schoolsbycounty

Vernon County Schools & Education

School Score

78/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Higher Signal

Graduation Rate

94.6%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

94.6%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 91.8%

Per-Pupil Spending

$8,535

National avg $13,239

State avg $8,113

School Score

78/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 65/100

State Score Position

#10

of 72 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Vernon County

Measured School Summary

Vernon County has a higher measured school signal with a school score of 78/100 and a graduation rate of 94.6%, based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-score inputs.

Funding Context

Vernon County spends $8,535 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 20% above the Wisconsin average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 2.8 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 5% higher than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Vernon 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

23 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

78/100

Higher measured signal. Ranks #10 of 72 Wisconsin counties with school score data.

Completion

94.6%

2.8 pts above the state average

Funding context

$8,535

$422 above the state average

School coverage

23

6 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

Vernon County has 23 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.

Parent decision brief

What Vernon 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

Vernon 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

#10

of 72 Wisconsin counties with school score data. The county score is 13 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.

Viroqua Area School District

Elementary to high school visible

1,050 students

Elementary 2Middle 1High 3Other 0

6 listed schools in this county slice.

Westby Area School District

Elementary to high school visible

1,009 students

Elementary 2Middle 1High 1Other 0

4 listed schools in this county slice.

Hillsboro School District

Elementary and high visible

501 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

Kickapoo Area School District

Elementary and high visible

470 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Viroqua Area School District is the largest listed district slice, with 6 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 Vernon County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Vernon 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 Vernon 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 Schools, Big Educational Impact

Vernon County supports 23 public schools and six districts, enrolling a total of 3,747 students. The landscape is characterized by its high number of campuses relative to its population, including eight high schools.

Viroqua and Westby Lead with Innovation

The Viroqua Area School District is the largest, serving 1,050 students. Education here is highly specialized, with charter schools making up nearly 22% of all public school options in the county.

Intimate Classes in a Scenic Setting

With an average school size of just 163 students, Vernon County offers the most personal learning environments in the region. Most schools are rural, providing a quiet and focused atmosphere for students.

School Overview

Total Schools

23

in Vernon County

Reported Enrollment

3,747

23 schools reporting

School Districts

6

districts

Charter Schools

5

22% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary10
Middle4
High8
Other1

6 School Districts in Vernon County

Viroqua Area School District

6 schools
1,050 students

Westby Area School District

4 schools
1,009 students

Hillsboro School District

2 schools
501 students

Kickapoo Area School District

2 schools
470 students

De Soto Area School District

5 schools
468 students

La Farge School District

4 schools
249 students

23 Public Schools in Vernon 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 data

Level

Showing 20 of 23 matching schools

Viroqua High

Viroqua Area School District

Viroqua, 54665 / Town: Distant

Record9–12High303 students

Westby High

Westby Area School District

Westby, 54667 / Rural: Distant

Record9–12High300 students

Viroqua Elementary

Viroqua Area School District

Viroqua, 54665 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–4Primary299 students

Westby Middle

Westby Area School District

Westby, 54667 / Rural: Distant

Record5–8Middle295 students

Westby Elementary

Westby Area School District

Westby, 54667 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–4Primary283 students

Hillsboro High

Hillsboro School District

Hillsboro, 54634 / Rural: Remote

Record6–12High271 students

Kickapoo High

Kickapoo Area School District

Viola, 54664 / Rural: Remote

Record6–12High265 students

Viroqua Middle

Viroqua Area School District

Viroqua, 54665 / Town: Distant

Record5–8Middle247 students

Hillsboro Elementary

Hillsboro School District

Hillsboro, 54634 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–5Primary230 students

Kickapoo Elementary

Kickapoo Area School District

Viola, 54664 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–5Primary205 students

Viroqua Area Montessori School

Viroqua Area School District

Viroqua, 54665 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–8Charter145 students

Coon Valley Elementary

Westby Area School District

Coon Valley, 54623 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–4Primary131 students

De Soto High

De Soto Area School District

De Soto, 54624 / Rural: Distant

Record9–12High127 students

Stoddard Elementary

De Soto Area School District

Stoddard, 54658 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–5Primary121 students

Prairie View Elementary

De Soto Area School District

De Soto, 54624 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary112 students

De Soto Middle

De Soto Area School District

De Soto, 54624 / Rural: Distant

Record6–8Middle100 students

La Farge Elementary

La Farge School District

La Farge, 54639 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–5Primary97 students

La Farge High

La Farge School District

La Farge, 54639 / Rural: Remote

Record9–12High64 students

Kickapoo Valley Forest School

La Farge School District

La Farge, 54639 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–1Charter47 students

La Farge Middle

La Farge School District

La Farge, 54639 / Rural: Remote

Record6–8Middle41 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$8,535

State avg $8,113

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Vernon County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which Wisconsin counties have the highest graduation rates?
Ozaukee County (97.6%), Oneida County (96.8%), and Vilas County (96.1%) currently lead Wisconsin among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.
What is per-pupil spending like in Wisconsin?
Across Wisconsin counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $8,113. The highest current county values are Bayfield County ($10,665), Vilas County ($10,435), and Florence County ($10,426). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.
How should I read the school score in Vernon County?
Vernon County has a school score of 78/100, which is a higher measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.
What is the graduation rate in Vernon County?
The high school graduation rate in Vernon County is 94.6%, which is above the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.
How much does Vernon County spend per student?
Vernon County spends $8,535 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Vernon County, Wisconsin — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Vernon County, Wisconsin?

Vernon County supports 23 public schools and six districts, enrolling a total of 3,747 students. The landscape is characterized by its high number of campuses relative to its population, including eight high schools.

What are the major school districts in Vernon County, Wisconsin?

The Viroqua Area School District is the largest, serving 1,050 students. Education here is highly specialized, with charter schools making up nearly 22% of all public school options in the county.

What is the school experience like in Vernon County?

With an average school size of just 163 students, Vernon County offers the most personal learning environments in the region. Most schools are rural, providing a quiet and focused atmosphere for students.

Counties with Similar School Profile

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

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.