Washburn County Schools & Education
Washburn County, Wisconsin
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
69/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
91.9%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
91.9%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 91.8%
Per-Pupil Spending
$8,676
National avg $13,239
State avg $8,113
School Score
69/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 65/100
State Score Position
#29
of 72 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Washburn County
Measured School Summary
Washburn County performs at an average level with a school score of 69/100 and a solid graduation rate of 91.9%.
Funding Context
Washburn County spends $8,676 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 6% above the Wisconsin average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 0.1 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 7% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Washburn 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
16 public schools and 4 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
69/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #29 of 72 Wisconsin counties with school score data.
Completion
91.9%
0.1 pts above the state average
Funding context
$8,676
$563 above the state average
School coverage
16
4 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
Washburn County has 16 public schools across 4 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 Washburn 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
Washburn 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
#29
of 72 Wisconsin counties with school score data. The county score is 4 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.
Spooner Area School District
Elementary to high school visible
1,015 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
Shell Lake School District
Elementary and high visible
636 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
Northwood School District
Elementary to high school visible
313 students
4 listed schools in this county slice.
Birchwood School District
Elementary to high school visible
267 students
6 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Birchwood 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 Washburn County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Washburn 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 Washburn 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-scale education across four rural districts
Washburn County maintains a focused education system with 16 public schools serving just 2,231 total students. These schools are managed by four districts, providing a highly personalized environment for the region's youth. The infrastructure includes six elementary and five high schools, ensuring coverage from early childhood through graduation.
A unique emphasis on charter school options
Nearly 44% of the county's schools are charter institutions, representing one of the highest charter concentrations in the state. While Birchwood is the largest district by school count with six campuses, the Shell Lake and Spooner districts serve the largest concentrations of students. Spooner Elementary is the biggest single school in the county, enrolling 375 students.
Intimate schools in a vast rural landscape
Education in Washburn County is defined by its rurality, with 15 of the 16 schools located in rural settings. The average school size is just 139 students, offering a level of individual attention rarely found in more urbanized areas. Families can choose between small specialized charters and traditional hubs like Spooner High.
School Overview
Total Schools
16
in Washburn County
Reported Enrollment
2,231
16 schools reporting
School Districts
4
districts
Charter Schools
7
44% of total
School Level Breakdown
4 School Districts in Washburn County
Spooner Area School District
Shell Lake School District
Northwood School District
Birchwood School District
16 Public Schools in Washburn 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 16 of 16 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spooner Elementary | Record | Spooner Area School District | Spooner, 54801Rural: Fringe | PK–4 | Primary | 375 |
| Spooner High | Record | Spooner Area School District | Spooner, 54801Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 363 |
| Shell Lake Junior/Senior High | Record | Shell Lake School District | Shell Lake, 54871Rural: Distant | 7–12 | High | 311 |
| Spooner Middle | Record | Spooner Area School District | Spooner, 54801Town: Remote | 5–8 | Middle | 277 |
| Shell Lake Elementary (3-6) | Record | Shell Lake School District | Shell Lake, 54871Rural: Distant | 3–6 | Primary | 178 |
| Shell Lake Primary (K-2) | Record | Shell Lake School District | Shell Lake, 54871Rural: Distant | PK–2 | Primary | 147 |
| Northwood Elementary | Record | Northwood School District | Minong, 54859Rural: Remote | PK–5 | Charter | 145 |
| Northwood High/Middle | Record | Northwood School District | Minong, 54859Rural: Remote | 6–12 | Charter | 144 |
| Birchwood Elementary | Record | Birchwood School District | Birchwood, 54817Rural: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 101 |
| Birchwood High | Record | Birchwood School District | Birchwood, 54817Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 61 |
| Birchwood Middle | Record | Birchwood School District | Birchwood, 54817Rural: Remote | 6–8 | Middle | 47 |
| Birchwood Public Montessori | Record | Birchwood School District | Birchwood, 54817Rural: Remote | PK–6 | Charter | 32 |
| NorthStar Community Charter School | Record | Northwood School District | Minong, 54859Rural: Remote | 4–8 | Charter | 23 |
| Bobcat Virtual Academy | Record | Birchwood School District | Birchwood, 54817Rural: Remote | PK–12 | CharterVirtual | 19 |
| Birchwood Blue Hills Charter School | Record | Birchwood School District | Birchwood, 54817Rural: Remote | 7–12 | Charter | 7 |
| Northwood Virtual Charter School | Record | Northwood School District | Minong, 54859Rural: Remote | PK–12 | Charter | 1 |
Spooner Elementary
Spooner Area School District
Spooner, 54801 / Rural: Fringe
Shell Lake Junior/Senior High
Shell Lake School District
Shell Lake, 54871 / Rural: Distant
Shell Lake Elementary (3-6)
Shell Lake School District
Shell Lake, 54871 / Rural: Distant
Shell Lake Primary (K-2)
Shell Lake School District
Shell Lake, 54871 / Rural: Distant
Northwood Elementary
Northwood School District
Minong, 54859 / Rural: Remote
Northwood High/Middle
Northwood School District
Minong, 54859 / Rural: Remote
Birchwood Elementary
Birchwood School District
Birchwood, 54817 / Rural: Remote
Birchwood Public Montessori
Birchwood School District
Birchwood, 54817 / Rural: Remote
NorthStar Community Charter School
Northwood School District
Minong, 54859 / Rural: Remote
Bobcat Virtual Academy
Birchwood School District
Birchwood, 54817 / Rural: Remote
Birchwood Blue Hills Charter School
Birchwood School District
Birchwood, 54817 / Rural: Remote
Northwood Virtual Charter School
Northwood School District
Minong, 54859 / Rural: Remote
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$8,676
State avg $8,113
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Washburn 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 Washburn County?
What is the graduation rate in Washburn County?
How much does Washburn County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Washburn County, Wisconsin — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Washburn County, Wisconsin?
Washburn County maintains a focused education system with 16 public schools serving just 2,231 total students. These schools are managed by four districts, providing a highly personalized environment for the region's youth. The infrastructure includes six elementary and five high schools, ensuring coverage from early childhood through graduation.
What are the major school districts in Washburn County, Wisconsin?
Nearly 44% of the county's schools are charter institutions, representing one of the highest charter concentrations in the state. While Birchwood is the largest district by school count with six campuses, the Shell Lake and Spooner districts serve the largest concentrations of students. Spooner Elementary is the biggest single school in the county, enrolling 375 students.
What is the school experience like in Washburn County?
Education in Washburn County is defined by its rurality, with 15 of the 16 schools located in rural settings. The average school size is just 139 students, offering a level of individual attention rarely found in more urbanized areas. Families can choose between small specialized charters and traditional hubs like Spooner High.
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.