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Darlington Elementary/Middle

Public Grades PK, KG-8
452nd
SchoolDigger Rank ?
of 1,039 Wisconsin Elementary Schools
Better than 56% of Wisconsin elementary schools
Summary

Darlington Elementary/Middle is a public PK–8 school in the small southwest Wisconsin community of Darlington, serving 636 students in the Darlington Community School District, and it is noticeably larger than every nearby elementary school it is compared with. The district ranks 167th of 432 in Wisconsin (61st percentile, 3 stars), and the school itself ranked 452nd of 1,039 in 2025–2026 (56th percentile, 3 stars). Because the nearby schools — such as Mineral Point Elementary, Cuba City Elementary, and Black Hawk Elementary — serve only grades PK–5 or PK–6, direct comparisons in grades 7 and 8 are limited.

Results are mixed by grade and subject. In 2025–2026, Darlington was above the state in 3 of 6 ELA grades, 4 of 6 math grades, 1 of 2 social studies grades, and 1 of 2 science grades. Grade 5 math (66.67% proficient vs. 51.81% state), grade 6 ELA and math, and grade 8 math and science were strengths. Grade 7 was a weak spot, with ELA at 39.06% and math at 45.31%, and grade 4 science at 43.66% trails almost every nearby school except Shullsburg Elementary (36.84%). Chronic absenteeism is a standout: 5.4% in 2024–2025, far below the state's 17.3% and lower than most neighbors.

About 48% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, per-pupil spending was $14,363 in 2024–2025 (below most nearby districts), and the student–teacher ratio of 14.1 is the highest in the comparison group. Overall rankings have improved from the 41st percentile in 2022–2024 to the 56th percentile in 2025–2026, though still below earlier peaks. That improvement masks gaps: school effectiveness ratings rose for the student body overall and for boys and girls, but remain lower for low-income students (40th percentile, 2 stars), English learners (29th percentile, 1 star), and special education students (17th percentile, 1 star), with the latter two falling sharply from prior years. That is the clearest area for parents to ask about.

636
Students ?
14.1
Student/teacher ratio ?
$14,363
Per pupil spending ?
48.4%
Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?
75%
Kindergartners meeting all minimum immunization requirements (2025-26)
 11630 Center Hill Road
       Darlington, WI  53530

(608) 776-4021

District: Darlington Community School District


Students who attend Darlington Elementary/Middle usually attend:

High:    Darlington High
Racial breakdown:

White:
64.2%
Hispanic:
34.6%
Two or more races:
0.9%
more
 See top rated Wisconsin elementary schools

 Compare Darlington Elementary/Middle to nearby elementary schools!
At a glance
▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 46th percentile in 2016 → 56th in 2026
Strengths
✓Ranking is trending up — up 10 percentile points since 2016
✓Above the Wisconsin median (56th percentile)
Worth a look
!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing
Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?
This school56%
District avg56%
Wisconsin avg55%
Elementary school
452nd of 1,039
Wisconsin public elementary schools ?
Top 44%▲ up 11 pts since 2016
From bottom 46% (2016) to top 44% (2026)
See the entire ranking list of Wisconsin Elementary Schools →
★★★★★
SchoolDigger rating ?
Middle school
313th of 643
Wisconsin public middle schools ?
Top 49%▼ down 17 pts since 2016
From top 32% (2016) to top 49% (2026)
See the entire ranking list of Wisconsin Middle Schools →
★★★★★
SchoolDigger rating ?
167th of 432Darlington Community 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)
Elementary school ranking
Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankWisconsin percentileRating
202659.1452 of 103956.5%★★★☆☆
202553.2549 of 104447.4%★★☆☆☆
202449.6626 of 106141.0%★★☆☆☆
202347.7629 of 106741.0%★★☆☆☆
202263.9380 of 106764.4%★★★☆☆
202163.7373 of 105064.5%★★★☆☆
201963.1387 of 103762.7%★★★☆☆
201871.5253 of 102575.3%★★★★☆
201745.4653 of 107139.0%★★☆☆☆
201650.4585 of 107545.6%★★☆☆☆
201548.9643 of 107640.2%★★☆☆☆
201436.2820 of 106122.7%★☆☆☆☆
201349.1625 of 105340.6%★★☆☆☆
201257.3549 of 104547.5%★★☆☆☆
201156.1567 of 104645.8%★★☆☆☆
201050.0676 of 104535.3%★★☆☆☆
200947.4678 of 103034.2%★★☆☆☆
200857.3521 of 102149.0%★★☆☆☆
200663.2329 of 71253.8%★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankWisconsin percentileRating
202633.2174 of 24529.0%★☆☆☆☆
202548.3112 of 25556.1%★★★☆☆
202455.894 of 26965.1%★★★☆☆
202350.6101 of 24959.4%★★★☆☆
202251.597 of 24860.9%★★★☆☆
202174.331 of 22286.0%★★★★☆
201956.392 of 27566.5%★★★☆☆
201876.143 of 28785.0%★★★★☆

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankWisconsin percentileRating
202660.4408 of 98658.6%★★★☆☆
202556.6475 of 100152.5%★★★☆☆
202447.3632 of 101137.5%★★☆☆☆
202344.4637 of 101036.9%★★☆☆☆
202264.6350 of 101765.6%★★★☆☆
202162.9369 of 100463.2%★★★☆☆
201969.6276 of 100272.5%★★★★☆
201877.4171 of 99782.8%★★★★☆

Hispanic

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankWisconsin percentileRating
202628.6265 of 34723.6%★☆☆☆☆
202539.9184 of 32242.9%★★☆☆☆
202433.7223 of 33132.6%★★☆☆☆
202353.1116 of 29060.0%★★★☆☆
202238.2174 of 29641.2%★★☆☆☆
202145.8134 of 27451.1%★★★☆☆
201940.9150 of 26643.6%★★☆☆☆
201865.367 of 27175.3%★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankWisconsin percentileRating
202644.0508 of 84840.1%★★☆☆☆
202548.8449 of 87048.4%★★☆☆☆
202441.7548 of 86636.7%★★☆☆☆
202346.7482 of 87144.7%★★☆☆☆
202261.2288 of 85966.5%★★★☆☆
202172.7144 of 84783.0%★★★★☆
201948.0448 of 87448.7%★★☆☆☆
201863.7230 of 85473.1%★★★★☆

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankWisconsin percentileRating
202656.6476 of 98951.9%★★★☆☆
202550.2551 of 100044.9%★★☆☆☆
202451.9559 of 101244.8%★★☆☆☆
202351.7550 of 101145.6%★★☆☆☆
202263.0359 of 101764.7%★★★☆☆
202164.1347 of 100365.4%★★★☆☆
201958.4426 of 100257.5%★★★☆☆
201865.6318 of 99768.1%★★★☆☆

Special Education

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankWisconsin percentileRating
202622.9657 of 79116.9%★☆☆☆☆
202539.8481 of 80240.0%★★☆☆☆
202453.6318 of 79059.7%★★★☆☆
202339.7454 of 77041.0%★★☆☆☆
202260.9218 of 74870.9%★★★★☆
202154.8276 of 74663.0%★★★☆☆
201948.5337 of 74254.6%★★★☆☆
201875.0102 of 72185.9%★★★★☆

White

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankWisconsin percentileRating
202663.9238 of 69765.9%★★★☆☆
202558.1309 of 71857.0%★★★☆☆
202453.9347 of 72752.3%★★★☆☆
202347.7406 of 71543.2%★★☆☆☆
202273.9146 of 70479.3%★★★★☆
202175.7120 of 69982.8%★★★★☆
201967.3200 of 71872.1%★★★★☆
201866.3213 of 68669.0%★★★☆☆
Middle school ranking
Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankWisconsin percentileRating
202654.7313 of 64351.3%★★★☆☆
202562.4240 of 62861.8%★★★☆☆
202463.6232 of 64163.8%★★★☆☆
202374.1126 of 64080.3%★★★★☆
202282.073 of 61788.2%★★★★☆
202173.5121 of 61380.3%★★★★☆
201968.3161 of 59472.9%★★★★☆
201869.0142 of 57975.5%★★★★☆
201736.7424 of 61230.7%★★☆☆☆
201663.8192 of 60968.5%★★★☆☆
201574.0108 of 61282.4%★★★★☆
201478.371 of 58587.9%★★★★☆
201381.753 of 56990.7%★★★★★
201272.3107 of 55980.9%★★★★☆
201176.756 of 54989.8%★★★★☆
201060.1251 of 53953.4%★★★☆☆
200974.678 of 52185.0%★★★★☆
200861.3229 of 51955.9%★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankWisconsin percentileRating
202653.055 of 16967.5%★★★☆☆
202535.8120 of 17832.6%★★☆☆☆
202448.174 of 17357.2%★★★☆☆
202348.562 of 17063.5%★★★☆☆
202294.71 of 15899.4%★★★★★
202197.21 of 13899.3%★★★★★
201871.914 of 14090.0%★★★★★

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankWisconsin percentileRating
202657.9258 of 57254.9%★★★☆☆
202568.2177 of 57369.1%★★★☆☆
202463.1226 of 58061.0%★★★☆☆
202374.0111 of 57980.8%★★★★☆
202280.768 of 57688.2%★★★★☆
202173.3113 of 57480.3%★★★★☆
201968.3147 of 55773.6%★★★★☆
201871.3123 of 55177.7%★★★★☆

Hispanic

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankWisconsin percentileRating
202561.877 of 23767.5%★★★☆☆
202438.3144 of 23939.7%★★☆☆☆
202373.344 of 22980.8%★★★★☆
202170.439 of 22582.7%★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankWisconsin percentileRating
202651.6242 of 51352.8%★★★☆☆
202559.3188 of 50963.1%★★★☆☆
202458.3194 of 52062.7%★★★☆☆
202381.942 of 52592.0%★★★★★
202288.717 of 52296.7%★★★★★
202169.486 of 49982.8%★★★★☆
201951.6214 of 48756.1%★★★☆☆
201868.189 of 48981.8%★★★★☆

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankWisconsin percentileRating
202651.4298 of 57548.2%★★☆☆☆
202555.5276 of 57752.2%★★★☆☆
202462.8218 of 58562.7%★★★☆☆
202374.2117 of 59180.2%★★★★☆
202281.963 of 57789.1%★★★★☆
202172.8115 of 57279.9%★★★★☆
201968.2148 of 55773.4%★★★★☆
201862.3188 of 55165.9%★★★☆☆

Special Education

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankWisconsin percentileRating
202617.1403 of 4398.2%☆☆☆☆☆
202289.89 of 42197.9%★★★★★
202146.2215 of 43750.8%★★★☆☆
201853.3153 of 41763.3%★★★☆☆

White

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankWisconsin percentileRating
202652.4191 of 39151.2%★★★☆☆
202568.0105 of 39973.7%★★★★☆
202468.6106 of 40774.0%★★★★☆
202372.586 of 41279.1%★★★★☆
202282.944 of 39788.9%★★★★☆
202177.057 of 39385.5%★★★★☆
201964.6113 of 38270.4%★★★★☆
201854.7151 of 37559.7%★★★☆☆
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)
Elementary school
White (2026)66th percentile+9 vs school
Female (2026)59th percentile~ school
Male (2026)52nd percentile-5 vs school
Low Socio Economic Status (2026)40th percentile-16 vs school
English Language Learner (2026)29th percentile-28 vs school
Hispanic (2026)24th percentile-33 vs school
Special Education (2026)17th percentile-40 vs school
Middle school
Hispanic (2025)68th percentile+6 vs school
English Language Learner (2026)67th percentile+16 vs school
Female (2026)55th percentile+4 vs school
Low Socio Economic Status (2026)53rd percentile~ school
White (2026)51st percentile~ school
Male (2026)48th percentile-3 vs school
Special Education (2026)8th percentile-43 vs school
By subject vs Wisconsin (2025-2026) ?
Social Studies64%~ state avg
Mathematics57%+3 vs state
English Language Arts54%~ state avg
Science52%~ state avg

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Schools Near Darlington Elementary/Middle

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Frequently Asked Questions about Darlington Elementary/Middle

Students at Darlington Elementary/Middle are 64% White, 35% Hispanic.

Darlington Elementary/Middle ranks 452nd of 1039 Wisconsin elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Students who attend Darlington Elementary/Middle usually go on to attend:

High : Darlington High

In the 2024-25 school year, 636 students attended Darlington Elementary/Middle.

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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.

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