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West Salem High

Q: Is West Salem High a good school?

West Salem High ranks 83 rd of 533 Wisconsin high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

83^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 533 Wisconsin High Schools

Better than 84% of Wisconsin high schools

Summary

West Salem High is a 9–12 school serving 603 students in West Salem, Wisconsin, part of the West Salem School District. Its 2025–26 SchoolDigger rank is 83rd of 533 high schools (84th percentile, 4 stars), placing it in the top 16% of Wisconsin high schools — a dramatic rebound from the 45th percentile in 2024–25 and the 56th in 2023–24.

Test results for 10th graders are strong: 63.38% were proficient in English Language Arts (state: 48.47%), 59.86% in math (state: 42.93%), 54.93% in science (state: 43.2%), and 51.85% in social studies (state: 48.25%). Among nearby schools, West Salem sits in the top tier but is not always first: Onalaska High is slightly higher overall and in ELA and social studies, while Holmen High edges it in science. Galesville-Ettrick-Trempealeau High trails in all four subjects, and Bangor Middle/High scores higher in social studies but much lower in math and ELA. Sparta High, Logan High, and Central High generally trail West Salem on most 10th-grade measures. The West Salem School District also ranks at the 81st percentile — the highest among nearby districts.

Outcomes are strong: a 98.2% graduation rate (state: 92.0%), a 0.0% dropout rate (state: 1.1%), and 8.9% chronic absenteeism (state: 17.3%), though absenteeism rose from 4.7% in 2023–24 and is above the district’s 5.1%. About 18.57% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch — the lowest among nearby schools — with per-pupil spending of $16,915 and a 13.7 student-teacher ratio. One gap stands out: effectiveness for students with disabilities ranks in the 18th percentile, far below the school’s overall 84th percentile, while effectiveness for low-income students jumped to the 78th percentile in 2025–26.

603

Students ?

13.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,915

Per pupil spending ?

18.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

490 N Mark St
West Salem, WI 54669-1224

(608) 786-1220

District: West Salem School District

Feeder schools for West Salem High:

Elementary:	West Salem Elementary
Middle:	West Salem Middle

Racial breakdown:

White:

86.7%

Not Specified:

6.0%

Two or more races:

3.3%

See top rated Wisconsin high schools

Compare West Salem High to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 64th percentile in 2016 → 84th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Wisconsin average (58% vs 46% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 16% of Wisconsin high schools

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

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school58%

District avg58%

Wisconsin avg46%

83^rd of 533

Wisconsin public high schools ?

Top 16%▲ up 20 pts since 2016

From top 36% (2016) to top 16% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Wisconsin High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

84^th of 432West Salem 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	77.6	83 of 533	84.4%	★★★★☆
2025	48.6	235 of 431	45.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	54.9	189 of 431	56.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	58.8	158 of 415	61.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	66.3	113 of 391	71.1%	★★★★☆
2021	69.4	94 of 390	75.9%	★★★★☆
2019	66.3	108 of 400	73.0%	★★★★☆
2018	75.1	71 of 410	82.7%	★★★★☆
2017	64.3	121 of 410	70.5%	★★★★☆
2016	59.5	146 of 408	64.2%	★★★☆☆
2015	73.1	85 of 466	81.8%	★★★★☆
2014	73.2	105 of 462	77.3%	★★★★☆
2013	52.9	266 of 457	41.8%	★★☆☆☆
2012	76.0	68 of 452	85.0%	★★★★☆
2011	46.9	331 of 445	25.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	67.1	158 of 450	64.9%	★★★☆☆
2009	75.4	73 of 438	83.3%	★★★★☆
2008	62.6	184 of 437	57.9%	★★★☆☆
2006	66.5	113 of 292	61.3%	★★★☆☆
2005	77.3	48 of 287	83.3%	★★★★☆
2004	64.1	114 of 275	58.5%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	80.0	64 of 461	86.1%	★★★★☆
2025	49.6	197 of 358	45.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	40.7	234 of 353	33.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	56.5	141 of 329	57.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	76.1	56 of 343	83.7%	★★★★☆
2021	74.3	70 of 332	78.9%	★★★★☆
2019	50.7	171 of 343	50.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	64.1	109 of 355	69.3%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	69.6	99 of 446	77.8%	★★★★☆
2024	36.4	223 of 326	31.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	32.5	206 of 271	24.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	65.3	51 of 250	79.6%	★★★★☆
2018	74.0	39 of 255	84.7%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	73.3	95 of 462	79.4%	★★★★☆
2025	48.2	199 of 380	47.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	63.0	118 of 365	67.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	60.1	119 of 359	66.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	52.4	151 of 347	56.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	53.8	143 of 334	57.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	73.3	74 of 354	79.1%	★★★★☆
2018	76.9	62 of 373	83.4%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	23.2	272 of 333	18.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	51.0	42 of 95	55.8%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	68.3	90 of 344	73.8%	★★★★☆
2025	29.5	222 of 285	22.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	43.2	171 of 300	43.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	49.6	128 of 271	52.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	53.8	107 of 269	60.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	61.1	82 of 266	69.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	56.2	97 of 266	63.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	68.8	66 of 261	74.7%	★★★★☆

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)

Female (2026)86th percentile~ school

Male (2026)79th percentile-5 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)78th percentile-7 vs school

White (2026)74th percentile-11 vs school

Special Education (2026)18th percentile-66 vs school

By subject vs Wisconsin (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts63%+15 vs state

Mathematics60%+17 vs state

Science55%+12 vs state

Social Studies52%+4 vs state

★

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Schools Near West Salem 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/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	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
West Salem High	Public	9-12	490 N Mark St	West Salem	54669	La Crosse County	West Salem School District	No	No	No	No	(608) 786-1220	603	44	13.7	18.6%	523 (86.7%)	3 (0.5%)	15 (2.5%)	6 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (3.3%)	77.6	83^rd of 533 public high schools	84.4%		48.6	235^th of 431 public high schools	45.5%	152	63.4	59.9	54.9								51.9		$16,915	$374	$16,541
Bangor Middle/High	Public	6-12	700 10th Ave S	Bangor	54614	La Crosse County	Bangor School District	No	No	No	No	(608) 486-2331	352	28	12.4	31.5%	315 (89.5%)	1 (0.3%)	18 (5.1%)	9 (2.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.3%)	67	166^th of 533 public high schools	68.9%		26.6	346^th of 431 public high schools	19.7%	180	53.2	36.2	53.2	47.1	52.4	59.5	58.8	61.9	67.6	73.0	62.0	54.1	$15,544	$587	$14,957
Onalaska High	Public	9-12	700 Wilson St	Onalaska	54650	La Crosse County	Onalaska School District	No	No	No	No	(608) 783-4561	925	67	13.8	27.0%	646 (69.8%)	20 (2.2%)	58 (6.3%)	126 (13.6%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	66 (7.1%)	78.6	78^th of 533 public high schools	85.4%		72.9	90^th of 431 public high schools	79.1%	12	64.2	59.5	53.0								55.8		$15,489	$502	$14,987
Logan High	Public	9-12	1500 Ranger Dr	La Crosse	54603	La Crosse County	La Crosse School District	No	No	No	No	(608) 789-7700	729	64	11.4	49.5%	453 (62.1%)	55 (7.5%)	46 (6.3%)	85 (11.7%)	5 (0.7%)	1 (0.1%)	74 (10.2%)	56	248^th of 533 public high schools	53.5%		49.3	224^th of 431 public high schools	48.0%	24	52.6	38.0	44.5								47.2		$19,631	$336	$19,295
Central High	Public	9-12	1801 Losey Blvd S	La Crosse	54601	La Crosse County	La Crosse School District	No	No	No	No	(608) 789-7900	969	75	12.9	39.1%	659 (68.0%)	48 (5.0%)	50 (5.2%)	83 (8.6%)	7 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	118 (12.2%)	54.9	257^th of 533 public high schools	51.8%		47.6	241^st of 431 public high schools	44.1%	16	46.8	38.8	42.9								51.0		$17,892	$381	$17,511
La Crosse Polytechnic School	Public, Charter	6-12	228 5th Avenue South	La Crosse	54601	La Crosse County	La Crosse School District	Yes	No	No	No	(608) 789-5900	86	5	17.2	31.4%	72 (83.7%)	2 (2.3%)	4 (4.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (4.7%)	12.7	469^th of 533 public high schools	12.0%		46.2	247^th of 431 public high schools	42.7%	222	33.3	16.7	16.7	66.7	76.9	76.2	44.4	69.2	61.9	85.7	12.5	76.2	$23,816	$6,407	$17,409
Holmen High	Public	9-12	1001 McHugh Rd	Holmen	54636	La Crosse County	Holmen School District	No	No	No	No	(608) 526-3372	1,242	85	14.6	24.6%	1,027 (82.7%)	9 (0.7%)	33 (2.7%)	128 (10.3%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	43 (3.5%)	73.4	114^th of 533 public high schools	78.6%		75.2	79^th of 431 public high schools	81.7%	35	57.9	53.1	56.2								51.6		$14,944	$255	$14,689
Melrose-Mindoro Junior/Senior High	Public	7-12	N181 State Road 108	Melrose	54642	Jackson County	Melrose-Mindoro School District	No	No	No	No	(608) 488-2201	327	27	12.0	32.7%	307 (93.9%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (2.8%)	6 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	4 (1.2%)	41.9	336^th of 533 public high schools	37.0%		38.2	296^th of 431 public high schools	31.3%	40	40.0	32.7	38.2		48.3	50.0		48.3	54.2	62.5	43.8	47.9	$15,900	$416	$15,484
Sparta High	Public	9-12	506 N Black River St	Sparta	54656	Monroe County	Sparta Area School District	No	No	No	No	(608) 366-3504	871	59	14.8	40.8%	644 (73.9%)	17 (2.0%)	168 (19.3%)	4 (0.5%)	2 (0.2%)	4 (0.5%)	32 (3.7%)	35.5	372^nd of 533 public high schools	30.2%		38.3	295^th of 431 public high schools	31.6%	77	35.9	35.9	34.9								35.1		$13,319	$557	$12,762
Sparta Alternative Independent Learning School	Public, Charter	9-12	900 East Montgomery St	Sparta	54656	Monroe County	Sparta Area School District	Yes	No	No	Yes	(608) 366-3400	56	2	27.7	69.6%	41 (73.2%)	1 (1.8%)	11 (19.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (3.6%)	5.2	501^st of 533 public high schools	6.0%					(n/a)	0.0	16.7	0.0										$9,505	$889	$8,615

Frequently Asked Questions about West Salem High

Is West Salem High a good school?

West Salem High ranks 83^rd of 533 Wisconsin high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What district is West Salem High in?

West Salem School District

What schools feed into West Salem High?

West Salem High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : West Salem Elementary
Middle : West Salem Middle

How many students attend West Salem High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 603 students attended West Salem High.

What is the racial makeup of West Salem High?

Students at West Salem High are 87% White, 6% Not Specified, 3% Two or more races, 2% Hispanic.

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Latest Wisconsin data All new data »

2025–26 ACT & Forward Exam scoresNewOct 1, 2026

2021–22 through 2024–25 school spending dataJul 16, 2026

2024–25 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesMar 5, 2026

2024–25 ACT & Forward Exam scoresSep 25, 2025

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.