Best Public Schools in Zip Code 53817

ZIP code 53817 is Patch Grove, Wisconsin, with three public schools—River Ridge Elementary (PK–4, 190 students), River Ridge Middle (5–8, 124 students), and River Ridge High (9–12, 167 students)—all in River Ridge School District, serving 481 students. The district ranks 168th of 432 in Wisconsin, in the 61st percentile with 3 stars, but that single rank hides wide variation among the three schools. Because River Ridge operates one school per grade span, school and district test scores are identical for each listed grade and subject, so state comparisons are the more useful benchmark.

River Ridge Middle is the academic standout: it ranked 69th of 643 (89th percentile, 4 stars) in 2025–26, after 106th of 628 (83rd percentile, 4 stars) in 2024–25 and 34th of 641 (95th percentile, 5 stars) in 2023–24. Its middle-school math is exceptionally strong—grades 5–8 range from 74.07% to 80% proficient vs state 51.81% to 55.67%—and grades 6–8 ELA is above state. River Ridge High improved from the 47th percentile and 2 stars in 2023–24 to the 59th percentile and 3 stars in 2025–26, with a 100.0% graduation rate and 0.0% dropout rate, though its ACT ELA fell below state and math ACT dropped from 57.58% to 43.18%. River Ridge Elementary is the caution flag, falling from the 73rd percentile and 4 stars in 2023–24 to the 41st percentile and 2 stars in 2025–26, with 3rd grade ELA at 35.71% and 3rd grade math at 42.86%, both below state.

Chronic absenteeism is a district-wide strength: Elementary is at 5.5%, Middle at 5.0%, and High at 6.2%, all below Wisconsin’s 17.3%. Social studies is a bright spot—Elementary 4th grade at 71.43% vs state 65.51%, Middle 8th grade at 82.86% vs state 64.63%, and High 10th grade at 57.89% vs state 48.25%. Math and ELA are uneven: Middle math is exceptional, High math is near state average, and Elementary math is mixed. Middle’s 5th grade ELA is a weakness at 32.35% vs state 53.63%, down from 48%. Middle is the standout, High has strong completion and attendance outcomes, and Elementary needs attention.