Wisconsin Rapids 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.

Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin - 12 schools

An equity score of 62/100 ranks Wisconsin Rapids School District #128 of 403 districts in Wisconsin (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $14,103 per pupil, Wisconsin Rapids School District ranks #217 of 422 Wisconsin districts by per-pupil spending (Wisconsin districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

4,678
Total Enrollment
12
Schools
$14,103
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Wisconsin Rapids School District operates 12 public schools serving 4,678 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Wisconsin. The school portfolio breaks down into 8 combined, 2 high, 1 middle, 1 elementary schools, a compact enough portfolio that families can compare every campus directly before they move, rent, or enrol. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Wood County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $14,103 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 37.2% local, 52.2% state, and 10.6% 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 62/100, ranked #128 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 12 schools offering Advanced Placement (18 AP courses district-wide), a 314.1:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 25.7% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 78.9% White, 6.9% Hispanic or Latino, 4.4% Asian across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Grove Elementary, with a diversity index of 57.8/100.

Its largest campus is Lincoln High, enrolling 1,337 students (29% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is River Cities High, at 77 students, a 17x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

Lincoln High accounts for 28.6% of all Wisconsin Rapids School District student enrollment

That dominant concentration means Wisconsin Rapids School District-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: high. 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

Wisconsin Rapids School District school enrollment varies 17× across entities

Wisconsin Rapids School District school enrollment ranges from 77 students (lowest) to 1,337 students (highest), a spread of 1,260 students. That spread reflects typical mixed-portfolio variation between specialty programs and large neighbourhood schools. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

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

Wisconsin Rapids School District has higher-than-average Title I eligibility — 50.3% 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

Wisconsin Rapids School District student-counselor ratio is 314:1 — 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 Wisconsin Rapids School District is typically wider than the Wisconsin Rapids School District-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Wisconsin Rapids School District chronic absenteeism rate is 25.7% — 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 Wisconsin Rapids School District is typically wider than the Wisconsin Rapids 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?

10.6%
Federal
52.2%
State
37.2%
Local

Funding Equity

62
Equity Score
128 / 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 12 schools in Wisconsin Rapids School District.

White 78.9%
Hispanic or Latino 6.9%
African American 2.1%
Asian 4.4%
Multiracial 6.5%
Other 1.2%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 35.3/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Wisconsin Rapids School District's schools, about the same as the Wisconsin average of 35.7.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Grove Elementary 57.8
  2. 2 Mead Elementary 54.1
  3. 3 Wrps Four-Year-Old Kindergarten and Pk Early Childhood 42.4
  4. 4 Howe Elementary 42.0
  5. 5 Wisconsin Rapids Area Middle 38.4

Programs & Resources

1 / 12
Schools with AP
18 AP courses total
314.1:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
25.7%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Wisconsin Rapids School District

School Enrollment
Lincoln High
1,337
Wisconsin Rapids Area Middle
943
Woodside Elementary
354
Howe Elementary
336
Washington Elementary
322
Grant Elementary
267
Mead Elementary
266
Wrps Four-Year-Old Kindergarten and Pk Early Childhood
208
Think Academy-Together Helping Inspire Kids
202
Grove Elementary
178
Central Oaks Academy
Charter
88
River Cities High
77

How Wisconsin Rapids School District Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Wisconsin districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Manitowoc School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Muskego-Norway School District Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Franklin Public School District Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
De Pere School District Similar size Lower spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Wisconsin Rapids 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 Wisconsin Rapids 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 Wisconsin Rapids School District?

Wisconsin Rapids School District has 12 schools, including 2 high, 1 middle, 8 combined, 1 elementary. Total enrollment is 4,678 students.

How much does Wisconsin Rapids School District spend per student?

Wisconsin Rapids School District spends $14,103 per student. The district has an equity score of 62/100, ranking #128 in Wisconsin.

What is the demographic composition of Wisconsin Rapids School District?

Wisconsin Rapids School District students are 78.9% White, 6.9% Hispanic or Latino, 4.4% Asian, 2.1% African American, averaged across 12 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Wisconsin Rapids School District?

Wisconsin Rapids School District has an equity score of 62/100, ranking #128 out of 403 districts in Wisconsin.