Summary:
The 53561 zip code is home to a single standout elementary school, Merrimac Community, which serves grades PK-5 and is part of the Sauk Prairie School District. Merrimac Community has consistently high performance on the Forward Exam, with students scoring significantly above the district and state averages in both English Language Arts and Mathematics across multiple grade levels. The school's 4th grade students achieved particularly impressive results, with 93.75% proficient or better in both Mathematics and Social Studies, far exceeding the district and state averages.
Merrimac Community's 5th grade students also performed exceptionally well, with 82.35% proficient or better in both English Language Arts and Mathematics. The school's statewide ranking has improved over the past few years, moving from 276th out of 1,067 Wisconsin elementary schools in 2022-2023 to 52nd out of 1,044 in 2024-2025, earning a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger. Despite having a relatively high free/reduced lunch rate of 35.71%, indicating a significant population of economically disadvantaged students, Merrimac Community is able to achieve these exceptional academic results, suggesting effective strategies for supporting and empowering these students.
The school's higher-than-average spending per student and lower student-teacher ratio of 12.6 may contribute to its success, as these factors can enable more personalized attention and targeted interventions for students. Overall, Merrimac Community stands out as a high-performing school within the Sauk Prairie School District and the state of Wisconsin, with a strong focus on academic excellence and a commitment to supporting students from diverse backgrounds.
Thank you for your feedback!