Beta You're viewing our redesigned school page. Prefer the classic layout?

Hayward High

Q: Is Hayward High a good school?

Hayward High ranks 262 nd of 533 Wisconsin high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

262^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 533 Wisconsin High Schools

Better than 51% of Wisconsin high schools

Summary

Hayward High is a 9–12 school serving 522 students in Hayward, Wisconsin, a small northern Wisconsin community whose district, the Hayward Community School District, also operates a much smaller environmental school. The school's overall standing is now around the state average: it ranked 262 of 533 (51st percentile, 3 stars) in 2025–2026 and 216 of 431 (50th percentile, 3 stars) in 2024–2025, a substantial recovery from the late 2010s, when it sat at 15th–24th percentile with 1 star each year. It climbed to the 56th–61st percentile from 2020–2021 through 2022–2023, dipped to 37th percentile in 2023–2024, and has since rebounded to roughly the middle of the state.

On 2025–2026 10th grade tests, math is the clear strength: 46.99% proficient, above the district (43.24%) and state (42.93%), and math has topped the state in every reported year since 2022–2023. Social studies is the most consistent weakness, below district and state in all four reported years (44.76% versus 47.15% district and 48.25% state). Science was also recently below state, while ELA was mixed. Results are far stronger than at Northwood High/Middle, part of the Northwood School District, where ACT proficiency was 28.57% in ELA, math, and science—even though Northwood spends more per student ($17,689 versus $15,920) with a smaller 10:1 student–teacher ratio.

The biggest red flag is attendance: 30.2% of Hayward students were chronically absent in 2024–2025, well above the district (18.3%), state (17.3%), and Northwood (13.0%), and far above Northern Waters Environmental School (2.3%), though that 43-student school is not a like-for-like comparison. Hayward's 91.7% graduation rate is close to district and state, and its dropout rate has fallen from 3.4% to 1.5% but remains above both. Results also vary widely by student group: female students have generally been served above average and male students below, while Special Education students and Multi-racial students ranked at the 1st and 17th percentiles respectively in 2025–2026.

522

Students ?

13.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$15,920

Per pupil spending ?

46.4%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

10320 Greenwood Ln
Hayward, WI 54843-7167

(715) 634-2619

District: Hayward Community School District

Feeder schools for Hayward High:

Elementary:	Hayward Intermediate
	Hayward Primary
Middle:	Hayward Middle

Racial breakdown:

White:

59.6%

American Indian:

22.6%

Two or more races:

9.8%

See top rated Wisconsin high schools

Compare Hayward High to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Recently slipping — 61st percentile in 2021 → 51st in 2026

Strengths

✓Above the Wisconsin median (51st percentile)

Worth a look

!High chronic absenteeism (30% vs 17% Wisconsin)

!Ranking has slipped from its 61st-percentile peak (2021) to 51st (2026)

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school45%

District avg47%

Wisconsin avg46%

262^nd of 533

Wisconsin public high schools ?

Top 49%▲ up 35 pts since 2016

From bottom 15% (2016) to top 49% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Wisconsin High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 2High Schools in the Hayward Community School District

249^th of 432Hayward 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)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	53.8	262 of 533	50.8%	★★★☆☆
2025	50.4	216 of 431	49.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	41.2	273 of 431	36.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	57.1	168 of 415	59.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	52.1	171 of 391	56.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	56.8	153 of 390	60.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	25.7	328 of 400	18.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	31.6	311 of 410	24.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	27.8	320 of 410	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	24.7	345 of 408	15.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	31.5	398 of 466	14.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	34.0	380 of 462	17.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	29.7	392 of 457	14.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	26.5	403 of 452	10.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	49.5	310 of 445	30.3%	★★☆☆☆
2010	60.2	226 of 450	49.8%	★★☆☆☆
2009	59.8	211 of 438	51.8%	★★★☆☆
2008	53.4	272 of 437	37.8%	★★☆☆☆
2007	51.6	207 of 281	26.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	60.0	162 of 292	44.5%	★★☆☆☆
2005	64.3	116 of 287	59.6%	★★★☆☆
2004	76.2	43 of 275	84.4%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	63.3	171 of 461	62.9%	★★★☆☆
2025	65.7	111 of 358	69.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	43.3	220 of 353	37.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	43.0	191 of 329	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	42.3	200 of 343	41.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	60.6	115 of 332	65.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	17.9	312 of 343	9.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	34.7	259 of 355	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	35.5	313 of 446	29.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	55.5	133 of 335	60.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	41.7	205 of 326	37.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	57.5	95 of 271	64.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	60.3	68 of 250	72.8%	★★★★☆
2021	63.5	57 of 226	74.8%	★★★★☆
2019	34.7	173 of 251	31.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	40.5	155 of 255	39.2%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	45.1	263 of 462	43.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	34.7	268 of 380	29.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	36.2	239 of 365	34.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	63.9	97 of 359	73.0%	★★★★☆
2022	57.1	127 of 347	63.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	43.5	191 of 334	42.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	31.9	262 of 354	26.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	28.7	296 of 373	20.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	22.4	85 of 102	16.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	9.8	80 of 81	1.2%	☆☆☆☆☆

Native American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	56.2	7 of 19	63.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	32.6	3 of 4	25.0%	★★★★☆
2024	47.8	2 of 4	50.0%	★★★★☆
2019	25.9	4 of 4	0.0%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	16.7	329 of 333	1.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	32.1	68 of 95	28.4%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	55.3	160 of 344	53.5%	★★★☆☆
2025	52.1	128 of 285	55.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	39.3	191 of 300	36.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	57.1	104 of 271	61.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	54.1	106 of 269	60.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	51.1	117 of 266	56.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	27.4	203 of 266	23.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	33.5	182 of 261	30.3%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Native American (2026)63rd percentile+12 vs school

Female (2026)63rd percentile+12 vs school

White (2026)53rd percentile+3 vs school

Male (2026)43rd percentile-8 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)30th percentile-21 vs school

Multi-racial (2026)17th percentile-34 vs school

Special Education (2026)1st percentile-50 vs school

By subject vs Wisconsin (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics47%+4 vs state

Social Studies45%-3 vs state

English Language Arts45%-4 vs state

Science43%~ state avg

★

No ratings yet

Be the first to rate Hayward High and help other families decide.

Rate Hayward High

Have first-hand experience? A quick rating - and a sentence or two about what stands out (teachers, academics, safety, communication) - helps other families know what to expect.

Takes about a minute. We email you a link to verify your review - your address is never shown publicly.

Tap a star to rate

Reviews

No written reviews yet. If you know this school, be the first to share what stands out.

Schools Near Hayward High

Load more schools when map is moved

Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				ACT English Language Arts (2026)	ACT Mathematics (2026)	ACT Science (2026)	Forward Exam English Language Arts (2026)			Forward Exam Mathematics (2026)			Forward Exam Social Studies (2026)		Forward Exam Science (2026)	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	ACT English Language Arts 10th Grade	ACT Mathematics 10th Grade	ACT Science 10th Grade	Forward Exam English Language Arts 6th Grade	Forward Exam English Language Arts 7th Grade	Forward Exam English Language Arts 8th Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 6th Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 7th Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 8th Grade	Forward Exam Social Studies 8th Grade	Forward Exam Social Studies 10th Grade	Forward Exam Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Hayward High	Public	9-12	10320 Greenwood Ln	Hayward	54843	Sawyer County	Hayward Community School District	No	No	No	Yes	(715) 634-2619	522	40	13.0	46.4%	311 (59.6%)	7 (1.3%)	31 (5.9%)	4 (0.8%)	118 (22.6%)	0 (0.0%)	51 (9.8%)	53.8	262^nd of 533 public high schools	50.8%		50.4	216^th of 431 public high schools	49.9%	46	44.6	47.0	42.7								44.8		$15,920	$409	$15,511
Northern Waters Environmental School	Public, Charter	6-12	10256 Greenwood Ln	Hayward	54843	Sawyer County	Hayward Community School District	Yes	No	No	No	(715) 634-2619	43	3	14.3	44.2%	34 (79.1%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (7.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (4.7%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (9.3%)	49.5	295^th of 533 public high schools	44.7%					(n/a)	37.5	25.0	62.5	28.6	57.1	50.0	14.3	28.6	25.0	50.0		37.5	$11,864	$229	$11,635
Northwood High/Middle	Public, Charter	6-12	N14463 Highway 53	Minong	54859	Washburn County	Northwood School District	Yes	No	No	No	(715) 466-2297	140	14	10.0	48.6%	127 (90.7%)	1 (0.7%)	5 (3.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (4.3%)	33.6	382^nd of 533 public high schools	28.3%		43.5	263^rd of 431 public high schools	39.0%	119	28.6	28.6	28.6	53.3	33.3	50.0	20.0	13.3	25.0	56.3	45.8	37.5	$17,689	$669	$17,020
Gordon Correctional Center	Public	7-12	10401 E County Road G	Gordon	54838	Douglas County	Wisconsin Department of Corrections	No	No	No	No	(715) 376-2680	0	0		—	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)

Frequently Asked Questions about Hayward High

What is the racial makeup of Hayward High?

Students at Hayward High are 60% White, 23% American Indian, 10% Two or more races, 6% Hispanic, 1% African American.

Is Hayward High a good school?

Hayward High ranks 262^nd of 533 Wisconsin high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What district is Hayward High in?

Hayward Community School District

What schools feed into Hayward High?

Hayward High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Hayward Intermediate
Elementary : Hayward Primary
Middle : Hayward Middle

How many students attend Hayward High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 522 students attended Hayward High.

Rate Hayward High!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Compare to nearby schools

WIWisconsin High School Rankings

WIWisconsin District Rankings

Schools in Hayward, WI

Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Hayward High!

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.