Baraboo School District, WI

Original Research by School Decision on Baraboo School District

Baraboo School District serves a broad swath of south-central Wisconsin, covering the city of Baraboo and the smaller communities of North Freedom, Rock Springs, and Merrimac. The district runs from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade and includes several elementary schools, a middle school, a high school, and early-learning centers. The student body is predominantly white, with a Hispanic population that makes up a meaningful share and smaller numbers of students who identify as two or more races, American Indian or Alaska Native, Black, or Asian. The district’s enrollment is spread fairly evenly across the grades, with a slight bulge in the upper elementary and high school years.

On state assessments, Baraboo’s results sit in the bottom quartile among Sauk County’s districts for overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades. In math, the share of students scoring proficient or above varies by grade, with fourth grade and eighth grade showing the highest rates and third, fifth, and sixth grades lower. English language arts results follow a similar pattern, with fifth grade the strongest and sixth grade the weakest. Science proficiency is higher at fourth grade than at eighth grade. Social studies is a relative bright spot: both fourth and eighth grade post rates that are notably stronger than the district’s other subjects. A parent looking at these numbers will see a district where a little over half of students meet the bar in some grades and subjects, and a little under half in others. The district’s overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile among Sauk County’s districts.

Chronic absenteeism is a concern. The district’s rate falls in the bottom quartile among the county’s five districts, meaning a higher share of students are missing substantial school. A parent may want to ask the district what supports are in place to address attendance.

The district serves a mix of communities. Baraboo is the largest, with a historic downtown and a tourism draw from the nearby Wisconsin Dells and Devil’s Lake State Park. North Freedom, Rock Springs, and Merrimac are smaller villages. Housing values vary across the district, with the highest in Merrimac and the lowest in Rock Springs, while Baraboo itself sits near the middle. Rents are available only for the Baraboo ZIP code. The district’s per-pupil spending is in the middle range among Sauk County’s districts, in the upper half.

The district has seen a leadership transition. The previous superintendent resigned in early 2025, and the interim superintendent was selected to take the role permanently starting July 2025. A parent may want to understand how this change affects the district’s priorities. The district also made a major capital investment in facilities in a recent fiscal year, which suggests ongoing attention to the physical condition of its schools.

The district operates nine schools: a high school, a middle school, five elementary schools, a kindergarten center, and two early-learning programs. The high school and middle school serve the bulk of secondary students, while the elementary schools are spread across the communities. The early-learning centers include a Head Start program and a cooperative preschool, giving the district a formal entry point for families with very young children.

Chronic absenteeism is a soft spot. The rate is in the bottom quartile among Sauk County’s districts, meaning a higher proportion of students are missing school frequently. This is a metric a parent may want to discuss with the district to understand what interventions are in place.

The district’s housing market is mixed. The Baraboo ZIP code, which covers the largest share of the district, has home values that are below the state median. The smaller community of Merrimac has notably higher values. Rents are available only for Baraboo itself. The national economic context shows a 30-year fixed mortgage rate that has been fluctuating in the mid-six percent range, which affects affordability for families buying in.

The district’s per-pupil spending is in the middle range among Sauk County’s districts, in the upper half. A major capital outlay in a recent fiscal year, with a large share going to construction, points to investment in facilities. The leadership change to a permanent superintendent in mid-2025 is a development worth watching for any shifts in academic strategy or community engagement.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

2,708

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 11%

Black 2%

White 78%

Asian 1%

Two+ 5%

Am. Indian / AK Native 3%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

32%

61%

Gr 4

33%

58%

Gr 5

38%

63%

Gr 6

23%

56%

Gr 7

33%

60%

Gr 8

37%

54%

Math

Gr 3

33%

59%

Gr 4

45%

71%

Gr 5

33%

57%

Gr 6

31%

60%

Gr 7

38%

58%

Gr 8

45%

61%

Science

Gr 4

41%

66%

Gr 8

39%

53%

Social studies

Gr 4

48%

78%

Gr 8

56%

75%

source_specific:read

Gr 3

36%

65%

Gr 4

37%

62%

Gr 5

40%

60%

Gr 6

30%

64%

Gr 7

39%

64%

Gr 8

38%

57%

source_specific:wri

Gr 3

30%

59%

Gr 4

34%

62%

Gr 5

40%

53%

Gr 6

24%

53%

Gr 7

29%

59%

Gr 8

38%

48%

Schools in this District

9 schools are officially reported under this district.

North Freedom Elementary

Al Behrman Elementary

West Elementary-Kindergarten Center

BELC--Renewal Head Start

Baraboo Early Learning Cooperative

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

6 grades reported

45%

Grade 3

58%

Grade 4

44%

Grade 5

46%

Grade 6

47%

Grade 7

52%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

46%

Grade 3

45%

Grade 4

49%

Grade 5

40%

Grade 6

47%

Grade 7

45%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

54%

Grade 4

45%

Grade 8

Social Studies

2 grades reported

63%

Grade 4

64%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$317,063

Year-over-year change+3.7%

Range across 6 ZIP codes$289K to $488K

vs. state typical0.95x

vs. national typical0.86x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (6 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
53913	Baraboo	$309K	+3.4%	79.5%
53951	North Freedom	$318K	+6.2%	13.4%
53561	Merrimac	$488K	+1.6%	3.9%
53959	Reedsburg	$311K	+5.3%	1.4%
53961	Rock Springs	$289K	+4.9%	1.3%
53901	Portage	$289K	+4.3%	0.6%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,473/mo

ZIP code rents (1 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
53913	Baraboo	$1,473	—	79.5%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$1,600/mo

Home price / national median income3.8x

Annual rent / national median income21.1%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$127/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$333,909 (+5.4% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.