Summary:
Oconto Unified School District in Wisconsin serves 922 students across four schools—one elementary (PK–4), one middle (5–8), and two high schools (grades 9–12 and 5–12)—and has a district-wide rating of 322nd of 432 districts, 25th percentile, 1 star. For parents, the key point is that this district label hides major school-level differences. Oconto High ranks highest at 220th of 533, 59th percentile, 3 stars in 2025–2026, up from 37th percentile and 2 stars. It has a 100.0% graduation rate and 0.3% dropout rate. Oconto Middle is next at 42nd percentile, 2 stars, and Oconto Elementary is lowest at 19th percentile, 1 star. Northeast Wisconsin Learning Academy is tiny (13 students) and has no listed 2025–2026 rank, so compare it cautiously.
Attendance is a bright spot at Oconto Elementary: 11.4% chronic absenteeism, better than the district’s 15.4% and state’s 17.3%, though its test scores are below state in every listed 2025–2026 subject. Third grade ELA fell from 59.18% in 2024–2025 to 35.62%, and math from 59.18% to 39.73%. Oconto Middle has strong 7th grade math (64.06% vs. state 55.67%) and 8th grade math (56.14% vs. 53.67%), but 5th grade math is 30.61% vs. 51.81% and 5th grade ELA 34.69% vs. 53.63%. Oconto High excels in social studies (58.43% vs. 48.25%) but is below state in ACT math (39.62% vs. 42.93%) and science (41.51% vs. 43.20%).
Northeast Wisconsin Learning Academy is the high-need outlier: 72.7% chronic absenteeism, 8.3% dropout, 66.6% graduation rate, 76.92% free/reduced lunch, and $11,505 per-student spending. Because it has only 13 students, one student can shift rates sharply. Poverty and spending do not line up simply with outcomes: Oconto High has the lowest free/reduced lunch (41.47%) and strongest outcomes, while Oconto Elementary spends $15,198 but has the lowest rank. Parents should weigh school-level data, not just the district rating.
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