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Central Elementary

Q: Is Central Elementary a good school?

Central Elementary ranks 712 th of 1039 Wisconsin elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

712^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,039 Wisconsin Elementary Schools

Better than 31% of Wisconsin elementary schools

Summary

Central Elementary is a PK–5 school in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, with 269 students, part of the Rhinelander School District. In 2025–26 it ranked 712 of 1,039 elementary schools statewide — 31st percentile, 2 stars — down from 46th percentile in 2023–24, 35th in 2024–25, and a peak of 55th percentile (3 stars) in 2022–23. The district overall ranks 292 of 432 Wisconsin districts.

Central serves a high-poverty population: 61.71% of students qualified for free or reduced lunch in 2024–25, the highest rate among nearby comparison schools. Yet its chronic absenteeism was only 6.3% in 2024–25, less than half the district's 12.8% and about a third of the state's 17.3% — a notable strength. Spending per student was $20,266, higher than Crescent Elementary, Pelican Elementary, and Northwoods Community Elementary, though Northwoods Community's student-teacher ratio of 9.2 is smaller than Central's 10.4.

Achievement is mixed. Fourth-grade math was 64% proficient, above district (52.94%) and state (52.87%) and above Pelican's 62.16%, though below Northwoods Community's 70.59%. Third-grade math (53.85%) and third-grade ELA (51.28%) also beat district averages. But fifth-grade ELA (33.33%) and fifth-grade math (36.11%) fell well below district and state, and fourth-grade ELA (44%), science (44%), and social studies (56%) trailed as well. Central's low-income students are a relative strength, ranking above the school overall each year (39% vs. 31% in 2025–26; 50% vs. 35% in 2024–25; 59% vs. 46% in 2023–24). The current fifth-grade class has slipped in math — 53.57% as third graders, 50% as fourth graders, 36.11% as fifth graders. Nearby high performers such as Three Lakes Elementary and Sugar Camp Elementary rank in the 80th percentile with different demographics and, in Sugar Camp's case, much higher spending ($24,755).

269

Students ?

10.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$20,266

Per pupil spending ?

61.7%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

93%

Kindergartners meeting all minimum immunization requirements (2025-26)

418 N Pelham St
Rhinelander, WI 54501-3197

(715) 365-9600

District: Rhinelander School District

Students who attend Central Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	James Williams Middle
High:	Rhinelander High

Racial breakdown:

White:

84.8%

Two or more races:

6.7%

Hispanic:

4.5%

See top rated Wisconsin elementary schools

Compare Central Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 28th percentile in 2016 → 31st in 2026

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 10 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Wisconsin average (47% vs 55% meeting standards)

!English Language Arts scores 10 pts below the Wisconsin average

!Near the bottom of Rhinelander School District's ranking

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school47%

District avg50%

Wisconsin avg55%

712^th of 1,039

Wisconsin public elementary schools ?

Bottom 31%▲ up 4 pts since 2016

From bottom 28% (2016) to bottom 31% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Wisconsin Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 4Elementary Schools in the Rhinelander School District

292^nd of 432Rhinelander 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	40.6	712 of 1039	31.5%	★★☆☆☆
2025	43.3	678 of 1044	35.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	54.8	570 of 1061	46.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	58.0	483 of 1067	54.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	51.8	569 of 1067	46.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	37.3	728 of 1050	30.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	39.8	710 of 1037	31.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	34.7	758 of 1025	26.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	32.7	803 of 1071	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	35.3	778 of 1075	27.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	37.3	803 of 1076	25.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	41.8	742 of 1061	30.1%	★★☆☆☆
2013	37.3	789 of 1053	25.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	49.4	701 of 1045	32.9%	★★☆☆☆
2011	30.8	875 of 1046	16.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	34.9	813 of 1045	22.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	31.7	845 of 1030	18.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	40.9	761 of 1021	25.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	55.8	394 of 689	42.8%	★★☆☆☆
2006	50.9	448 of 712	37.1%	★★☆☆☆
2005	76.0	125 of 632	80.2%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	40.3	684 of 986	30.6%	★★☆☆☆
2025	31.9	762 of 1001	23.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	51.9	572 of 1011	43.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	61.5	402 of 1010	60.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	52.1	533 of 1017	47.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	33.2	737 of 1004	26.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	42.8	651 of 1002	35.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	38.8	691 of 997	30.7%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	43.6	514 of 848	39.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	50.1	434 of 870	50.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	57.2	353 of 866	59.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	67.5	205 of 871	76.5%	★★★★☆
2022	64.7	237 of 859	72.4%	★★★★☆
2021	44.3	495 of 847	41.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	35.8	623 of 874	28.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	34.1	642 of 854	24.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	38.0	700 of 989	29.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	51.3	542 of 1000	45.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	54.3	528 of 1012	47.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	53.7	518 of 1011	48.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	51.3	546 of 1017	46.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	42.5	649 of 1003	35.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	39.1	687 of 1002	31.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	33.8	759 of 997	23.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	30.1	591 of 802	26.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	28.5	594 of 790	24.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	41.2	442 of 770	42.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	38.7	456 of 748	39.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	28.6	557 of 746	25.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	48.7	335 of 742	54.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	34.7	485 of 721	32.7%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2024	48.3	404 of 727	44.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	54.4	330 of 715	53.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	22.2	616 of 718	14.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	21.1	604 of 686	12.0%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

White (2024)44th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)39th percentile+8 vs school

Female (2026)31st percentile~ school

Male (2026)29th percentile~ school

Special Education (2025)26th percentile-9 vs school

By subject vs Wisconsin (2025-2026) ?

Social Studies56%-10 vs state

Mathematics50%-3 vs state

Science44%-9 vs state

English Language Arts43%-10 vs state

★

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Schools Near Central 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 English Language Arts 6th Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 3rd Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 4th Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 5th Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 6th 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
Central Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	418 N Pelham St	Rhinelander	54501	Oneida County	Rhinelander School District	No	No	No	Yes	(715) 365-9600	269	26	10.4	61.7%	228 (84.8%)	5 (1.9%)	12 (4.5%)	1 (0.4%)	5 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (6.7%)	40.6	712^th of 1039 public elementary schools	31.5%		43.3	678^th of 1044 public elementary schools	35.1%	34	51.3	44.0	33.3		53.9	64.0	36.1		56.0	44.0	93%		$20,266	$555	$19,711
Crescent Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3319 Boyce Dr	Rhinelander	54501	Oneida County	Rhinelander School District	No	No	No	Yes	(715) 365-9132	384	36	10.7	52.9%	338 (88.0%)	2 (0.5%)	16 (4.2%)	1 (0.3%)	9 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (4.7%)	35.5	758^th of 1039 public elementary schools	27.0%		34.2	778^th of 1044 public elementary schools	25.5%	20	41.1	51.9	45.3		32.1	37.0	43.4		55.6	48.2	84%		$18,695	$814	$17,881
Pelican Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3350 V Hickey Rd	Rhinelander	54501	Oneida County	Rhinelander School District	No	No	No	Yes	(715) 365-9160	263	26	10.0	49.0%	240 (91.3%)	2 (0.8%)	4 (1.5%)	2 (0.8%)	3 (1.1%)	1 (0.4%)	11 (4.2%)	50.7	582^nd of 1039 public elementary schools	44.0%		42.3	693^rd of 1044 public elementary schools	33.6%	111	41.9	64.9	44.1		46.5	62.2	41.2		67.6	59.5	93%		$19,596	$660	$18,937
Sugar Camp Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	4066 Camp Four Rd	Rhinelander	54501	Oneida County	Three Lakes School District	No	No	No	Yes	(715) 272-1105	111	11	10.2	22.5%	106 (95.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (4.5%)	77.9	201^st of 1039 public elementary schools	80.7%		65.2	381^st of 1044 public elementary schools	63.5%	180	70.0	90.5	52.6	53.9	70.0	85.7	47.4	84.6	85.7	81.0	73%		$24,755	$635	$24,120
Northwoods Community Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	9086 County Road K	Harshaw	54529	Oneida County	Rhinelander School District	No	No	No	No	(715) 282-8200	97	11	9.2	24.7%	93 (95.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (4.1%)	70.5	304^th of 1039 public elementary schools	70.7%		79.6	166^th of 1044 public elementary schools	84.1%	138	75.0	58.8	60.0		70.0	70.6	60.0		70.6	52.9			$19,632	$247	$19,385
Three Lakes Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	6930 W School St	Three Lakes	54562	Oneida County	Three Lakes School District	No	No	No	Yes	(715) 546-3323	160	11	14.4	41.9%	155 (96.9%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.3%)	1 (0.6%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.6%)	77.1	211^th of 1039 public elementary schools	79.7%		77.6	199^th of 1044 public elementary schools	80.9%	12	73.3	95.2	57.7	62.5	46.7	81.0	50.0	75.0	95.2	90.5	80%		$23,298	$899	$22,399
Elcho Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	N11268 Antigo St	Elcho	54428	Langlade County	Elcho School District	No	No	No	Yes	(715) 275-3707	127	11	11.5	49.6%	114 (89.8%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (3.9%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (2.4%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (3.9%)	68.9	330^th of 1039 public elementary schools	68.2%		42.9	685^th of 1044 public elementary schools	34.4%	355	53.9	78.6	58.8		61.5	71.4	35.3		85.7	78.6	82%		$16,173	$457	$15,717
Tomahawk Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1048 E Kings Rd	Tomahawk	54487	Lincoln County	Tomahawk School District	No	No	No	Yes	(715) 453-2126	512	43	11.9	53.1%	470 (91.8%)	2 (0.4%)	17 (3.3%)	1 (0.2%)	4 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (3.5%)	45.4	657^th of 1039 public elementary schools	36.8%		59.8	462^nd of 1044 public elementary schools	55.7%	195	36.4	54.1	68.9		43.4	43.2	67.2		55.4	41.9	94%		$16,280	$1,059	$15,221
Northland Pines Elementary-St Germain	Public	PK, KG-4	8234 Highway 70 W	Saint Germain	54558	Vilas County	Northland Pines School District	No	No	No	Yes	(715) 542-3632	87	7	12.6	46.0%	73 (83.9%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (10.3%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (3.4%)	73.3	263^rd of 1039 public elementary schools	74.7%		38.2	746^th of 1044 public elementary schools	28.5%	483	50.0	69.2			62.5	53.9			84.6	84.6	85%		$19,408	$485	$18,922
Northland Pines Montessori Learning Center (NPMLC)	Public, Charter	PK, KG-4	8234 Highway 70 W	Saint Germain	54558	Vilas County	Northland Pines School District	Yes	No	No	No	(715) 542-2632	69	4	15.4	23.2%	66 (95.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (2.9%)	89.2	46^th of 1039 public elementary schools	95.6%		87.1	59^th of 1044 public elementary schools	94.3%	13	81.8	70.0			90.9	70.0			100.0	80.0	83%		$15,147	$485	$14,661

Frequently Asked Questions about Central Elementary

How many students attend Central Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 269 students attended Central Elementary.

Is Central Elementary a good school?

Central Elementary ranks 712^th of 1039 Wisconsin elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Central Elementary?

Students at Central Elementary are 85% White, 7% Two or more races, 4% Hispanic, 2% African American, 2% American Indian.

What schools do graduates of Central Elementary attend?

Students who attend Central Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : James Williams Middle
High : Rhinelander High

What district is Central Elementary in?

Rhinelander 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.