Polk County Schools & Education
Polk County, Wisconsin
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
77/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Higher Signal
Graduation Rate
95.0%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
95.0%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 91.8%
Per-Pupil Spending
$8,193
National avg $13,239
State avg $8,113
School Score
77/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 65/100
State Score Position
#12
of 72 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Polk County
Measured School Summary
Polk County has a higher measured school signal with a school score of 77/100 and a graduation rate of 95.0%, based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-score inputs.
Funding Context
Polk County spends $8,193 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 19% above the Wisconsin average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 3.2 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 1% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Polk 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
26 public schools and 8 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
77/100
Higher measured signal. Ranks #12 of 72 Wisconsin counties with school score data.
Completion
95.0%
3.2 pts above the state average
Funding context
$8,193
$80 above the state average
School coverage
26
8 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
Polk County has 26 public schools across 8 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 Polk 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
Polk 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
#12
of 72 Wisconsin counties with school score data. The county score is 12 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.
Osceola School District
Elementary to high school visible
1,594 students
4 listed schools in this county slice.
Amery School District
Elementary to high school visible
1,397 students
4 listed schools in this county slice.
Saint Croix Falls School District
Elementary to high school visible
1,075 students
4 listed schools in this county slice.
Unity School District
Elementary to high school visible
954 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Amery 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 Polk County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Polk 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 Polk 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 Wide-Reaching Rural Education Network
Polk County supports 6,694 students through a network of 26 public schools spread across 8 districts. The infrastructure consists of 11 elementary schools, 7 middle schools, and 8 high schools that serve the region's widely dispersed population.
Traditional Districts Lead the Way
The Osceola School District is the largest in the county, enrolling 1,594 students across four schools. Traditional public districts dominate the landscape, as there are currently no charter schools operating within the county's boundaries.
Small-Town Feel in Every Classroom
With 22 of its 26 schools located in rural settings, education here feels intimate and community-focused. The average school size is just 257 students, with Osceola High standing as the largest institution with 551 students.
School Overview
Total Schools
26
in Polk County
Reported Enrollment
6,694
26 schools reporting
School Districts
8
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
8 School Districts in Polk County
Osceola School District
Amery School District
Saint Croix Falls School District
Unity School District
Clear Lake School District
Frederic School District
Luck School District
Clayton School District
26 Public Schools in Polk 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 20 of 26 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Osceola High | Record | Osceola School District | Osceola, 54020Town: Distant | 9–12 | High | 551 |
| Amery High | Record | Amery School District | Amery, 54001Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 465 |
| Osceola Elementary | Record | Osceola School District | Osceola, 54020Town: Distant | PK–2 | Primary | 397 |
| Unity Elementary | Record | Unity School District | Balsam Lake, 54810Rural: Remote | PK–4 | Primary | 396 |
| Lien Elementary | Record | Amery School District | Amery, 54001Rural: Fringe | PK–3 | Primary | 347 |
| Saint Croix Falls Elementary | Record | Saint Croix Falls School District | Saint Croix Falls, 54024Rural: Distant | PK–4 | Primary | 347 |
| Saint Croix Falls High | Record | Saint Croix Falls School District | Saint Croix Falls, 54024Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 342 |
| Osceola Middle | Record | Osceola School District | Osceola, 54020Rural: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 339 |
| Saint Croix Falls Middle | Record | Saint Croix Falls School District | Saint Croix Falls, 54024Rural: Distant | 5–8 | Middle | 332 |
| Osceola Intermediate | Record | Osceola School District | Osceola, 54020Town: Distant | 3–5 | Primary | 307 |
| Amery Middle | Record | Amery School District | Amery, 54001Rural: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 300 |
| Unity High | Record | Unity School District | Balsam Lake, 54810Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 296 |
| Amery Intermediate | Record | Amery School District | Amery, 54001Rural: Fringe | 3–5 | Primary | 285 |
| Gaylord A Nelson Educational Center | Record | Clear Lake School District | Clear Lake, 54005Rural: Distant | PK–6 | Primary | 284 |
| Unity Middle | Record | Unity School District | Balsam Lake, 54810Rural: Remote | 5–8 | Middle | 262 |
| Frederic 6-12 School | Record | Frederic School District | Frederic, 54837Rural: Remote | 6–12 | High | 221 |
| Frederic Elementary | Record | Frederic School District | Frederic, 54837Rural: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 208 |
| Luck Elementary | Record | Luck School District | Luck, 54853Rural: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 190 |
| Clear Lake High | Record | Clear Lake School District | Clear Lake, 54005Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 181 |
| Clayton Elementary | Record | Clayton School District | Clayton, 54004Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 137 |
Osceola Elementary
Osceola School District
Osceola, 54020 / Town: Distant
Unity Elementary
Unity School District
Balsam Lake, 54810 / Rural: Remote
Saint Croix Falls Elementary
Saint Croix Falls School District
Saint Croix Falls, 54024 / Rural: Distant
Saint Croix Falls High
Saint Croix Falls School District
Saint Croix Falls, 54024 / Rural: Distant
Saint Croix Falls Middle
Saint Croix Falls School District
Saint Croix Falls, 54024 / Rural: Distant
Osceola Intermediate
Osceola School District
Osceola, 54020 / Town: Distant
Gaylord A Nelson Educational Center
Clear Lake School District
Clear Lake, 54005 / Rural: Distant
Frederic 6-12 School
Frederic School District
Frederic, 54837 / Rural: Remote
Frederic Elementary
Frederic School District
Frederic, 54837 / Rural: Remote
Clear Lake High
Clear Lake School District
Clear Lake, 54005 / Rural: Distant
Clayton Elementary
Clayton School District
Clayton, 54004 / Rural: Distant
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$8,193
State avg $8,113
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Polk 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 Polk County?
What is the graduation rate in Polk County?
How much does Polk County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Polk County, Wisconsin — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Polk County, Wisconsin?
Polk County supports 6,694 students through a network of 26 public schools spread across 8 districts. The infrastructure consists of 11 elementary schools, 7 middle schools, and 8 high schools that serve the region's widely dispersed population.
What are the major school districts in Polk County, Wisconsin?
The Osceola School District is the largest in the county, enrolling 1,594 students across four schools. Traditional public districts dominate the landscape, as there are currently no charter schools operating within the county's boundaries.
What is the school experience like in Polk County?
With 22 of its 26 schools located in rural settings, education here feels intimate and community-focused. The average school size is just 257 students, with Osceola High standing as the largest institution with 551 students.
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.