstein High made the biggest jump, from the 47th percentile and 2 stars in 2023–2024 to the 86th percentile and 4 stars now, and pairs that with a 97.4% graduation rate (vs. 92.0% state), a 0.3% dropout rate (vs. 1.1%), and ACT math at 62.03% (vs. 42.93%). New Holstein Elementary rose from 2 stars and the 49th percentile to 4 stars and the 73rd percentile, led by grade 4 math at 76.79% (vs. 52.87%), grade 4 social studies at 85.71%, and grade 4 science at 66.07%.

District-wide, chronic absenteeism is 6.1% versus 17.3% statewide, with the middle school lowest at 3.0% and the high school highest in the district at 9.0% — still about half the state rate. Math is the standout subject: the average gap versus state across listed current math tests is about +17.9 percentage points. Social studies and science also beat state at every reported level, while ELA is above state but more variable, ranging from 55.00% in elementary grade 5 to 74.03% in middle grade 8. Spending and poverty measures differ across schools — the elementary school has the highest free/reduced lunch rate (29.75%) and lowest per-student spending ($12,558), while the high school has the lowest lunch rate (17.48%) and highest spending ($16,786) — and the data alone cannot explain these outcome patterns.

Standout takeaways: the middle school is the most consistent current standout, combining the top rank percentile, the lowest absenteeism, a 0.0% dropout rate, and strong math, social studies, and science results. The high school is the leader in completion outcomes and ACT math. The elementary school shows the steepest upward momentum, moving two star levels in three years while posting its strongest scores in grade 4.

Trends to watch: rank improvement is upward at all three schools, with both the elementary and high schools moving from 2 stars to 4 stars between 2023–2024 and 2025–2026. ELA showed the most year-over-year rebound — some ELA scores were below state in the prior year, including elementary grade 4 at 42.11% and middle grade 7 at 44.30%, and the current scores are all above state.