Rusk County Schools & Education
Rusk County, Wisconsin
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
62/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
91.1%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
91.1%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 91.8%
Per-Pupil Spending
$8,118
National avg $13,239
State avg $8,113
School Score
62/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 65/100
State Score Position
#49
of 72 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Rusk County
Measured School Summary
Rusk County performs at an average level with a school score of 62/100 and a solid graduation rate of 91.1%.
Funding Context
Rusk County spends $8,118 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 4% below the Wisconsin average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 0.7 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 0% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Rusk 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
9 public schools and 3 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
62/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #49 of 72 Wisconsin counties with school score data.
Completion
91.1%
0.7 pts below the state average
Funding context
$8,118
roughly matches the state average
School coverage
9
3 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
Rusk County has 9 public schools across 3 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 Rusk 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
Rusk 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
#49
of 72 Wisconsin counties with school score data. The county score is 3 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.
Ladysmith School District
Elementary to high school visible
743 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
Flambeau School District
Elementary to high school visible
461 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
Bruce School District
Elementary to high school visible
410 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Bruce 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 Rusk County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Rusk 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 Rusk 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.
Small Districts Serving a Rural Population
Rusk County supports 1,614 students across 9 public schools in 3 distinct districts. The infrastructure is evenly split among 3 elementary, 3 middle, and 3 high schools, ensuring a consistent path for students as they grow.
Ladysmith and Bruce District Highlights
The Ladysmith School District is the largest in the county, serving 743 students. All schools in Rusk County are traditional public institutions, as there are currently no charter schools in operation.
Tiny Schools, Big Community Connections
Eight of the nine schools in Rusk County are located in rural settings, and the average school size is just 179 students. This creates a very intimate learning environment where Ladysmith Elementary is the largest school at 329 students.
School Overview
Total Schools
9
in Rusk County
Reported Enrollment
1,614
9 schools reporting
School Districts
3
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
3 School Districts in Rusk County
Ladysmith School District
Flambeau School District
Bruce School District
9 Public Schools in Rusk 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 9 of 9 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ladysmith Elementary | Record | Ladysmith School District | Ladysmith, 54848Town: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 329 |
| Ladysmith High | Record | Ladysmith School District | Ladysmith, 54848Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 245 |
| Flambeau Elementary | Record | Flambeau School District | Tony, 54563Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 214 |
| Bruce Elementary | Record | Bruce School District | Bruce, 54819Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 200 |
| Ladysmith Middle | Record | Ladysmith School District | Ladysmith, 54848Rural: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 169 |
| Flambeau High | Record | Flambeau School District | Tony, 54563Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 141 |
| Bruce High | Record | Bruce School District | Bruce, 54819Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 131 |
| Flambeau Middle | Record | Flambeau School District | Tony, 54563Rural: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 106 |
| Bruce Middle | Record | Bruce School District | Bruce, 54819Rural: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 79 |
Ladysmith Elementary
Ladysmith School District
Ladysmith, 54848 / Town: Distant
Flambeau Elementary
Flambeau School District
Tony, 54563 / Rural: Distant
Ladysmith Middle
Ladysmith School District
Ladysmith, 54848 / Rural: Fringe
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$8,118
State avg $8,113
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Rusk 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 Rusk County?
What is the graduation rate in Rusk County?
How much does Rusk County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Rusk County, Wisconsin — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Rusk County, Wisconsin?
Rusk County supports 1,614 students across 9 public schools in 3 distinct districts. The infrastructure is evenly split among 3 elementary, 3 middle, and 3 high schools, ensuring a consistent path for students as they grow.
What are the major school districts in Rusk County, Wisconsin?
The Ladysmith School District is the largest in the county, serving 743 students. All schools in Rusk County are traditional public institutions, as there are currently no charter schools in operation.
What is the school experience like in Rusk County?
Eight of the nine schools in Rusk County are located in rural settings, and the average school size is just 179 students. This creates a very intimate learning environment where Ladysmith Elementary is the largest school at 329 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.