An equity score of 36/100 ranks West Salem School District #286 of 403 districts in Wisconsin (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.
At $13,469 per pupil, West Salem School District ranks #315 of 423 Wisconsin districts by per-pupil spending (Wisconsin districts). NCES F-33 finance data.
1,861
Total Enrollment
3
Schools
$13,469
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, High
School Types
District-Level NCES Analysis
West Salem School District operates 3 public schools serving 1,861 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Wisconsin. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 combined, 1 high, 1 elementary 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 La Crosse County.
Per-pupil expenditure runs $13,469 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half of 423 Wisconsin districts by per-pupil spending. See how Wisconsin compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 44.5% local, 47.0% state, and 8.5% federal, a balanced mix across local, state, and federal sources, spreading budget risk across funding cycles rather than concentrating it in one. The district's equity score is 36/100, ranked #286 of 403 in Wisconsin against a state average of 50, notably less 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 (11 AP courses district-wide), a 302.3:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 8.1% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 91.9% White, 2.6% Hispanic or Latino, 1.0% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is West Salem Middle, with a diversity index of 17.0/100.
Its largest campus is West Salem Elementary, enrolling 677 students (37% of the district's total enrollment).
West Salem Elementary accounts for 36.4% of all West Salem School District student enrollment
That dominant concentration means West Salem School District-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the largest entity. Grade band: combined. The share measures enrollment concentration only; it does not establish how the district allocates programs, capital, or staff. Enrollment-weighted aggregates give this entity more weight than any smaller peer, while an unweighted entity average treats every record equally.
West Salem School District student-counselor ratio is 302:1 — 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 West Salem School District is typically wider than the West Salem School District-aggregate figure suggests.
West Salem School District chronic absenteeism rate is 8.1% — well below typical (typically associated with unusually small scale or exceptionally high per-unit investment)
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 Values this far below typical often correlate with unusually small scale or population characteristics rather than higher resource budgets per se — worth checking whether the underlying denominator is itself an outlier.
How many schools are in West Salem School District?
West Salem School District has 3 schools, including 1 combined, 1 high, 1 elementary. Total enrollment is 1,861 students.
How much does West Salem School District spend per student?
West Salem School District spends $13,469 per student. The district has an equity score of 36/100, ranking #286 in Wisconsin.
What is the demographic composition of West Salem School District?
West Salem School District students are 91.9% White, 2.6% Hispanic or Latino, 1.0% African American, 0.9% Asian, averaged across 3 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.
What is the equity score for West Salem School District?
West Salem School District has an equity score of 36/100, ranking #286 out of 403 districts in Wisconsin.