Tri-County Area School District

The Tri-County Area School District is a small Wisconsin district serving 579 students across three schools — Tri-County Elementary (PK–5, 265 students), Tri-County Middle (6–8, 134 students), and Tri-County High (9–12, 180 students), all located at the same Plainfield address. The district as a whole ranks at the 12th percentile in Wisconsin with a 1-star rating, but each school's individual picture is more encouraging, and all three have climbed in state percentile over the past three years.

Tri-County Middle currently stands out most: it is the highest-ranked of the three (32nd percentile, 2 stars) and posted 6th grade math proficiency of 86.67% versus 53.60% statewide, along with above-state 6th grade ELA. Tri-County Elementary has the best attendance in the district (15.2% chronic absenteeism, below the state's 17.3%) and above-state 4th grade social studies at 70.59%, and its 3rd grade ELA edges out the state. Tri-County High reports a 100.0% graduation rate, well above the state's 92.0%, and made the largest ranking jump — from the 5th to the 24th percentile — with big gains in science and ELA ACT results.

Families should note two consistent concerns. Math is below state at every level except 6th grade, most sharply in elementary grades (3rd grade math 25.00% vs. 54.75%) and on the ACT (22.86% vs. 42.93%). Social studies also falls off by grade band, from above state in 4th grade to 20.00% vs. 48.25% in 10th grade. The high school has the highest absenteeism (23.8%) and the widest proficiency gaps, despite spending the most per student ($18,676).