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Bruce Elementary

Public Grades PK, KG-5

897^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,039 Wisconsin Elementary Schools

Better than 14% of Wisconsin elementary schools

Summary

Bruce Elementary is a PK–5 school serving 199 students in the small rural community of Bruce, Wisconsin (104 W Washington Ave), part of the Bruce School District. The school ranks 897th of 1,039 Wisconsin elementary schools in 2025–2026 (14th percentile, 1 star), and its district ranks 384th of 432 (11th percentile, 1 star). Bruce's rank history shows a long decline: it reached the 44th percentile in 2018–2019 but has since fallen to the 18th percentile in 2023–2024, 20th in 2024–2025, and 14th in 2025–2026.

In 2025–2026, Bruce's proficiency rates were below the state in every reported subject. The school's average proficiency across tested subjects was about 30.9%, roughly 24 points below the state average of about 54.7%, and the lowest among nearby schools. Flambeau Elementary (42.5%), Birchwood Elementary (42.7%), and Ladysmith Elementary (41.1%) all scored meaningfully higher, while Holcombe Elementary (33.5%) was closer but still ahead. Gaps were largest in 4th-grade science (28.13% vs. 53.46%) and social studies (37.5% vs. 65.51%). Fourth grade was a low point overall, though the same grade scored stronger the year before, suggesting cohort-to-cohort swings in a small school. Third-grade math (42.86%) was the closest to state, and 5th-grade ELA (35.29%) was near or above some neighbors. Subgroup results were low across the board, with male students at the 11th percentile, low-income students at the 14th, special education students at the 19th, and female students at the 20th.

Bruce has the highest free/reduced-lunch rate in the comparison group at 97.99%, up sharply from 65.69% in 2023–2024 — a jump large enough that it may reflect a reporting change or a universal meal program. Even so, per-student spending ($18,736) is lower than Birchwood Elementary, Holcombe Elementary, and Flambeau Elementary, and the student–teacher ratio is 10.3. Chronic absenteeism is a genuine bright spot: 11.7% in 2024–2025, better than the state's 17.3% and better than Birchwood Elementary, Birchwood Public Montessori, and Holcombe Elementary, and improved from 20.4% in 2022–2023.

199

Students ?

10.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$18,736

Per pupil spending ?

98.0%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

85%

Kindergartners meeting all minimum immunization requirements (2025-26)

104 W Washington Ave
Bruce, WI 54819-9641

(715) 868-2585

District: Bruce School District

Students who attend Bruce Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Bruce Middle
High:	Bruce High

Racial breakdown:

White:

91.5%

Hispanic:

4.0%

Two or more races:

3.0%

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At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 35th percentile in 2016 → 14th in 2026

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 10 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Wisconsin average (30% vs 55% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (14th percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 21 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school30%

District avg30%

Wisconsin avg55%

897^th of 1,039

Wisconsin public elementary schools ?

Bottom 14%▼ down 21 pts since 2016

From bottom 35% (2016) to bottom 14% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Wisconsin Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

384^th of 432Bruce School District among Wisconsin districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	16.1	897 of 1039	13.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	25.3	836 of 1044	19.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	22.3	870 of 1061	18.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	40.0	711 of 1067	33.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	32.1	798 of 1067	25.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	32.2	776 of 1050	26.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	50.4	584 of 1037	43.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	47.7	605 of 1025	41.0%	★★☆☆☆
2017	28.3	845 of 1071	21.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	42.2	700 of 1075	34.9%	★★☆☆☆
2015	30.9	854 of 1076	20.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	45.2	690 of 1061	35.0%	★★☆☆☆
2013	38.3	777 of 1053	26.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	43.2	778 of 1045	25.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	38.9	816 of 1046	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	37.8	790 of 1045	24.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	45.7	709 of 1030	31.2%	★★☆☆☆
2008	37.7	783 of 1021	23.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	43.5	495 of 689	28.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	19.9	611 of 712	14.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	21.5	527 of 632	16.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	22.2	530 of 633	16.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	26.6	788 of 986	20.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	38.7	704 of 1001	29.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	38.5	715 of 1011	29.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	57.0	472 of 1010	53.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	55.2	484 of 1017	52.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	40.1	665 of 1004	33.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	54.4	490 of 1002	51.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	57.3	449 of 997	55.0%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2018	65.3	68 of 271	74.9%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	21.8	731 of 848	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	32.9	646 of 870	25.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	23.3	738 of 866	14.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	32.5	656 of 871	24.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	46.8	461 of 874	47.3%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	11.7	882 of 989	10.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	18.2	848 of 1000	15.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	15.7	876 of 1012	13.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	31.5	760 of 1011	24.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	19.6	862 of 1017	15.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	27.8	789 of 1003	21.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	47.2	587 of 1002	41.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	42.1	658 of 997	34.0%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	24.4	642 of 791	18.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	15.4	728 of 802	9.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	27.8	607 of 790	23.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	13.9	743 of 746	0.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2018	67.7	183 of 686	73.3%	★★★★☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Hispanic (2018)75th percentile+34 vs school

White (2018)73rd percentile+32 vs school

Female (2026)20th percentile+6 vs school

Special Education (2026)19th percentile+5 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)14th percentile~ school

Male (2026)11th percentile-3 vs school

By subject vs Wisconsin (2025-2026) ?

Social Studies38%-28 vs state

Mathematics30%-23 vs state

English Language Arts29%-24 vs state

Science28%-25 vs state

★

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Schools Near Bruce Elementary

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Vaccination Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				Forward Exam English Language Arts (2026)			Forward Exam Mathematics (2026)			Forward Exam Social Studies (2026)	Forward Exam Science (2026)	Vaccination (2025-26)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	Forward Exam English Language Arts 3rd Grade	Forward Exam English Language Arts 4th Grade	Forward Exam English Language Arts 5th Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 3rd Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 4th Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 5th Grade	Forward Exam Social Studies 4th Grade	Forward Exam Science 4th Grade	Vaccination: Kindergartners meeting all minimum immunization requirements	Vaccination: Exemption rate	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Bruce Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	104 W Washington Ave	Bruce	54819	Rusk County	Bruce School District	No	No	No	Yes	(715) 868-2585	199	19	10.3	98.0%	182 (91.5%)	1 (0.5%)	8 (4.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (3.0%)	16.1	897^th of 1039 public elementary schools	13.7%		25.3	836^th of 1044 public elementary schools	19.9%	61	33.3	18.8	35.3	42.9	21.9	29.4	37.5	28.1	85%		$18,736	$1,057	$17,680
Ladysmith Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	115 E 6th St S	Ladysmith	54848	Rusk County	Ladysmith School District	No	No	No	Yes	(715) 532-5464	328	29	11.2	66.5%	289 (88.1%)	1 (0.3%)	11 (3.4%)	3 (0.9%)	4 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (6.1%)	31.1	791^st of 1039 public elementary schools	23.9%		20.8	871^st of 1044 public elementary schools	16.6%	80	37.0	41.7	30.6	47.8	22.2	46.9	54.1	48.7	89%		$15,121	$764	$14,357
Flambeau Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	N4540 County Road I	Tony	54563	Rusk County	Flambeau School District	No	No	No	Yes	(715) 532-5559	188	17	11.1	71.3%	177 (94.1%)	2 (1.1%)	8 (4.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	31.6	787^th of 1039 public elementary schools	24.3%		39.9	731^st of 1044 public elementary schools	30.0%	56	36.7	38.1	35.5	40.0	47.6	46.7	52.4	42.9	79%		$19,600	$1,537	$18,063
Holcombe Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	27331 262nd Ave	Holcombe	54745	Chippewa County	Lake Holcombe School District	No	No	No	Yes	(715) 595-4241	106	10	10.3	56.6%	104 (98.1%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	27.7	818^th of 1039 public elementary schools	21.3%		25.1	838^th of 1044 public elementary schools	19.7%	20	40.0	12.5	33.3	70.0	12.5	50.0	37.5	12.5	82%		$22,695	$3,052	$19,643
Birchwood Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	300 S Wilson St	Birchwood	54817	Washburn County	Birchwood School District	No	No	No	Yes	(715) 354-3471	86	11	7.8	43.0%	78 (90.7%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (3.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (4.7%)	35.4	760^th of 1039 public elementary schools	26.9%		32.3	792^nd of 1044 public elementary schools	24.1%	32	33.3	54.6	52.9	16.7	36.4	29.4	63.6	54.6			$24,740	$1,452	$23,289
Birchwood Public Montessori	Public, Charter	PK, KG-6	201 E Birch St	Birchwood	54817	Washburn County	Birchwood School District	Yes	No	No	Yes	(715) 354-3471	25	4	6.4	48.0%	23 (92.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (8.0%)								(n/a)			62.5			12.5					$24,843	$903	$23,940

Frequently Asked Questions about Bruce Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Bruce Elementary?

Students at Bruce Elementary are 91% White, 4% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races, 1% American Indian.

What district is Bruce Elementary in?

Bruce School District

How many students attend Bruce Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 199 students attended Bruce Elementary.

Is Bruce Elementary a good school?

Bruce Elementary ranks in the bottom 13.7% of Wisconsin elementary schools.

What schools do graduates of Bruce Elementary attend?

Students who attend Bruce Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Bruce Middle
High : Bruce High

Rate Bruce Elementary!

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Latest Wisconsin data All new data »

2018–19 through 2025–26 immunization rates (updated)Oct 20, 2026

2016–17 through 2017–18 immunization rates (updated)Oct 19, 2026

2025–26 ACT & Forward Exam scoresOct 1, 2026

2021–22 through 2024–25 school spending dataJul 16, 2026

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.