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Portage High

Q: Is Portage High a good school?

Portage High ranks 291 st of 533 Wisconsin high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

291^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 533 Wisconsin High Schools

Better than 45% of Wisconsin high schools

Summary

Portage High is a public 9–12 high school in Portage, Wisconsin, a small city in south-central Wisconsin, serving about 600 students in the Portage Community School District. In 2025–2026 it ranked 291st of 533 Wisconsin high schools (45th percentile, 2 stars), while the district ranked 244th of 432 (44th percentile, 2 stars). Portage High was once much higher: it sat at the 71st percentile with 4 stars in 2015–2016 and the 65th percentile in 2018–2019, and has mostly hovered between the 35th and 52nd percentile in recent years.

Graduation is the school's clearest strength. In 2024–2025, Portage High graduated 97.8% of students, above both the district (94.9%) and the state (92.0%), and its dropout rate of 0.5% was well below the state's 1.1%. Chronic absenteeism was 17.7%, just above the state (17.3%) but below the district (20.4%). One outlier year, 2023–2024, showed a 20.0% dropout rate worth watching. Results for students with disabilities were a bright spot, ranking at the 69th percentile (104th of 333, 3 stars) in 2025–2026, up from the 38th percentile in 2023–2024. Results for students from low-income families were at the 39th percentile — improved, but still below the median.

On 2025–2026 10th-grade tests, Portage High trailed the state in all four subjects — Social Studies 44.35% vs. 48.25%, ELA 46.02% vs. 48.47%, Math 38.05% vs. 42.93%, and Science 42.48% vs. 43.20% — but beat its own district in every subject. Math is the largest gap. Nearby comparisons are mixed: Portage sits ahead of Montello Junior/Senior High and Rio Middle/High, close to Wisconsin Dells High, and behind Lodi High, Poynette High, Pardeeville High, and Baraboo High. Notably, Pardeeville High serves a similar share of low-income students, spends less ($15,431 vs. $16,973), yet scored higher in all four subjects, while Wisconsin Dells High serves far more low-income students and posts similar results. Two nearby schools — Portage Academy of Achievement, an alternative school, and DOC: Columbia Correctional Institution — have different missions and aren't fair comparisons.

600

Students ?

13.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,973

Per pupil spending ?

30.5%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

301 E Collins St
Portage, WI 53901-3424

(608) 742-8545

District: Portage Community School District

Feeder schools for Portage High:

Elementary:	Endeavor Elementary
	Lewiston Elementary
	Muir Elementary
	Woodridge Elementary
Middle:	Wayne Bartels Middle
Prekindergarten:	Portage Partnering Preschool

Racial breakdown:

White:

82.7%

Hispanic:

10.0%

Two or more races:

3.8%

See top rated Wisconsin high schools

Compare Portage High to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 71st percentile in 2016 → 45th in 2026

Strengths

✓98% graduate in 4 years — above the Wisconsin average (92%)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 26 percentile points since 2016

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school43%

District avg41%

Wisconsin avg46%

291^st of 533

Wisconsin public high schools ?

Bottom 45%▼ down 26 pts since 2016

From top 29% (2016) to bottom 45% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Wisconsin High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

244^th of 432Portage 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	50.3	291 of 533	45.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	49.2	226 of 431	47.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	39.7	278 of 431	35.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	50.2	200 of 415	51.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	40.6	231 of 391	40.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	41.2	231 of 390	40.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	60.8	140 of 400	65.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	61.6	134 of 410	67.3%	★★★☆☆
2017	51.0	191 of 410	53.4%	★★★☆☆
2016	63.2	117 of 408	71.3%	★★★★☆
2015	73.8	80 of 466	82.8%	★★★★☆
2014	46.3	312 of 462	32.5%	★★☆☆☆
2013	41.4	340 of 457	25.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	61.8	206 of 452	54.4%	★★★☆☆
2011	61.8	205 of 445	53.9%	★★★☆☆
2010	52.1	305 of 450	32.2%	★★☆☆☆
2009	43.3	337 of 438	23.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	63.9	169 of 437	61.3%	★★★☆☆
2007	59.5	170 of 281	39.5%	★★☆☆☆
2006	66.9	110 of 292	62.3%	★★★☆☆
2005	46.5	220 of 287	23.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	52.3	180 of 275	34.5%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	54.7	229 of 461	50.3%	★★★☆☆
2025	44.3	221 of 358	38.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	27.6	282 of 353	20.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	40.5	207 of 329	37.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	34.0	241 of 343	29.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	34.4	227 of 332	31.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	64.5	101 of 343	70.6%	★★★★☆
2018	59.0	144 of 355	59.4%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	27.3	141 of 187	24.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	57.2	37 of 86	57.0%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	42.3	273 of 446	38.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	32.6	244 of 335	27.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	16.7	287 of 326	12.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	39.1	181 of 271	33.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	18.7	204 of 226	9.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	50.9	110 of 251	56.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	35.7	174 of 255	31.8%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	43.0	277 of 462	40.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	50.5	189 of 380	50.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	47.7	192 of 365	47.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	53.2	153 of 359	57.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	43.8	197 of 347	43.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	42.7	196 of 334	41.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	51.2	159 of 354	55.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	57.6	128 of 373	65.7%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	57.2	104 of 333	68.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	35.7	59 of 95	37.9%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	36.5	238 of 344	30.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	43.1	166 of 285	41.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	34.1	214 of 300	28.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	43.2	149 of 271	45.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	32.2	193 of 269	28.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	32.8	180 of 266	32.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	51.9	116 of 266	56.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	53.7	101 of 261	61.3%	★★★☆☆

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)

Special Education (2026)69th percentile+23 vs school

Female (2026)50th percentile+5 vs school

Male (2026)40th percentile-5 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)39th percentile-7 vs school

White (2026)31st percentile-15 vs school

Hispanic (2026)25th percentile-21 vs school

By subject vs Wisconsin (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts46%~ state avg

Social Studies44%-4 vs state

Science42%~ state avg

Mathematics38%-5 vs state

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Schools Near Portage High

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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 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
Portage High	Public	9-12	301 E Collins St	Portage	53901	Columbia County	Portage Community School District	No	No	No	No	(608) 742-8545	600	44	13.5	30.5%	496 (82.7%)	7 (1.2%)	60 (10.0%)	8 (1.3%)	6 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (3.8%)	50.3	291^st of 533 public high schools	45.4%		49.2	226^th of 431 public high schools	47.6%	65	46.0	38.1	42.5								44.4		$16,973	$1,140	$15,833
Portage Academy of Achievement	Public	9-12	2505 New Pinery Rd	Portage	53901	Columbia County	Portage Community School District	No	No	No	No	(608) 742-2165	24	1	24.0	12.5%	21 (87.5%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (8.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (4.2%)								(n/a)													$13,005	$383	$12,622
DOC: Columbia Correctional Institution	Public	11-12	2925 Columbia Dr	Portage	53901	Columbia County	Wisconsin Department of Corrections	No	No	No	No	(608) 742-9100	6	3	2.0	—	1 (16.7%)	5 (83.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Pardeeville High	Public	9-12	120 Oak St	Pardeeville	53954	Columbia County	Pardeeville Area School District	No	No	No	No	(608) 429-2153	284	21	13.7	32.7%	266 (93.7%)	1 (0.4%)	10 (3.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.5%)	62	208^th of 533 public high schools	61.0%		39.2	290^th of 431 public high schools	32.7%	82	51.7	40.0	46.7								55.0		$15,431	$232	$15,199
Poynette High	Public	9-12	108 N Cleveland St	Poynette	53955	Columbia County	Poynette School District	No	No	No	No	(608) 635-4347	296	23	12.6	19.9%	271 (91.6%)	2 (0.7%)	11 (3.7%)	1 (0.3%)	4 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (2.0%)	65.7	177^th of 533 public high schools	66.8%		81.9	52^nd of 431 public high schools	87.9%	125	60.7	53.6	48.2								43.5		$17,157	$665	$16,492
Rio Middle/High	Public	6-12	411 Church St	Rio	53960	Columbia County	Rio Community School District	No	No	No	No	(920) 992-3141	183	20	9.2	37.2%	167 (91.3%)	1 (0.5%)	6 (3.3%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (4.4%)	35.2	375^th of 533 public high schools	29.6%		65.5	130^th of 431 public high schools	69.8%	245	28.0	40.0	32.0	55.2	68.0	55.6	44.8	56.0	40.7	74.1	40.0	55.6	$20,482	$766	$19,716
Baraboo High	Public	9-12	1201 Draper St	Baraboo	53913	Sauk County	Baraboo School District	No	No	No	No	(608) 355-3940	885	65	13.5	—	681 (76.9%)	14 (1.6%)	103 (11.6%)	13 (1.5%)	32 (3.6%)	0 (0.0%)	42 (4.7%)	53.5	264^th of 533 public high schools	50.5%		33.9	319^th of 431 public high schools	26.0%	55	47.8	40.3	41.8								46.8		$14,574	$374	$14,200
Wisconsin Dells High	Public	9-12	1505 Brew Farm Rd	Wisconsin Dells	53965	Sauk County	Wisconsin Dells School District	No	No	No	No	(608) 253-1461	563	39	14.5	54.9%	370 (65.7%)	11 (2.0%)	128 (22.7%)	3 (0.5%)	29 (5.2%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (3.9%)	49.5	297^th of 533 public high schools	44.3%		38.8	293^rd of 431 public high schools	32.0%	4	47.9	36.8	41.0								44.1		$15,050	$00	$15,050
Montello Junior/Senior High	Public	7-12	222 Forest Ln	Montello	53949	Marquette County	Montello School District	No	No	No	Yes	(608) 297-7617	232	28	8.4	44.0%	209 (90.1%)	2 (0.9%)	15 (6.5%)	2 (0.9%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.3%)	33	385^th of 533 public high schools	27.8%		32.6	326^th of 431 public high schools	24.4%	59	47.4	29.0	31.6		67.6	45.2		64.9	61.3	83.9	23.5	61.3	$23,497	$771	$22,726
High Marq Environmental Charter School	Public, Charter	7-12	222 Forest Ln	Montello	53949	Marquette County	Montello School District	Yes	No	No	No	(608) 297-7617	33	2	16.5	39.4%	30 (90.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (3.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (6.1%)	82	59^th of 533 public high schools	88.9%					(n/a)	66.7	50.0	50.0			50.0			37.5	87.5	83.3	50.0	$11,569	$626	$10,943

Frequently Asked Questions about Portage High

How many students attend Portage High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 600 students attended Portage High.

Is Portage High a good school?

Portage High ranks 291^st of 533 Wisconsin high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Portage High?

Students at Portage High are 83% White, 10% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races, 1% Asian, 1% African American.

What schools feed into Portage High?

Portage High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Endeavor Elementary
Elementary : Lewiston Elementary
Elementary : Muir Elementary
Elementary : Woodridge Elementary
Middle : Wayne Bartels Middle
Prekindergarten : Portage Partnering Preschool

What district is Portage High in?

Portage Community School District

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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.