Best Public Schools in Zip Code 54848

ZIP code 54848 (Ladysmith, Wisconsin) is served by three public schools in the Ladysmith School District: Ladysmith Elementary (PK–5, 328 students), Ladysmith Middle (6–8, 144 students), and Ladysmith High (9–12, 255 students), totaling 727 students.

Although the district overall is rated 1 star (16th percentile), that single rating hides large differences between schools. Ladysmith Middle is the academic standout at 3 stars and 50th percentile in 2025–26, with 7th grade math at 65% proficient and 8th grade math at 67.5% — both above the state. It also has the lowest student-teacher ratio (9.7) and the highest per-student spending ($17,793). Ladysmith Elementary has the best attendance, with chronic absenteeism of 8.9% versus the state's 17.3%, and its scores improved year over year, but every subject and grade shown remains below state — 4th grade math is just 22.22% proficient against 52.87% statewide. Ladysmith High has the weakest results: 1 star and 23rd percentile in 2025–26, down from 2 stars in 2023–24, with all tested areas below state and math ACT at 24.14% versus 42.93%.

For parents, the key point is that each grade span has only one school, so the district's rating reflects these three schools directly. Attendance is a genuine district-wide strength, with all three schools below the state rate. Grade-level patterns point to specific needs — strong middle school math, very weak 4th grade math, and weak high school math and social studies — making it worth asking how math and social studies skills carry from elementary through middle school into high school.