Summary
Riverdale Junior High in Muscoda, WI, is a small, rural school serving 88 students in grades 7 and 8, and it has a compelling story of recent improvement. After years of lower state rankings, the school has climbed to the 55th percentile (3-star rating) in the 2024-2025 school year, a significant jump from its 41st percentile ranking the year before. This upward momentum is a standout feature, especially when compared to nearby schools like Boscobel Junior High or Ithaca Middle, which have seen more stagnant results. The school is part of the Riverdale School District and serves a community where over 53% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.
A key highlight is the exceptional 8th-grade math performance, with a 65.85% proficiency rate that significantly outpaces the state average (53.06%) and nearby schools like River Ridge Middle (30.77% in 8th grade math). However, a notable weakness is in 8th-grade English Language Arts, where only 43.9% of students are proficient—10 points below the state average. The school also shows a persistent gender achievement gap, with female students ranking in the 63rd percentile compared to male students in the 42nd percentile. Interestingly, chronic absenteeism at the school (15.0%) is much lower than the district average (21.3%), suggesting a more engaging middle school environment.
Compared to its high-performing neighbor, River Ridge Middle (83rd percentile), which is just 1.24 miles away and serves a similar percentage of low-income students, Riverdale Junior High trails in most subjects, particularly 7th-grade math and ELA. This gap highlights that factors beyond poverty, such as curriculum and teaching methods, likely drive performance. On a positive note, Riverdale operates efficiently, spending $12,208 per student—less than River Ridge ($13,491) and Boscobel Junior High ($13,093)—while achieving a 3-star rating, indicating a good return on investment.
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