Best Public Schools in Zip Code 54732

ZIP code 54732 in Cornell, Wisconsin, contains three public schools serving 392 students in total: Cornell Elementary (PK–5, 209 students), Cornell Middle (6–8, 83 students), and Cornell High (9–12, 100 students). All three belong to the Cornell School District, which ranks 172 of 432 in Wisconsin — the 60th percentile, or 3 stars. With only three schools and small grade-level cohorts, the district-wide numbers hide very different experiences from building to building.

Cornell Elementary is the clear standout and one of the top elementary schools in the state. It ranks in the 97th percentile with 5 stars for two years running (35 of 1,039 in 2025–2026), and its 4th graders posted 100% proficiency in math and social studies and 96.15% in science, with 0.0% chronic absenteeism. Cornell Middle is the opposite story: 37th percentile, 2 stars, and weak 8th grade results — 13.04% in math versus 53.67% statewide, 26.09% in science versus 51.86%, and 43.48% in social studies versus 64.63%. Its free/reduced lunch rate, 63.86%, is far above Cornell Elementary's 1.44% and Cornell High's 3%.

Cornell High is improving, moving from the 33rd to the 54th percentile and from 2 to 3 stars, with a 100% graduation rate and a 0.0% dropout rate. Its math ACT score of 31.82% is below the state's 42.93%, while ELA ACT, science ACT, and social studies are at or above state averages. All three schools keep chronic absenteeism well under the state's 17.3% (0.0%, 2.5%, and 6.5%). Notably, spending and results do not move together: Cornell Elementary spends the least per student at $13,867 and performs best, while Cornell Middle spends the most at $15,201 and performs weakest.