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Northern Hills Elementary

Q: Is Northern Hills Elementary a good school?

Northern Hills Elementary ranks 692 nd of 1039 Wisconsin elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

692^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,039 Wisconsin Elementary Schools

Better than 33% of Wisconsin elementary schools

Summary

Northern Hills Elementary is a PK–5 public school in Onalaska, WI, part of the Onalaska School District, serving 463 students in a community near La Crosse with a free/reduced lunch rate of 47.08% in 2024–2025. For 2025–2026, it ranked 692 of 1,039 Wisconsin elementary schools—33rd percentile, 2 stars—while the district ranked 132 of 432, or 69th percentile, 3 stars. Recent school rank history has slipped from 63rd percentile and 3 stars in 2020–2021 to 33rd percentile and 2 stars in 2025–2026.

Compared with nearby Onalaska schools, Eagle Bluff Elementary is at the 84th percentile with 4 stars and Pertzsch Elementary is at the 68th percentile with 3 stars. Northern Hills has a similar free/reduced lunch rate to Pertzsch (47.08% vs. 45.04%) and the same 13.4:1 student-teacher ratio, yet Pertzsch scores higher and spends about $1,500 more per student. Northern Hills’ attendance is a clear strength: chronic absenteeism is 6.8%, matching Pertzsch and better than the district’s 9.2% and the state’s 17.3%. Spending is $15,049 per student in 2024–2025.

In 2025–2026 Forward Exam results, grade 4 ELA (55.56%) and grade 4 math (53.97%) were above state proficiency, but grades 3 and 5 ELA/math, grade 4 social studies (61.9%), and grade 4 science (52.38%) were below state, and all listed subjects were below the Onalaska district average. The school outperforms several higher-poverty La Crosse schools, including North Woods International School, Northside Elementary, and Summit Environmental School, but trails Coulee Montessori Charter School. The latest subgroup ranks show English Language Learner students at the 66th percentile in 2024–2025, while special education students fell to the 12th percentile and low-income students were at the 16th percentile in 2025–2026. The main priorities are grade-level consistency, special education, and low-income student support while preserving attendance gains.

463

Students ?

13.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$15,049

Per pupil spending ?

47.1%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

92%

Kindergartners meeting all minimum immunization requirements (2025-26)

910 East Ave N
Onalaska, WI 54650-2299

(608) 783-4542

District: Onalaska School District

Students who attend Northern Hills Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Onalaska Middle
High:	Onalaska High

Racial breakdown:

White:

60.5%

Asian:

21.2%

Two or more races:

8.9%

See top rated Wisconsin elementary schools

Compare Northern Hills Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 31st percentile in 2016 → 33rd in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Wisconsin average (48% vs 55% meeting standards)

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school48%

District avg62%

Wisconsin avg55%

692^nd of 1,039

Wisconsin public elementary schools ?

Bottom 33%▲ up 3 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of Wisconsin Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 3Elementary Schools in the Onalaska School District

132^nd of 432Onalaska 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	42.4	692 of 1039	33.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	45.7	647 of 1044	38.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	47.9	641 of 1061	39.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	47.0	639 of 1067	40.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	58.0	481 of 1067	54.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	62.7	386 of 1050	63.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	50.8	572 of 1037	44.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	43.6	660 of 1025	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2017	50.1	586 of 1071	45.3%	★★☆☆☆
2016	38.6	746 of 1075	30.6%	★★☆☆☆
2015	48.0	661 of 1076	38.6%	★★☆☆☆
2014	53.0	568 of 1061	46.5%	★★☆☆☆
2013	54.0	553 of 1053	47.5%	★★☆☆☆
2012	43.3	775 of 1045	25.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	46.6	735 of 1046	29.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	53.7	610 of 1045	41.6%	★★☆☆☆
2009	44.7	716 of 1030	30.5%	★★☆☆☆
2008	41.0	758 of 1021	25.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	50.7	431 of 689	37.4%	★★☆☆☆
2006	52.4	440 of 712	38.2%	★★☆☆☆
2004	68.1	225 of 633	64.5%	★★★☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	24.1	96 of 121	20.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	27.5	86 of 116	25.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	18.1	109 of 123	11.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	18.9	100 of 116	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	25.9	78 of 110	29.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	33.0	55 of 106	48.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	28.7	82 of 122	32.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	21.8	85 of 107	20.6%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	54.5	86 of 255	66.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	55.7	96 of 269	64.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	32.3	181 of 249	27.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	55.8	88 of 248	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	50.7	82 of 222	63.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	48.6	116 of 275	57.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	39.2	172 of 287	40.1%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	45.6	609 of 986	38.2%	★★☆☆☆
2025	47.2	608 of 1001	39.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	45.0	657 of 1011	35.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	41.1	676 of 1010	33.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	51.1	547 of 1017	46.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	63.4	358 of 1004	64.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	57.2	453 of 1002	54.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	54.1	491 of 997	50.8%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	24.4	714 of 848	15.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	36.2	606 of 870	30.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	34.1	628 of 866	27.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	29.4	687 of 871	21.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	42.8	520 of 859	39.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	53.9	346 of 847	59.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	48.3	446 of 874	49.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	40.2	568 of 854	33.5%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	39.3	689 of 989	30.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	44.2	631 of 1000	36.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	51.6	565 of 1012	44.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	53.9	515 of 1011	49.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	64.8	339 of 1017	66.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	59.2	424 of 1003	57.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	45.2	615 of 1002	38.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	34.9	742 of 997	25.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	35.6	75 of 113	33.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	45.0	49 of 96	49.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	61.9	23 of 76	69.7%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	19.4	700 of 791	11.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	34.7	538 of 802	32.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	54.3	308 of 790	61.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	43.4	419 of 770	45.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	54.7	277 of 748	63.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	73.7	111 of 746	85.1%	★★★★☆
2019	34.9	490 of 742	34.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	55.1	282 of 721	60.9%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	42.3	435 of 697	37.6%	★★☆☆☆
2025	44.0	424 of 718	40.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	45.3	435 of 727	40.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	45.8	424 of 715	40.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	61.3	259 of 704	63.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	67.4	201 of 699	71.2%	★★★★☆
2019	57.0	315 of 718	56.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	43.3	427 of 686	37.8%	★★☆☆☆

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)

English Language Learner (2025)66th percentile+28 vs school

Female (2026)38th percentile+5 vs school

White (2026)38th percentile+4 vs school

Multi-racial (2025)34th percentile-4 vs school

Male (2026)30th percentile-3 vs school

Asian (2026)21st percentile-13 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)16th percentile-18 vs school

Special Education (2026)12th percentile-22 vs school

By subject vs Wisconsin (2025-2026) ?

Social Studies62%-4 vs state

Science52%~ state avg

Mathematics47%-6 vs state

English Language Arts44%-9 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Friday, June 14, 2013

My son will be entering this school for 5th grade. I've been impressed with tour of school, principle, and support staff. Very excited about moving into this district. Close Quote

Schools Near Northern Hills 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
Northern Hills Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	910 East Ave N	Onalaska	54650	La Crosse County	Onalaska School District	No	No	No	Yes	(608) 783-4542	463	34	13.4	47.1%	280 (60.5%)	14 (3.0%)	27 (5.8%)	98 (21.2%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	41 (8.9%)	42.4	692^nd of 1039 public elementary schools	33.4%		45.7	647^th of 1044 public elementary schools	38.0%	45	40.9	55.6	35.8	40.9	54.0	47.8	61.9	52.4	92%		$15,049	$524	$14,525
Pertzsch Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	524 Main St	Onalaska	54650	La Crosse County	Onalaska School District	No	No	No	Yes	(608) 783-5644	373	28	13.4	45.0%	250 (67.0%)	5 (1.3%)	24 (6.4%)	48 (12.9%)	3 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	43 (11.5%)	68.8	331^st of 1039 public elementary schools	68.1%		73.2	267^th of 1044 public elementary schools	74.4%	64	58.2	57.6	62.0	58.2	62.1	78.0	80.3	59.1	91%		$16,544	$580	$15,963
Eagle Bluff Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	200 Eagle Bluff Ct	Onalaska	54650	La Crosse County	Onalaska School District	No	No	No	No	(608) 783-2453	471	32	14.8	24.0%	329 (69.9%)	6 (1.3%)	26 (5.5%)	69 (14.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	40 (8.5%)	79.6	168^th of 1039 public elementary schools	83.8%		77.1	206^th of 1044 public elementary schools	80.3%	38	54.3	69.3	62.4	72.9	82.7	81.2	80.0	74.7	91%		$15,342	$250	$15,092
Sand Lake Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3600 Sand Lake Rd	Holmen	54636	La Crosse County	Holmen School District	No	No	No	Yes	(608) 781-0974	363	33	10.9	27.8%	316 (87.1%)	2 (0.6%)	9 (2.5%)	15 (4.1%)	5 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (4.4%)	66.5	366^th of 1039 public elementary schools	64.8%		62.4	424^th of 1044 public elementary schools	59.4%	58	68.3	60.3	64.1	68.3	45.6	54.7	69.1	69.1	89%		$16,737	$489	$16,248
Northside Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1611 Kane St	La Crosse	54603	La Crosse County	La Crosse School District	No	No	No	Yes	(608) 789-7970	237	33	7.2	84.8%	97 (40.9%)	22 (9.3%)	19 (8.0%)	54 (22.8%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	44 (18.6%)	14.7	911^th of 1039 public elementary schools	12.3%		17.6	890^th of 1044 public elementary schools	14.8%	21	18.2	25.8	34.2	22.7	16.1	40.5	45.2	25.8	80%		$24,890	$2,388	$22,502
Coulee Montessori Charter School	Public, Charter	PK, KG-6	1611 Kane St	La Crosse	54601	La Crosse County	La Crosse School District	Yes	No	No	Yes	(608) 789-7970	118	9	13.8	66.1%	85 (72.0%)	5 (4.2%)	8 (6.8%)	7 (5.9%)	1 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (10.2%)	51.7	568^th of 1039 public elementary schools	45.3%		17.9	886^th of 1044 public elementary schools	15.1%	318	54.6	64.3	43.8	54.6	50.0	37.5	78.6	50.0	60%		$14,882	$1,144	$13,738
Summit Environmental School	Public	PK, KG-5	1800 Lakeshore Dr	La Crosse	54603	La Crosse County	La Crosse School District	No	No	No	Yes	(608) 789-7980	295	26	11.3	51.5%	220 (74.6%)	7 (2.4%)	14 (4.7%)	17 (5.8%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (12.2%)	39.8	725^th of 1039 public elementary schools	30.2%		34.8	770^th of 1044 public elementary schools	26.2%	45	47.2	46.0	48.6	44.4	37.8	37.1	67.6	46.0	74%		$16,984	$806	$16,177
North Woods International School	Public	PK, KG-5	2541 Sablewood Rd	La Crosse	54601	La Crosse County	La Crosse School District	No	No	No	Yes	(608) 789-7000	255	28	9.2	58.8%	134 (52.5%)	26 (10.2%)	36 (14.1%)	29 (11.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (11.8%)	35.7	755^th of 1039 public elementary schools	27.3%		39.6	733^rd of 1044 public elementary schools	29.8%	22	43.2	32.5	48.6	37.8	37.5	45.7	65.0	45.0	79%		$19,218	$1,292	$17,926
Viking Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	500 E Wall St	Holmen	54636	La Crosse County	Holmen School District	No	No	No	Yes	(608) 526-3316	355	30	11.7	31.5%	290 (81.7%)	3 (0.8%)	5 (1.4%)	40 (11.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	16 (4.5%)	64.5	391^st of 1039 public elementary schools	62.4%		69.4	325^th of 1044 public elementary schools	68.9%	66	55.9	64.2	62.0	57.4	52.2	62.0	70.2	62.7	94%		$16,996	$520	$16,476
Evergreen Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	510 Long Coulee Rd	Holmen	54636	La Crosse County	Holmen School District	No	No	No	Yes	(608) 526-9080	317	28	11.3	23.0%	236 (74.4%)	2 (0.6%)	14 (4.4%)	42 (13.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (7.3%)	57.1	498^th of 1039 public elementary schools	52.1%		68.5	339^th of 1044 public elementary schools	67.5%	159	59.3	57.5	51.8	53.7	55.3	58.9	63.8	53.2	92%		$17,761	$368	$17,392

Frequently Asked Questions about Northern Hills Elementary

What district is Northern Hills Elementary in?

Onalaska School District

What is the racial makeup of Northern Hills Elementary?

Students at Northern Hills Elementary are 60% White, 21% Asian, 9% Two or more races, 6% Hispanic, 3% African American.

What schools do graduates of Northern Hills Elementary attend?

Students who attend Northern Hills Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Onalaska Middle
High : Onalaska High

Is Northern Hills Elementary a good school?

Northern Hills Elementary ranks 692^nd of 1039 Wisconsin elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Northern Hills Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 463 students attended Northern Hills 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.