Pierce County Schools & Education
Pierce County, Wisconsin
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
64/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
94.7%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
94.7%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 91.8%
Per-Pupil Spending
$7,205
National avg $13,239
State avg $8,113
School Score
64/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 65/100
State Score Position
#44
of 72 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Pierce County
Measured School Summary
Pierce County performs at an average level with a school score of 64/100 and a solid graduation rate of 94.7%.
Funding Context
At $7,205 per pupil, Pierce County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 1% below the Wisconsin average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 2.9 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 11% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Pierce 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
25 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
64/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #44 of 72 Wisconsin counties with school score data.
Completion
94.7%
2.9 pts above the state average
Funding context
$7,205
$908 below the state average
School coverage
25
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
Pierce County has 25 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 Pierce 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
Pierce 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
#44
of 72 Wisconsin counties with school score data. The county score is roughly in line with 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.
River Falls School District
Elementary to high school visible
3,488 students
9 listed schools in this county slice.
Ellsworth Community School District
Elementary to high school visible
1,624 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
Prescott School District
Elementary to high school visible
1,243 students
4 listed schools in this county slice.
Spring Valley School District
Elementary to high school visible
708 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
River Falls School District is the largest listed district slice, with 9 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 Pierce County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Pierce 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 Pierce 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.
Comprehensive Education in Western Wisconsin
Pierce County manages 25 public schools across six districts, serving a total of 7,624 students. The network includes 9 elementary, 5 middle, and 7 high schools, along with 4 specialized learning centers. This infrastructure provides a strong academic backbone for the county's growing towns.
River Falls and Ellsworth Lead Enrollment
River Falls School District is the largest in the county, educating 3,488 students across 9 schools. Prescott and Ellsworth also serve significant populations, with Ellsworth Elementary hosting 730 students. Charter schools make up 16% of the county's public offerings, providing diverse learning pathways.
Town and Country Educational Mix
The county's 25 schools are divided between town and rural settings, with an average school size of 305 students. River Falls High is the largest school in the area, serving 1,112 students. This mix offers families a choice between a more central town school or a smaller, rural campus.
School Overview
Total Schools
25
in Pierce County
Reported Enrollment
7,624
25 schools reporting
School Districts
6
districts
Charter Schools
4
16% of total
School Level Breakdown
6 School Districts in Pierce County
River Falls School District
GuideEllsworth Community School District
Prescott School District
Spring Valley School District
Elmwood School District
Plum City School District
25 Public Schools in Pierce County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 1 high-enrollment school; every NCES public school remains listed here.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 20 of 25 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| River Falls High | Profile | River Falls School District | River Falls, 54022Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 1,112 |
| Meyer Middle | Record | River Falls School District | River Falls, 54022Town: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 738 |
| Ellsworth Elementary | Record | Ellsworth Community School District | Ellsworth, 54011Town: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 730 |
| Ellsworth High | Record | Ellsworth Community School District | Ellsworth, 54011Town: Distant | 9–12 | High | 519 |
| Malone Elementary | Record | Prescott School District | Prescott, 54021Town: Fringe | PK–5 | Primary | 460 |
| Prescott High | Record | Prescott School District | Prescott, 54021Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 430 |
| Rocky Branch Elementary | Record | River Falls School District | River Falls, 54022Town: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 428 |
| Westside Elementary | Record | River Falls School District | River Falls, 54022Town: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 408 |
| Greenwood Elementary | Record | River Falls School District | River Falls, 54022Town: Distant | KG–5 | Primary | 392 |
| Ellsworth Middle | Record | Ellsworth Community School District | Ellsworth, 54011Town: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 375 |
| Spring Valley Elementary | Record | Spring Valley School District | Spring Valley, 54767Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 354 |
| Prescott Middle | Record | Prescott School District | Prescott, 54021Town: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 275 |
| Spring Valley High | Record | Spring Valley School District | Spring Valley, 54767Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 200 |
| River Falls Public Montessori Academy | Record | River Falls School District | River Falls, 54022Town: Distant | PK–6 | Charter | 190 |
| River Falls 4 Children | Record | River Falls School District | River Falls, 54022Town: Distant | PK | Other | 160 |
| Spring Valley Middle | Record | Spring Valley School District | Spring Valley, 54767Rural: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 154 |
| Elmwood Elementary | Record | Elmwood School District | Elmwood, 54740Rural: Remote | PK–4 | Primary | 138 |
| Plum City High | Record | Plum City School District | Plum City, 54761Rural: Remote | 6–12 | High | 137 |
| Plum City Elementary | Record | Plum City School District | Plum City, 54761Rural: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 103 |
| Elmwood High | Record | Elmwood School District | Elmwood, 54740Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 90 |
River Falls High
River Falls School District
River Falls, 54022 / Rural: Fringe
Meyer Middle
River Falls School District
River Falls, 54022 / Town: Distant
Ellsworth Elementary
Ellsworth Community School District
Ellsworth, 54011 / Town: Distant
Ellsworth High
Ellsworth Community School District
Ellsworth, 54011 / Town: Distant
Malone Elementary
Prescott School District
Prescott, 54021 / Town: Fringe
Rocky Branch Elementary
River Falls School District
River Falls, 54022 / Town: Distant
Westside Elementary
River Falls School District
River Falls, 54022 / Town: Distant
Greenwood Elementary
River Falls School District
River Falls, 54022 / Town: Distant
Ellsworth Middle
Ellsworth Community School District
Ellsworth, 54011 / Town: Distant
Spring Valley Elementary
Spring Valley School District
Spring Valley, 54767 / Rural: Distant
Spring Valley High
Spring Valley School District
Spring Valley, 54767 / Rural: Distant
River Falls Public Montessori Academy
River Falls School District
River Falls, 54022 / Town: Distant
River Falls 4 Children
River Falls School District
River Falls, 54022 / Town: Distant
Spring Valley Middle
Spring Valley School District
Spring Valley, 54767 / Rural: Distant
Elmwood Elementary
Elmwood School District
Elmwood, 54740 / Rural: Remote
Plum City Elementary
Plum City School District
Plum City, 54761 / Rural: Remote
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$7,205
State avg $8,113
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Pierce 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 Pierce County?
What is the graduation rate in Pierce County?
How much does Pierce County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Pierce County, Wisconsin — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Pierce County, Wisconsin?
Pierce County manages 25 public schools across six districts, serving a total of 7,624 students. The network includes 9 elementary, 5 middle, and 7 high schools, along with 4 specialized learning centers. This infrastructure provides a strong academic backbone for the county's growing towns.
What are the major school districts in Pierce County, Wisconsin?
River Falls School District is the largest in the county, educating 3,488 students across 9 schools. Prescott and Ellsworth also serve significant populations, with Ellsworth Elementary hosting 730 students. Charter schools make up 16% of the county's public offerings, providing diverse learning pathways.
What is the school experience like in Pierce County?
The county's 25 schools are divided between town and rural settings, with an average school size of 305 students. River Falls High is the largest school in the area, serving 1,112 students. This mix offers families a choice between a more central town school or a smaller, rural campus.
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.