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South Mountain Elementary

Q: Is South Mountain Elementary a good school?

South Mountain Elementary ranks 248 th of 1039 Wisconsin elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

248^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,039 Wisconsin Elementary Schools

Better than 76% of Wisconsin elementary schools

Summary

South Mountain Elementary is a K–5 school at 224700 Bittersweet Rd in Wausau, Wisconsin, serving 235 students as part of the Wausau School District.

In 2025–2026, South Mountain Elementary ranked 248th of 1,039 Wisconsin elementary schools — 76th percentile, 4 stars. That is well above the Wausau School District's 44th percentile, 2-star profile, and the school is the top-ranked of the nearby Wausau elementaries listed here, ahead of Rib Mountain Elementary (71st percentile), Stettin Elementary (68th), Thomas Jefferson Elementary (35th) and Franklin Elementary (25th). Even so, it is a step down from the 92nd percentile in 2024–2025, 90th in 2023–2024 and 93rd in 2022–2023 — the lowest rank since 2016–2017. Third grade is the standout: 80% proficient in English language arts and 82.86% in math, well above district and state. Fourth grade ELA is 67.65%, fifth grade ELA 76.92%, social studies 73.53% and science 58.82%, all above district and state averages. Chronic absenteeism is 8.0%, far better than the district's 15.2% and the state's 17.3%, though Rib Mountain Elementary (6.3%), Evergreen Elementary (5.9%) and Rothschild Elementary (4.5%) are lower. About 20.85% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch — the lowest among nearby schools — and spending is $17,005 per student with a student/teacher ratio of 11.5.

The clearest academic concern is fourth grade math: 47.06% proficient is above the district's 40.71% but below the state's 52.87% and below nearby Rib Mountain Elementary (70.59%), Evergreen Elementary (64.38%), Weston Elementary (62.2%) and Stettin Elementary (58.82%), and it is a sharp drop from 66.67% a year earlier. Subgroup results also weakened: low-income students fell from the 93rd to the 61st percentile, and female students from the 92nd to the 70th. Notably, Stettin Elementary posts stronger fifth grade results (83.33% ELA, 86.36% math) despite much higher poverty and lower spending, so resources alone do not explain outcomes. South Mountain Elementary is still a 4-star, above-average school that outperforms its district, but its latest data show it is no longer performing at the elite level it sustained through 2024–2025.

235

Students ?

11.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$17,005

Per pupil spending ?

20.9%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

88%

Kindergartners meeting all minimum immunization requirements (2025-26)

224700 Bittersweet Rd
Wausau, WI 54401

(715) 261-0235

District: Wausau School District

Students who attend South Mountain Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	John Muir Middle
High:	West High

Racial breakdown:

White:

80.4%

Asian:

13.2%

Two or more races:

5.1%

See top rated Wisconsin elementary schools

Compare South Mountain Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 82nd percentile in 2016 → 76th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Wisconsin average (68% vs 55% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 24% of Wisconsin elementary schools

✓Among the top-ranked schools in Wausau School District

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 6 percentile points since 2016

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school68%

District avg51%

Wisconsin avg55%

248^th of 1,039

Wisconsin public elementary schools ?

Top 24%▼ down 6 pts since 2016

From top 18% (2016) to top 24% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Wisconsin Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 10Elementary Schools in the Wausau School District

241^st of 432Wausau 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	74.4	248 of 1039	76.1%	★★★★☆
2025	85.5	87 of 1044	91.7%	★★★★★
2024	83.9	106 of 1061	90.0%	★★★★★
2023	87.5	71 of 1067	93.3%	★★★★★
2022	81.2	149 of 1067	86.0%	★★★★☆
2021	79.7	156 of 1050	85.1%	★★★★☆
2019	79.3	160 of 1037	84.6%	★★★★☆
2018	77.1	182 of 1025	82.2%	★★★★☆
2017	73.8	241 of 1071	77.5%	★★★★☆
2016	77.2	190 of 1075	82.3%	★★★★☆
2015	81.5	107 of 1076	90.1%	★★★★★
2014	83.0	91 of 1061	91.4%	★★★★★
2013	64.4	353 of 1053	66.5%	★★★☆☆
2012	79.9	76 of 1045	92.7%	★★★★★
2011	77.5	135 of 1046	87.1%	★★★★☆
2010	73.5	210 of 1045	79.9%	★★★★☆
2009	76.7	154 of 1030	85.0%	★★★★☆
2008	76.3	157 of 1021	84.6%	★★★★☆
2005	81.7	61 of 632	90.3%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	68.7	296 of 986	70.0%	★★★★☆
2025	84.3	85 of 1001	91.5%	★★★★★
2024	85.5	69 of 1011	93.2%	★★★★★
2023	85.9	75 of 1010	92.6%	★★★★★
2022	82.6	111 of 1017	89.1%	★★★★☆
2021	75.9	187 of 1004	81.4%	★★★★☆
2019	85.8	62 of 1002	93.8%	★★★★★
2018	77.9	163 of 997	83.7%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	57.4	332 of 848	60.8%	★★★☆☆
2025	83.4	60 of 870	93.1%	★★★★★
2024	87.8	35 of 866	96.0%	★★★★★
2023	79.4	78 of 871	91.0%	★★★★★
2022	69.3	174 of 859	79.7%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	78.9	157 of 989	84.1%	★★★★☆
2025	82.9	109 of 1000	89.1%	★★★★☆
2024	78.0	176 of 1012	82.6%	★★★★☆
2023	83.8	101 of 1011	90.0%	★★★★★
2022	76.5	188 of 1017	81.5%	★★★★☆
2021	80.1	129 of 1003	87.1%	★★★★☆
2019	68.6	276 of 1002	72.5%	★★★★☆
2018	74.7	189 of 997	81.0%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	55.4	311 of 697	55.4%	★★★☆☆
2025	76.8	132 of 718	81.6%	★★★★☆
2024	79.6	103 of 727	85.8%	★★★★☆
2023	86.6	45 of 715	93.7%	★★★★★
2022	66.7	202 of 704	71.3%	★★★★☆
2021	85.5	53 of 699	92.4%	★★★★★
2019	70.6	168 of 718	76.6%	★★★★☆
2018	82.8	73 of 686	89.4%	★★★★☆

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)

Male (2026)84th percentile+8 vs school

Female (2026)70th percentile-6 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)61st percentile-15 vs school

White (2026)55th percentile-21 vs school

By subject vs Wisconsin (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts75%+22 vs state

Social Studies74%+8 vs state

Mathematics63%+10 vs state

Science59%+5 vs state

★

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Schools Near South Mountain 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
South Mountain Elementary	Public	K-5	224700 Bittersweet Rd	Wausau	54401	Marathon County	Wausau School District	No	No	No	No	(715) 261-0235	235	20	11.5	20.9%	189 (80.4%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.3%)	31 (13.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (5.1%)	74.4	248^th of 1039 public elementary schools	76.1%		85.5	87^th of 1044 public elementary schools	91.7%	161	80.0	67.7	76.9	82.9	47.1	60.0	73.5	58.8	88%		$17,005	$630	$16,375
Rib Mountain Elementary	Public	K-5	150801 Robin Lane	Wausau	54401	Marathon County	Wausau School District	No	No	No	No	(715) 261-0220	194	16	12.3	25.8%	142 (73.2%)	2 (1.0%)	8 (4.1%)	34 (17.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (4.1%)	70.6	300^th of 1039 public elementary schools	71.1%		71.2	295^th of 1044 public elementary schools	71.7%	5	71.0	64.7	50.0	80.7	70.6	57.7	64.7	64.7			$17,242	$641	$16,601
Rothschild Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	810 1st St	Rothschild	54474	Marathon County	D C Everest Area School District	No	No	No	Yes	(715) 359-3186	408	30	13.8	40.9%	276 (67.6%)	9 (2.2%)	20 (4.9%)	74 (18.1%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	27 (6.6%)	58.2	475^th of 1039 public elementary schools	54.3%		58.2	486^th of 1044 public elementary schools	53.4%	11	72.0	50.9	64.3	78.0	49.1	61.4	51.8	37.5	87%		$14,298	$667	$13,632
G D Jones Elementary	Public	K-5	1018 S 12th Ave	Wausau	54401	Marathon County	Wausau School District	No	No	No	Yes	(715) 261-0950	492	36	13.5	52.6%	250 (50.8%)	6 (1.2%)	28 (5.7%)	153 (31.1%)	6 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	49 (10.0%)	18.8	877^th of 1039 public elementary schools	15.6%		24.1	845^th of 1044 public elementary schools	19.1%	32	34.6	33.3	31.3	37.2	23.5	21.3	49.4	34.6			$14,488	$1,066	$13,422
John Marshall Elementary	Public	K-5	1918 Lamont St	Wausau	54403	Marathon County	Wausau School District	No	No	No	Yes	(715) 261-0060	231	19	11.9	58.9%	129 (55.8%)	14 (6.1%)	24 (10.4%)	42 (18.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (9.5%)	26.1	827^th of 1039 public elementary schools	20.4%		29.9	811^th of 1044 public elementary schools	22.3%	16	33.3	27.8	60.4	31.1	20.0	54.2	40.0	30.9	79%		$15,618	$1,101	$14,517
Stettin Elementary	Public	K-5	109 N 56th Ave	Wausau	54401	Marathon County	Wausau School District	No	No	No	No	(715) 261-0205	327	17	18.8	37.9%	224 (68.5%)	7 (2.1%)	28 (8.6%)	44 (13.5%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (6.7%)	68.6	334^th of 1039 public elementary schools	67.9%		80.6	151^st of 1044 public elementary schools	85.5%	183	35.3	68.6	83.3	43.1	58.8	86.4	76.5	64.7	93%		$11,703	$549	$11,153
Evergreen Elementary	Public	K-5	1610 Pine Rd	Rothschild	54474	Marathon County	D C Everest Area School District	No	No	No	No	(715) 359-6591	450	32	14.2	28.7%	333 (74.0%)	4 (0.9%)	20 (4.4%)	69 (15.3%)	3 (0.7%)	2 (0.4%)	19 (4.2%)	64.9	388^th of 1039 public elementary schools	62.7%		60.4	453^rd of 1044 public elementary schools	56.6%	65	60.3	54.8	53.7	67.1	64.4	61.2	67.1	63.0	90%		$13,302	$133	$13,169
Franklin Elementary	Public	K-5	1509 N 5th St	Wausau	54403	Marathon County	Wausau School District	No	No	No	Yes	(715) 261-0000	181	17	10.4	69.1%	88 (48.6%)	5 (2.8%)	19 (10.5%)	51 (28.2%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (9.4%)	32.4	782^nd of 1039 public elementary schools	24.7%		32.6	787^th of 1044 public elementary schools	24.6%	5	40.5	41.3	44.9	37.2	28.3	38.8	65.2	41.3	83%		$18,053	$1,623	$16,430
Odyssey Elementary	Public	K-5	4704 Camp Phillips Rd	Weston	54476	Marathon County	D C Everest Area School District	No	No	No	No	(715) 359-4221	64	5	11.7	23.4%	53 (82.8%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (6.3%)	4 (6.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (4.7%)	63.5	399^th of 1039 public elementary schools	61.6%		42.3	691^st of 1044 public elementary schools	33.8%	292	62.5	72.7	61.5	62.5	36.4	38.5	81.8	72.7	90%		$15,713	$133	$15,580
Weston Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	5200 Camp Phillips Rd	Weston	54476	Marathon County	D C Everest Area School District	No	No	No	Yes	(715) 359-4181	519	37	13.9	58.0%	289 (55.7%)	14 (2.7%)	57 (11.0%)	134 (25.8%)	4 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (4.0%)	49.8	595^th of 1039 public elementary schools	42.7%		53	552^nd of 1044 public elementary schools	47.1%	43	41.4	35.4	50.7	55.2	62.2	71.8	63.4	48.8	90%		$14,358	$826	$13,532

Frequently Asked Questions about South Mountain Elementary

What is the racial makeup of South Mountain Elementary?

Students at South Mountain Elementary are 80% White, 13% Asian, 5% Two or more races, 1% Hispanic.

How many students attend South Mountain Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 235 students attended South Mountain Elementary.

What district is South Mountain Elementary in?

Wausau School District

What schools do graduates of South Mountain Elementary attend?

Students who attend South Mountain Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : John Muir Middle
High : West High

Is South Mountain Elementary a good school?

South Mountain Elementary ranks 248^th of 1039 Wisconsin elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Rate South Mountain Elementary!

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Latest Wisconsin data All new data »

2018–19 through 2025–26 immunization rates (updated)NewOct 20, 2026

2016–17 through 2017–18 immunization rates (updated)NewOct 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.