schoolsbycounty

Bayfield County Schools & Education

School Score

83/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Higher Signal

Graduation Rate

93.0%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

93.0%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 91.8%

Per-Pupil Spending

$10,665

National avg $13,239

State avg $8,113

School Score

83/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 65/100

State Score Position

#4

of 72 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Bayfield County

Measured School Summary

Bayfield County has a higher measured school signal with a school score of 83/100 and a graduation rate of 93.0%, based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-score inputs.

Funding Context

Bayfield County spends $10,665 per student, which is on the lower end of adequate and may require careful resource allocation to maintain quality.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 28% above the Wisconsin average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 1.2 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 31% higher than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Bayfield County before comparing districts

County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.

Local context that changes the interpretation

12 public schools and 5 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.

Overall screen

83/100

Higher measured signal. Ranks #4 of 72 Wisconsin counties with school score data.

Completion

93.0%

1.2 pts above the state average

Funding context

$10,665

$2,552 above the state average

School coverage

12

5 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

This county screens well on the combined school metrics available here. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Bayfield County has 12 public schools across 5 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.

Verify local rules

Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.

Parent decision brief

What Bayfield County school data means before you move

County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.

Higher-signal county

Bayfield County screens well on the measured county-level school signal. The next check is whether that strength is broad across districts or concentrated in a few school pathways.

State position

#4

of 72 Wisconsin counties with school score data. The county score is 18 points above the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.

K-12 continuity check

These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.

Washburn School District

Elementary to high school visible

599 students

Elementary 1Middle 1High 1Other 0

3 listed schools in this county slice.

Bayfield School District

Elementary to high school visible

414 students

Elementary 1Middle 1High 1Other 0

3 listed schools in this county slice.

Drummond Area School District

Elementary to high school visible

338 students

Elementary 1Middle 1High 1Other 0

3 listed schools in this county slice.

South Shore School District

Elementary and high visible

198 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Bayfield School District is the largest listed district slice, with 4 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.

What the data cannot tell you

NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.

Questions to ask before choosing an address

Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Bayfield County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Bayfield County district systems?

What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?

If we need a program not visible in the NCES flags, which district office can confirm current offerings?

Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?

Education Overview

About Schools in Bayfield County, Wisconsin

This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.

High Investment in Northern Rural Schools

Bayfield County maintains 12 schools across five districts for a student population of 1,651. The infrastructure is evenly split among five elementary, three middle, and four high schools.

Spotlight on Maple and Bayfield Districts

Maple School District is the largest by enrollment with 1,295 students, while Bayfield School District manages four campuses. There are currently no charter schools, keeping the focus on traditional community schools.

Small, Intimate Rural Learning Environments

Every school in the county is classified as rural, with an average enrollment of only 138 students. Washburn Elementary is the largest school with 319 students, while Bayfield High serves just 116.

School Overview

Total Schools

12

in Bayfield County

Reported Enrollment

1,651

12 schools reporting

School Districts

5

districts

Charter Schools

0

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary5
Middle3
High4
Other0

5 School Districts in Bayfield County

Maple School District

4 schools
1,295 students

Washburn School District

3 schools
599 students

Bayfield School District

4 schools
426 students

Drummond Area School District

3 schools
338 students

South Shore School District

2 schools
198 students

12 Public Schools in Bayfield County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Every NCES public school remains listed here; no school-level profile pages are included in the current generated coverage for this county.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Level

Showing 12 of 12 matching schools

Washburn Elementary

Washburn School District

Washburn, 54891 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–6Primary319 students

Bayfield Elementary

Bayfield School District

Bayfield, 54814 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–5Primary206 students

Washburn High

Washburn School District

Washburn, 54891 / Rural: Distant

Record9–12High198 students

Drummond Elementary

Drummond Area School District

Drummond, 54832 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–6Primary181 students

Bayfield High

Bayfield School District

Bayfield, 54814 / Rural: Remote

Record9–12High116 students

South Shore Elementary

South Shore School District

Port Wing, 54865 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–6Primary114 students

Drummond High

Drummond Area School District

Drummond, 54832 / Rural: Remote

Record9–12High109 students

Iron River Elementary

Maple School District

Iron River, 54847 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–5Primary102 students

Bayfield Middle

Bayfield School District

Bayfield, 54814 / Rural: Remote

Record6–8Middle92 students

South Shore Jr/Sr High

South Shore School District

Port Wing, 54865 / Rural: Remote

Record7–12High84 students

Washburn Middle

Washburn School District

Washburn, 54891 / Rural: Distant

Record7–8Middle82 students

Drummond Junior High

Drummond Area School District

Drummond, 54832 / Rural: Remote

Record7–8Middle48 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$10,665

State avg $8,113

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Bayfield County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which Wisconsin counties have the highest graduation rates?
Ozaukee County (97.6%), Oneida County (96.8%), and Vilas County (96.1%) currently lead Wisconsin among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.
What is per-pupil spending like in Wisconsin?
Across Wisconsin counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $8,113. The highest current county values are Bayfield County ($10,665), Vilas County ($10,435), and Florence County ($10,426). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.
How should I read the school score in Bayfield County?
Bayfield County has a school score of 83/100, which is a higher measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.
What is the graduation rate in Bayfield County?
The high school graduation rate in Bayfield County is 93.0%, which is above the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.
How much does Bayfield County spend per student?
Bayfield County spends $10,665 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Bayfield County, Wisconsin — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Bayfield County, Wisconsin?

Bayfield County maintains 12 schools across five districts for a student population of 1,651. The infrastructure is evenly split among five elementary, three middle, and four high schools.

What are the major school districts in Bayfield County, Wisconsin?

Maple School District is the largest by enrollment with 1,295 students, while Bayfield School District manages four campuses. There are currently no charter schools, keeping the focus on traditional community schools.

What is the school experience like in Bayfield County?

Every school in the county is classified as rural, with an average enrollment of only 138 students. Washburn Elementary is the largest school with 319 students, while Bayfield High serves just 116.

Counties with Similar School Profile

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.