Manawa School District

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

Manawa, Wisconsin - 3 schools

An equity score of 47/100 ranks Manawa School District #220 of 403 districts in Wisconsin (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $13,776 per pupil, Manawa School District ranks #250 of 422 Wisconsin districts by per-pupil spending (Wisconsin districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

564
Total Enrollment
3
Schools
$13,776
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Manawa School District operates 3 public schools serving 564 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Wisconsin. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 combined, 1 high, 1 middle schools, a small enough portfolio that most families will interact with nearly every campus in the district at some point. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Waupaca County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $13,776 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half of 422 Wisconsin districts by per-pupil spending. See how Wisconsin compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 38.2% local, 51.9% state, and 9.9% federal, a state-revenue-heavy mix that insulates the district somewhat from local property-tax volatility, though it ties funding to state budget cycles. The district's equity score is 47/100, ranked #220 of 403 in Wisconsin against a state average of 50, in line with the typical spread seen across the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 3 schools offering Advanced Placement (13 AP courses district-wide), a 274.5:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 17.3% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 87.1% White, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 0.5% Asian across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Manawa Middle, with a diversity index of 31.2/100.

Its largest campus is Manawa Elementary, enrolling 221 students (42% of the district's total enrollment).

Manawa Elementary accounts for 39.2% of all Manawa School District student enrollment

That dominant concentration means Manawa School District-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: combined. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Manawa School District student-counselor ratio is 275:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Variation between sub-units within Manawa School District is typically wider than the Manawa School District-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Manawa School District chronic absenteeism rate is 17.3% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within Manawa School District is typically wider than the Manawa School District-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

9.9%
Federal
51.9%
State
38.2%
Local

Funding Equity

47
Equity Score
220 / 403
State Rank
50
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 3 schools in Manawa School District.

White 87.1%
Hispanic or Latino 6.2%
Multiracial 5.5%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 23.2/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Manawa School District's schools, below the Wisconsin average of 35.7.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Manawa Middle 31.2
  2. 2 Manawa Elementary 23.0
  3. 3 Little Wolf High 15.5

Programs & Resources

1 / 3
Schools with AP
13 AP courses total
274.5:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
17.3%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Manawa School District

School Enrollment
Manawa Elementary
221
Little Wolf High
195
Manawa Middle
112

How Manawa School District Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Wisconsin districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Clear Lake School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Pittsville School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Cochrane-Fountain City School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Iola-Scandinavia School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Wild Rose School District Similar size Similar spending More locally funded

Comparisons are relative to Manawa School District's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in Wisconsin

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Milwaukee School District
67,500 students · 156 schools · $17,847/pupil
Compare vs Manawa School District →
Madison Metropolitan School District
25,237 students · 54 schools · $17,181/pupil
Compare vs Manawa School District →
Kenosha School District
19,069 students · 43 schools · $14,309/pupil
Compare vs Manawa School District →
Green Bay Area Public School District
18,922 students · 44 schools · $16,179/pupil
Compare vs Manawa School District →
Racine Unified School District
16,182 students · 26 schools · $15,577/pupil
Compare vs Manawa School District →

Compare Manawa School District

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Milwaukee School District →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Manawa School District?

Manawa School District has 3 schools, including 1 combined, 1 high, 1 middle. Total enrollment is 564 students.

How much does Manawa School District spend per student?

Manawa School District spends $13,776 per student. The district has an equity score of 47/100, ranking #220 in Wisconsin.

What is the demographic composition of Manawa School District?

Manawa School District students are 87.1% White, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 0.5% Asian, 0.3% African American, averaged across 3 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Manawa School District?

Manawa School District has an equity score of 47/100, ranking #220 out of 403 districts in Wisconsin.