Summary:
ZIP code 54494 contains eight schools, all in the Wisconsin Rapids School District — six elementary schools and two high schools, with Central Oaks Academy serving grades PK–8 — enrolling about 2,959 students combined. The district as a whole ranks 316th of 432 in Wisconsin (27th percentile, 1 star), but that single label hides wide differences among its schools, which range from 4-star Grant Elementary to 0-star River Cities High.
Grant Elementary is the standout, ranking 195th of 1,039 elementary schools (81st percentile, 4 stars), with 3rd-grade ELA at 80.56% and 5th-grade math at 83.78%, both far above state levels. It also has the lowest free/reduced lunch rate (26.59%) and climbed from 449th to 195th over three years. Washington Elementary (66th percentile, 3 stars) has the group's lowest chronic absenteeism at 6.4%, versus 18.4% district-wide and 17.3% statewide, plus strong social studies results. Howe Elementary reaches the 56th percentile with 3 stars despite a 66.07% free/reduced lunch rate. Lincoln High posts a 94.2% graduation rate and a 0.6% dropout rate, both better than district and state, though its 22.7% chronic absenteeism and 33.68% ACT ELA proficiency lag.
River Cities High ranks 488th of 533 high schools (8th percentile, 0 stars), with 36.8% chronic absenteeism, a 6.1% dropout rate, and ACT science proficiency at just 9.52%. Central Oaks Academy (88 students, 23rd percentile, 1 star) shows highly uneven results, including 0% in 5th-grade math. Grove Elementary spends the most per student ($19,866) and has the smallest classes (9.6 students per teacher) yet ranks 26th percentile with 1 star. Several schools enroll fewer than 100 students, so year-to-year percentages can swing widely; parents should weigh each school individually rather than relying on the district rating alone.
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