Tri-County Area 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.

Plainfield, Wisconsin - 3 schools

An equity score of 81/100 ranks Tri-County Area School District #26 of 403 districts in Wisconsin (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $15,993 per pupil, Tri-County Area School District ranks #102 of 422 Wisconsin districts by per-pupil spending (Wisconsin districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

575
Total Enrollment
3
Schools
$15,993
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Tri-County Area School District operates 3 public schools serving 575 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 Waushara County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $15,993 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the upper half of 422 Wisconsin districts by per-pupil spending. See how Wisconsin compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 31.9% local, 50.3% state, and 17.8% 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 81/100, ranked #26 of 403 in Wisconsin against a state average of 50, notably more even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 3 schools offering Advanced Placement (5 AP courses district-wide), a 287.1:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 28.9% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 68.4% White, 28.5% Hispanic or Latino, 1.6% Asian across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Tri-County High, with a diversity index of 46.8/100.

Its largest campus is Tri-County Elementary, enrolling 265 students (46% of the district's total enrollment).

Tri-County Elementary accounts for 45.8% of all Tri-County Area School District student enrollment

That is an overwhelming concentration, leaving the rest of Tri-County Area School District a distant remainder — means Tri-County Area 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

Tri-County Area School District has higher-than-average Title I eligibility — 51.7% of the population qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch

free or reduced-price lunch eligibility is the federal threshold for Title I funding allocations, established under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015). Areas above 75% eligibility receive concentration grants on top of the basic Title I formula. Regions with eligibility this high typically draw a substantially larger federal funding share relative to their local tax base, which can either offset or reinforce existing gaps depending on allocation policy.

Source: ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system

Tri-County Area School District student-counselor ratio is 287:1 — 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 Tri-County Area School District is typically wider than the Tri-County Area School District-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Tri-County Area School District chronic absenteeism rate is 28.9% — 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 Tri-County Area School District is typically wider than the Tri-County Area 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?

17.8%
Federal
50.3%
State
31.9%
Local

Funding Equity

81
Equity Score
26 / 403
State Rank
50
State Average

This district scores well on funding equity, with balanced funding sources and good resource allocation.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 3 schools in Tri-County Area School District.

White 68.4%
Hispanic or Latino 28.5%
Asian 1.6%
Other 0.9%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 45.0/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Tri-County Area School District's schools, above the Wisconsin average of 35.7.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Tri-County High 46.8
  2. 2 Tri-County Elementary 45.7
  3. 3 Tri-County Middle 42.5

Programs & Resources

1 / 3
Schools with AP
5 AP courses total
287.1:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
28.9%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Tri-County Area School District

School Enrollment
Tri-County Elementary
265
Tri-County High
180
Tri-County Middle
134

How Tri-County Area School District Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Wisconsin districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Norwalk-Ontario-Wilton School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Palmyra-Eagle Area School District Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Iola-Scandinavia School District Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
New Lisbon School District Similar size Lower spending More locally funded
Reedsville School District Similar size Similar spending More locally funded

Comparisons are relative to Tri-County Area 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.

Compare Tri-County Area 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 Tri-County Area School District?

Tri-County Area School District has 3 schools, including 1 combined, 1 high, 1 middle. Total enrollment is 575 students.

How much does Tri-County Area School District spend per student?

Tri-County Area School District spends $15,993 per student. The district has an equity score of 81/100, ranking #26 in Wisconsin.

What is the demographic composition of Tri-County Area School District?

Tri-County Area School District students are 68.4% White, 28.5% Hispanic or Latino, 1.6% Asian, 0.1% African American, averaged across 3 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Tri-County Area School District?

Tri-County Area School District has an equity score of 81/100, ranking #26 out of 403 districts in Wisconsin.