Lincoln County Schools & Education
Lincoln County, Wisconsin
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
55/100
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
$7,432
National avg $13,239
State avg $8,113
School Score
55/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 65/100
State Score Position
#57
of 72 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Lincoln County
Measured School Summary
Lincoln County performs at an average level with a school score of 55/100 and a solid graduation rate of 91.3%.
Funding Context
At $7,432 per pupil, Lincoln County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 15% below the Wisconsin average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 0.5 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 8% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Lincoln 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 2 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
55/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #57 of 72 Wisconsin counties with school score data.
Completion
91.3%
0.5 pts below the state average
Funding context
$7,432
$681 below the state average
School coverage
12
2 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
Lincoln County has 12 public schools across 2 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 Lincoln 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.
Choice-program county
Lincoln County has a visible charter, magnet, or virtual-school layer in NCES records. The practical question is eligibility, lottery timing, and transportation, not just whether a school appears nearby.
State position
#57
of 72 Wisconsin counties with school score data. The county score is 10 points below 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.
Merrill Area School District
Elementary to high school visible
2,907 students
7 listed schools in this county slice.
Tomahawk School District
Elementary to high school visible
1,204 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Merrill Area School District is the largest listed district slice, with 7 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 Lincoln County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Lincoln County district systems?
What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?
Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?
Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?
Education Overview
About Schools in Lincoln 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.
Centralized Learning in Lincoln County
Lincoln County operates 12 public schools serving a robust student body of 4,187. The system is managed by just two school districts, featuring three elementary, two middle, and five high schools. Two specialized 'other' schools also provide unique learning pathways for local students.
Merrill and Tomahawk District Leaders
The Merrill Area School District is the largest provider, educating 2,907 students across seven campuses. Tomahawk School District follows with 1,204 students in three schools. Notably, Bridges Virtual Academy operates as a major charter school within the county, accounting for 16.7% of all schools.
Town-Centered Schooling and Virtual Options
Nine of the county's schools are located in town settings, providing a more centralized feel for most students. Merrill High is the largest traditional campus with 803 students, while Bridges Virtual Academy serves 731 students remotely. This mix offers families a choice between large-school athletics and flexible digital learning.
School Overview
Total Schools
12
in Lincoln County
Reported Enrollment
4,187
12 schools reporting
School Districts
2
districts
Charter Schools
2
17% of total
School Level Breakdown
2 School Districts in Lincoln County
Merrill Area School District
Tomahawk School District
12 Public Schools in Lincoln 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 12 of 12 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merrill High | Record | Merrill Area School District | Merrill, 54452Town: Distant | 9–12 | High | 803 |
| Bridges Virtual Academy | Record | Merrill Area School District | Merrill, 54452Town: Distant | PK–12 | CharterVirtual | 731 |
| Prairie River Middle | Record | Merrill Area School District | Merrill, 54452Town: Distant | 5–8 | Middle | 593 |
| Tomahawk Elementary | Record | Tomahawk School District | Tomahawk, 54487Town: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 554 |
| Kate Goodrich Elementary | Record | Merrill Area School District | Merrill, 54452Town: Distant | KG–2 | Primary | 375 |
| Tomahawk High | Record | Tomahawk School District | Tomahawk, 54487Town: Distant | 9–12 | High | 371 |
| Tomahawk Middle | Record | Tomahawk School District | Tomahawk, 54487Town: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 279 |
| Washington Elementary | Record | Merrill Area School District | Merrill, 54452Town: Distant | 3–4 | Primary | 229 |
| Pine River School for Young Learners (PRSYL) | Record | Merrill Area School District | Merrill, 54452Rural: Fringe | PK | Other | 150 |
| Lincoln Hills School | Record | Wisconsin Department of Corrections | Irma, 54442Rural: Distant | 6–12 | Alternative | 64 |
| Merrill Adult Diploma Academy | Record | Merrill Area School District | Merrill, 54452Town: Distant | 10–12 | Charter | 26 |
| Copper Lake School | Record | Wisconsin Department of Corrections | Irma, 54442Rural: Distant | 7–12 | Alternative | 12 |
Bridges Virtual Academy
Merrill Area School District
Merrill, 54452 / Town: Distant
Prairie River Middle
Merrill Area School District
Merrill, 54452 / Town: Distant
Tomahawk Elementary
Tomahawk School District
Tomahawk, 54487 / Town: Distant
Kate Goodrich Elementary
Merrill Area School District
Merrill, 54452 / Town: Distant
Washington Elementary
Merrill Area School District
Merrill, 54452 / Town: Distant
Pine River School for Young Learners (PRSYL)
Merrill Area School District
Merrill, 54452 / Rural: Fringe
Lincoln Hills School
Wisconsin Department of Corrections
Irma, 54442 / Rural: Distant
Merrill Adult Diploma Academy
Merrill Area School District
Merrill, 54452 / Town: Distant
Copper Lake School
Wisconsin Department of Corrections
Irma, 54442 / Rural: Distant
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$7,432
State avg $8,113
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Lincoln 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 Lincoln County?
What is the graduation rate in Lincoln County?
How much does Lincoln County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Lincoln County, Wisconsin — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Lincoln County, Wisconsin?
Lincoln County operates 12 public schools serving a robust student body of 4,187. The system is managed by just two school districts, featuring three elementary, two middle, and five high schools. Two specialized 'other' schools also provide unique learning pathways for local students.
What are the major school districts in Lincoln County, Wisconsin?
The Merrill Area School District is the largest provider, educating 2,907 students across seven campuses. Tomahawk School District follows with 1,204 students in three schools. Notably, Bridges Virtual Academy operates as a major charter school within the county, accounting for 16.7% of all schools.
What is the school experience like in Lincoln County?
Nine of the county's schools are located in town settings, providing a more centralized feel for most students. Merrill High is the largest traditional campus with 803 students, while Bridges Virtual Academy serves 731 students remotely. This mix offers families a choice between large-school athletics and flexible digital learning.
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.