Lafayette County Schools & Education
Lafayette County, Wisconsin
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
66/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
91.3%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
91.3%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 91.8%
Per-Pupil Spending
$8,490
National avg $13,239
State avg $8,113
School Score
66/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 65/100
State Score Position
#37
of 72 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Lafayette County
Measured School Summary
Lafayette County performs at an average level with a school score of 66/100 and a solid graduation rate of 91.3%.
Funding Context
Lafayette County spends $8,490 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 2% above the Wisconsin average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 0.5 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 5% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Lafayette 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
17 public schools and 6 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
66/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #37 of 72 Wisconsin counties with school score data.
Completion
91.3%
0.5 pts below the state average
Funding context
$8,490
$377 above the state average
School coverage
17
6 districts represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
Lafayette County has 17 public schools across 6 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.
What Lafayette 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.
Mixed school landscape
Lafayette County has enough school-level records to compare the local mix, but no single county metric should be treated as the answer. Use district shape, grade span, and data coverage together.
State position
#37
of 72 Wisconsin counties with school score data. The county score is 1 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.
Darlington Community School District
Elementary and high visible
900 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
Belmont Community School District
Elementary and high visible
405 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
Black Hawk School District
Elementary to high school visible
359 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
Shullsburg School District
Elementary to high school visible
315 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Argyle School District is the largest listed district slice, with 3 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 Lafayette County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Lafayette 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 Lafayette 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.
A Small-Scale Rural Learning Network
Lafayette County maintains a localized education system with 17 public schools serving 2,703 students. Six distinct school districts manage a balanced infrastructure of six elementary, four middle, and seven high schools. This ensures children receive personal attention across every stage of their education.
Highlighting Local Community Districts
The Black Hawk School District and Argyle School District are key pillars, serving 359 and 293 students respectively across three schools each. There are currently no charter schools in the county, maintaining a traditional public school focus. These districts emphasize community-based learning in intimate environments.
Deeply Rooted in Rural Traditions
Every single school in the county operates in a rural locale, offering a consistent environment for all 17 campuses. Darlington Elementary/Middle is the largest facility with 620 students, while many other schools average just 159 students. This creates a tight-knit atmosphere where every teacher knows their students by name.
School Overview
Total Schools
17
in Lafayette County
Reported Enrollment
2,703
17 schools reporting
School Districts
6
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
6 School Districts in Lafayette County
Darlington Community School District
Belmont Community School District
Black Hawk School District
Shullsburg School District
Argyle School District
Benton School District
17 Public Schools in Lafayette 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 dataLevel
Showing 17 of 17 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Darlington Elementary/Middle | Record | Darlington Community School District | Darlington, 53530Rural: Remote | PK–8 | Primary | 620 |
| Darlington High | Record | Darlington Community School District | Darlington, 53530Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 280 |
| Belmont Elementary | Record | Belmont Community School District | Belmont, 53510Rural: Distant | PK–6 | Primary | 228 |
| Pecatonica High | Record | Pecatonica Area School District | Blanchardville, 53516Rural: Distant | 6–12 | High | 207 |
| Belmont High | Record | Belmont Community School District | Belmont, 53510Rural: Distant | 7–12 | High | 177 |
| Black Hawk Elementary | Record | Black Hawk School District | South Wayne, 53587Rural: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 165 |
| Argyle Elementary | Record | Argyle School District | Argyle, 53504Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 153 |
| Shullsburg Elementary | Record | Shullsburg School District | Shullsburg, 53586Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 133 |
| Benton Elementary | Record | Benton School District | Benton, 53803Rural: Distant | PK–6 | Primary | 130 |
| Black Hawk High | Record | Black Hawk School District | South Wayne, 53587Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 109 |
| Shullsburg High | Record | Shullsburg School District | Shullsburg, 53586Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 103 |
| Black Hawk Middle | Record | Black Hawk School District | South Wayne, 53587Rural: Remote | 6–8 | Middle | 85 |
| Shullsburg Junior High | Record | Shullsburg School District | Shullsburg, 53586Rural: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 79 |
| Argyle High | Record | Argyle School District | Argyle, 53504Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 75 |
| Argyle Middle | Record | Argyle School District | Argyle, 53504Rural: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 65 |
| Benton High | Record | Benton School District | Benton, 53803Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 65 |
| Benton Middle | Record | Benton School District | Benton, 53803Rural: Distant | 7–8 | Middle | 29 |
Darlington Elementary/Middle
Darlington Community School District
Darlington, 53530 / Rural: Remote
Darlington High
Darlington Community School District
Darlington, 53530 / Rural: Remote
Belmont Elementary
Belmont Community School District
Belmont, 53510 / Rural: Distant
Pecatonica High
Pecatonica Area School District
Blanchardville, 53516 / Rural: Distant
Belmont High
Belmont Community School District
Belmont, 53510 / Rural: Distant
Black Hawk Elementary
Black Hawk School District
South Wayne, 53587 / Rural: Remote
Shullsburg Elementary
Shullsburg School District
Shullsburg, 53586 / Rural: Distant
Black Hawk High
Black Hawk School District
South Wayne, 53587 / Rural: Remote
Shullsburg High
Shullsburg School District
Shullsburg, 53586 / Rural: Distant
Black Hawk Middle
Black Hawk School District
South Wayne, 53587 / Rural: Remote
Shullsburg Junior High
Shullsburg School District
Shullsburg, 53586 / Rural: Distant
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$8,490
State avg $8,113
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Lafayette County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
Open CompareBrowse Public Schools
See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.
View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which Wisconsin counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in Wisconsin?
How should I read the school score in Lafayette County?
What is the graduation rate in Lafayette County?
How much does Lafayette County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Lafayette County, Wisconsin — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Lafayette County, Wisconsin?
Lafayette County maintains a localized education system with 17 public schools serving 2,703 students. Six distinct school districts manage a balanced infrastructure of six elementary, four middle, and seven high schools. This ensures children receive personal attention across every stage of their education.
What are the major school districts in Lafayette County, Wisconsin?
The Black Hawk School District and Argyle School District are key pillars, serving 359 and 293 students respectively across three schools each. There are currently no charter schools in the county, maintaining a traditional public school focus. These districts emphasize community-based learning in intimate environments.
What is the school experience like in Lafayette County?
Every single school in the county operates in a rural locale, offering a consistent environment for all 17 campuses. Darlington Elementary/Middle is the largest facility with 620 students, while many other schools average just 159 students. This creates a tight-knit atmosphere where every teacher knows their students by name.
Counties with Similar School Profile
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.