Crescent Elementary

Crescent Elementary is a PK–5 school in Rhinelander, WI, serving 384 students as part of the Rhinelander School District in Wisconsin’s Northwoods. In 2025–2026, it ranked 758th of 1,039 elementary schools statewide — 27th percentile, 1 star — and its recent history has stayed between the 24th and 33rd percentile. The district itself ranks 292nd of 432 districts. About 52.86% of students qualified for free or reduced lunch in 2024–2025, down from about 59% in the two prior years. Per-student spending was $18,695, with a 10.7 student-teacher ratio.

Academically, math is the clearest weakness. In 2025–2026, the school’s grade 3–5 math average was 37.5%, compared with 47.2% for the district and 53.1% statewide. That is the lowest math average among nearby schools such as Northwoods Community Elementary (66.9%), Three Lakes Elementary (59.2%), and Sugar Camp Elementary (67.7%). ELA averaged 46.1%, below the district’s 48.4% and the state’s 53.2%, though it has improved from about 32.0% in 2022–2023; 5th grade ELA was above the district but still below the state. Fourth-grade social studies (55.6%) and science (48.2%) were also below district and state norms. Attendance is a real strength: chronic absenteeism was 5.7% in 2024–2025, much better than the district’s 12.8% and the state’s 17.3%, and better than most nearby schools. Poverty is higher than at several higher-performing neighbors, but Central Elementary has a higher poverty rate and ranks slightly above the school, while Pelican Elementary has lower poverty and ranks at the 44th percentile, so demographics do not fully explain the results.

Resources appear moderate. The school spends $18,695 per student, less than several higher-performing nearby schools but more than Elcho Elementary and Tomahawk Elementary; its 10.7 student-teacher ratio is also middle-of-the-pack locally. Subgroup results for special education and low-SES students are low but close to the school’s overall percentile. Overall, the school has strong attendance and improving ELA, but math and overall proficiency remain the central challenges. Parents may want to ask about math interventions in grades 3 and 4, how the school supports students who are behind, and what specific plans are in place to raise proficiency.