La Crosse School District

Public school district · La Crosse County · Wisconsin · NCES district ID 5507530

La Crosse School District spent $15,989 per student on current operations in fiscal year 2022-23, more than 89% of the other Wisconsin districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 (median $13,856). Its 19 schools enrolled 5,717 students in 2024-25; 40.8% of its revenue came from the state. Census Bureau figures for 2023-24 put it at $19,797 per student, up 23.8% on the year before (U.S. $17,619 that year). Its four-year graduation rate for the class of 2023 was 91% (Wisconsin: 90.5%).

Spending per student among Wisconsin districts of similar size

Current spending per student excludes construction and debt. The 9 districts closest to La Crosse in enrollment (5,377 to 6,603 students) and La Crosse itself.

Current spending per student, Wisconsin districts closest in size to La Crosse, FY23La Crosse $15,989; Verona Area $15,445; Hudson $15,003; Fond du Lac $13,833; Howard-Suamico $13,626; West Bend $13,410; McFarland $12,862; D C Everest Area $12,829; Oak Creek-Franklin Joint $12,568; Neenah Joint $11,849; State median, 1,000+ students $13,856.10k12k14k16k18kLa Crosse$15,989Verona Area$15,445Hudson$15,003Fond du Lac$13,833Howard-Suamico$13,626West Bend$13,410McFarland$12,862D C Everest Area$12,829Oak Creek-Franklin Joint$12,568Neenah Joint$11,849State median, 1,000+ students $13,856
Current spending per student, Wisconsin districts closest in size to La Crosse, FY23La Crosse $15,989; Verona Area $15,445; Hudson $15,003; Fond du Lac $13,833; Howard-Suamico $13,626; West Bend $13,410; McFarland $12,862; D C Everest Area $12,829; Oak Creek-Franklin Joint $12,568; Neenah Joint $11,849; State median, 1,000+ students $13,856.10k12k14k16k18kLa Crosse$15,989Verona Area$15,445Hudson$15,003Fond du Lac$13,833Howard-Suamico$13,626West Bend$13,410McFarland$12,862D C Everest Area$12,829Oak Creek-Franklin Joint$12,568Neenah Joint$11,849State median, 1,000+ students $13,856
Current spending per student, Wisconsin districts closest in size to La Crosse, FY23La Crosse $15,989; Verona Area $15,445; Hudson $15,003; Fond du Lac $13,833; Howard-Suamico $13,626; West Bend $13,410; McFarland $12,862; D C Everest Area $12,829; Oak Creek-Franklin Joint $12,568; Neenah Joint $11,849; State median, 1,000+ students $13,856.10k14k18kLa Crosse$15,989Verona Area$15,445Hudson$15,003Fond du Lac$13,833Howard-Suamico$13,626West Bend$13,410McFarland$12,862D C Everest Area$12,829Oak Creek-Franklin Joint$12,568Neenah Joint$11,849State median, 1,000+ students $13,856
Current spending per student, Wisconsin districts closest in size to La Crosse, FY23La Crosse $15,989; Verona Area $15,445; Hudson $15,003; Fond du Lac $13,833; Howard-Suamico $13,626; West Bend $13,410; McFarland $12,862; D C Everest Area $12,829; Oak Creek-Franklin Joint $12,568; Neenah Joint $11,849; State median, 1,000+ students $13,856.10k14k18kLa Crosse$15,989Verona Area$15,445Hudson$15,003Fond du Lac$13,833Howard-Suamico$13,626West Bend$13,410McFarland$12,862D C Everest Area$12,829Oak Creek-Franklin Joint$12,568Neenah Joint$11,849State median, 1,000+ students $13,856

Where the money came from

$117,449,000 in revenue: 40.8% state, 46.5% local and 12.7% federal. Total spending including $4,199,000 of capital outlay was $109,545,000, or $18,282 per student; the figure above leaves capital out.

La Crosse School District revenue by source, fiscal year 2022-23State $47,924,000; Local $54,569,000; Federal $14,956,000; total $117,449,000.
  • State$47,924,000 41%
  • Local$54,569,000 46%
  • Federal$14,956,000 13%

Source: NCES F-33 school district finance survey, fiscal year 2022-23: current expenditures for elementary and secondary education divided by fall membership; the state median covers 190 districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022. Revenue by source (TOTALREV, TFEDREV, TSTREV, TLOCREV).

Enrollment fell from 2022-23 to 2024-25

5,992 students in 2022-23, 5,794 students in 2023-24, 5,717 students in 2024-25, counted across the schools that reported each year.

La Crosse School District enrollment by school year2022-23: 5,992, 2023-24: 5,794, 2024-25: 5,71702k4k6k2022-235,9922023-245,7942024-255,717
La Crosse School District enrollment by school year2022-23: 5,992, 2023-24: 5,794, 2024-25: 5,71702k4k6k2022-235,9922023-245,7942024-255,717
La Crosse School District enrollment by school year2022-23: 5,992, 2023-24: 5,794, 2024-25: 5,71702k4k6k2022-235,9922023-245,7942024-255,717
La Crosse School District enrollment by school year2022-23: 5,992, 2023-24: 5,794, 2024-25: 5,71702k4k6k2022-235,9922023-245,7942024-255,717

Teachers and students per teacher

School yearStudentsTeachers (FTE)Per teacher
2022-235,992538.511.1
2023-245,794542.210.7
2024-255,717509.511.2

Source: NCES Common Core of Data membership and staff files, 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25; sums over the schools reporting each year.

$37,450,000 in teacher salaries in fiscal year 2022-23, $6,250 per student

La Crosse School District booked $37,450,000 of teacher salaries in its 2022-23 finance report and counted 543 full-time teachers in its Common Core of Data district staff file for 2022-23 (the school files behind the staffing figures on this page count teachers separately, so the two can differ), or $69,011 of salary spending per teacher. That is more than 45 in 100 Wisconsin districts with a figure (state median $69,818, 412 districts). It is spending, not what a teacher is paid: the salary lines and the teacher count come from different files, so the result can differ widely from the average salary the district publishes (its salary schedule gives pay); benefits are left out, and states book salaries differently, so compare districts within one state. For pay, the National Education Association put the average Wisconsin teacher salary at $60,453 in 2021-22 (NCES Digest table 211.60).

ProgramTeacher salariesShare
Regular programs$26,874,00071.8%
Special education$7,938,00021.2%
Vocational$1,598,0004.3%
Other programs$1,040,0002.8%

Teacher salaries per student, fiscal years 2018-19 to 2022-23

The district's teacher salary bill divided by its fall enrollment each year: $5,858 in 2018-19, $6,129 in 2019-20, $6,052 in 2020-21, $6,180 in 2021-22, $6,250 in 2022-23.

La Crosse School District teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $5,858, 2019-20: $6,129, 2020-21: $6,052, 2021-22: $6,180, 2022-23: $6,25002k4k6k8k2018-19$5,8582019-20$6,1292020-21$6,0522021-22$6,1802022-23$6,250
La Crosse School District teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $5,858, 2019-20: $6,129, 2020-21: $6,052, 2021-22: $6,180, 2022-23: $6,25002k4k6k8k2018-19$5,8582019-20$6,1292020-21$6,0522021-22$6,1802022-23$6,250
La Crosse School District teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $5,858, 2019-20: $6,129, 2020-21: $6,052, 2021-22: $6,180, 2022-23: $6,25002k4k6k8k2018-19$5,8582019-20$6,1292020-21$6,0522021-22$6,1802022-23$6,250
La Crosse School District teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $5,858, 2019-20: $6,129, 2020-21: $6,052, 2021-22: $6,180, 2022-23: $6,25002k4k6k8k2018-19$5,8582019-20$6,1292020-21$6,0522021-22$6,1802022-23$6,250

Source: NCES F-33 school district finance survey, fiscal years 2019 to 2023: teacher salaries in regular, special, vocational and other programs (Z35 to Z38) and fall membership (V33); NCES Common Core of Data LEA staff file 2022-23, teachers (full-time equivalent).

State test results, 2021-22

In 2021-22, the students tested in La Crosse School District scored proficient or above: 34% in reading and 30% in math, against 38% in reading and 40% in math across Wisconsin. Each state writes its own test and sets its own proficiency bar, so compare these within Wisconsin, not across states. Where a state published results by grade only, the grades tested are combined, weighted by the students tested in each.

Students proficient or above, 2021-22
SubjectThis districtWisconsinStudents tested
Reading and language arts34%38%2,401
Math30%40%2,400

Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts state assessment results 2021-22, all students, from ED Data Express (the Data Rescue Project archive; ED has no 2022-23 result for this district): ED shows district results as ranges (for example 20-24%) to protect small groups.

Graduation rate, class of 2023

91% of the 466 students in La Crosse School District's class of 2023 graduated within four years, against 90.5% across Wisconsin. The four-year rate follows the students who started ninth grade in fall 2019, adjusted for those who moved in or out, and counts those who earned a regular diploma by 2023. Every state computes it the same way under federal law, though each sets its own diploma requirements.

Four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rate, class of 2023
This districtWisconsin
Four-year graduation rate91%90.5%
Students in the class46665,638

Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates 2022-23, all students, from ED Data Express: ED shows district rates as ranges (for example 90-94%) and leaves out small classes.

11 elementary schools, 2,633 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Southern Bluffs Elementary33312.831.2%Not Title I
Spence Elementary32911.644.1%Schoolwide program
Emerson Elementary31712.522.1%Not Title I
Summit Environmental School29511.342.0%Schoolwide program
State Road Elementary28412.229.9%Not Title I
North Woods International School2559.358.8%Schoolwide program
Northside Elementary2377.384.8%Schoolwide program
Hintgen Elementary2107.679.0%Schoolwide program
Hamilton Elementary School1517.680.1%Schoolwide program
Coulee Montessori Charter School11813.866.1%Schoolwide program
School of Technology and Arts I10415.721.2%Not Title I

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

3 middle schools, 1,094 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Longfellow Middle63110.340.6%Not Title I
Logan Middle4249.047.4%Eligible, no program
School of Technology and Arts II3911.528.2%Not Title I

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

3 high schools, 1,784 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Central High96913.033.1%Not Title I
Logan High72911.441.8%Not Title I
La Crosse Polytechnic School8617.227.9%Not Title I

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

2 other schools, 206 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
La Crosse Offsite Preschool10420.710.6%Not Title I
Coulee Region Virtual Academy10216.919.6%Not Title I

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

One more school on file: small, closed or in an earlier directory

These records carry fewer federal fields than a full school page needs, so each is summarized here with what NCES reports.

Lincoln Middle

Middle school in La Crosse; 277 students; 8.6 students per teacher.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25 and earlier directories: the last year each school was listed, its students and its teachers.

Contact La Crosse School District

Source: NCES Common Core of Data, local education agency directory 2024-25. Enrollment, boundaries and school assignment are the district's to confirm.

What to look at next about La Crosse School District

  1. Wisconsin districts by spending per studentLa Crosse School District ranks 22 of 190 Wisconsin districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 on current spending per student in fiscal year 2022-23 ($15,989).#22 of 190
  2. Every school district in WisconsinLa Crosse School District is the number 23 by size of 451 Wisconsin districts, with 5,992 students in fall 2022 (F-33).#23 of 451
  3. D C Everest Area School DistrictThe next larger Wisconsin district: 6,000 students in fall 2022, $12,829 per student in fiscal year 2022-23.$12,829
  4. Verona Area School DistrictThe next smaller Wisconsin district: 5,827 students in fall 2022, $15,445 per student in fiscal year 2022-23.$15,445
  5. Compare La Crosse School District with D C Everest Area School DistrictEnrollment, spending, revenue sources and schools, side by side.
  6. Central High, its largest high school969 students in 2024-25, 13.0 per teacher.969
  7. Teacher salary spending across WisconsinLa Crosse School District spent $69,011 in salaries per full-time teacher in fiscal year 2022-23 (state median $69,818); spending, not a salary.$69,011
  8. Find the school district for an addressA home's district decides which public schools it can enroll in.

Source: NCES F-33 finance survey, fiscal year 2022-23 (spending per student and fall 2022 membership; ranks among the state's districts that reported them); NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25 (schools).

Questions about La Crosse School District

  1. How many schools and students are in La Crosse School District?
    19 schools were open in 2024-25 (11 elementary, 3 middle, 3 high, 2 other), enrolling 5,717 students, according to the NCES Common Core of Data.
  2. How much does La Crosse School District spend per student?
    $15,989 per student on current operations in fiscal year 2022-23 (NCES F-33), which leaves out construction and debt; the Wisconsin median for districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 is $13,856 and the U.S. figure is $16,260. Census Bureau figures for 2023-24 put it at $19,797 per student, up 23.8% on the year before (U.S. $17,619 that year).
  3. Where does La Crosse School District's money come from?
    $117,449,000 in revenue in fiscal year 2022-23: 40.8% state, 46.5% local and 12.7% federal (NCES F-33).
  4. How many children in La Crosse School District live in poverty?
    The Census Bureau estimates that 828 of the 7,170 children aged 5 to 17 living within the district's boundaries in 2024, 11.5%, were in families in poverty (Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). It is a model-based estimate for everyone living in the district, not a count of its students; the free-meal shares in the school tables are counts of enrolled students.
  5. How much does La Crosse School District spend on teacher salaries?
    $37,450,000 in fiscal year 2022-23 (NCES F-33), or $6,250 per student. Divided by the 543 full-time teachers in the NCES Common Core of Data for 2022-23 that is $69,011 per teacher, more than 45 in 100 Wisconsin districts (state median $69,818). That is spending, not what a teacher is paid: the salary lines and the teacher count come from different files, and the result can differ widely from the average salary a district publishes. The district's salary schedule gives pay. For pay, the National Education Association put the average Wisconsin teacher salary at $60,453 in 2021-22 (NCES Digest table 211.60).
  6. How do students in La Crosse School District do on state tests?
    In 2021-22, the students tested in La Crosse School District scored proficient or above: 34% in reading and 30% in math, against 38% in reading and 40% in math across Wisconsin. Wisconsin's own test sets what proficient means, so results compare within the state, not across states. Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts state assessment results, 2021-22.
  7. What is the graduation rate in La Crosse School District?
    91% of the 466 students in La Crosse School District's class of 2023 graduated within four years, against 90.5% across Wisconsin. The four-year rate follows the students who started ninth grade in fall 2019, adjusted for those who moved in or out. Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates, 2022-23.
  8. What is La Crosse School District's NCES district ID?
    5507530. Each of its schools' 12-digit NCES IDs begins with these seven digits.

Reading these figures: how to choose a school district, what Title I means and what an absenteeism rate means. They are for information and are not a substitute for the school's or district's own records.

Sources

Every federal file behind this record
  • NCES Common Core of Data, 2024-25: directory, membership, staff and lunch files. nces.ed.gov
  • NCES Common Core of Data, 2021-22 school characteristics: Title I status. nces.ed.gov
  • Civil Rights Data Collection, 2021-22: AP courses, gifted programs, counselors, discipline. civilrightsdata.ed.gov
  • EDFacts, 2022-23: chronic absenteeism. ed.gov
  • EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates, 2022-23: the class of 2023 for the district and its state (ED Data Express). eddataexpress.ed.gov
  • EDFacts state assessment results, 2021-22: reading and math proficiency for the district and its state (ED Data Express). eddataexpress.ed.gov
  • NCES Digest of Education Statistics, table 211.60 (2021-22): the state's average teacher salary, from the National Education Association. nces.ed.gov
  • U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024: children aged 5 to 17 and those in families in poverty, by school district. census.gov
  • U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances, fiscal year 2023-24: per pupil current spending for 2023-24 and 2022-23. census.gov
  • NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, fiscal year 2022-23: district spending and revenue. nces.ed.gov
  • U.S. Census Bureau geocoder and TIGER school districts: the district boundary used by the district finder. census.gov

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances Per pupil current spending by school system · FY 2023-24

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey Revenue and expenditures by district · FY 2022-23

Source: NCES Common Core of Data School directory, membership, staff and lunch files · 2024-25