Hayward Community School District, WI

Original Research by School Decision on Hayward Community School District

The Hayward Community School District serves a rural region of Sawyer County in northwestern Wisconsin, covering the town of Hayward and several smaller communities. The district has about the enrollment that is moderate for a county of this size, operating a primary school, an intermediate school, a middle school, a high school, and two specialized schools: Northern Waters Environmental School and the Hayward Center for Individualized Learning. The student body is predominantly white, with a substantial American Indian population and smaller shares of Hispanic, multiracial, and other backgrounds. Data on the share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price meals, receiving special education services, or classified as English learners was not reported in the available records.

House values in the area are generally in line with the national median, though they vary considerably by zip code across the district's wide boundary. The housing market has seen modest appreciation in recent years, and mortgage rates nationally have edged up. The broader economic context shows a national unemployment rate below historical averages.

State testing results are available for grades three through eight. In elementary grades, math proficiency rates are fairly consistent, with a slight dip by sixth grade and a further decline in seventh and eighth grade. English language arts proficiency rates follow a similar pattern: stronger in third and fifth grades, then lower in the middle school years. Science scores are available for fourth and eighth grades, and social studies scores for those same grades. Social studies is a relative bright spot, with the large majority of tested students meeting proficiency standards. A parent looking at these numbers will see a district where younger elementary students generally perform better than their middle school peers, and may want to explore what supports are in place for those later grades.

The district does not report a high school graduation rate in the data provided, so that benchmark is absent. Given that the district serves grades PK through 12, this is a gap a parent may wish to follow up on directly with the school.

Chronic absenteeism among students was reported and is lower than the average among Sawyer County's districts; it falls in the strongest tier on that measure within that small comparison set. That is a meaningful positive signal, as it suggests students are generally attending school regularly.

The district has recently made several changes that are relevant to families. Voters approved a facilities referendum that has funded major renovations and additions across the district, including new science labs, a renovated auditorium, and expanded career and technical education spaces at the high school; that high school work was completed in fall 2024, with other projects continuing. A separate operating referendum was approved in 2024 to allow the district to exceed its revenue limit for ongoing operational expenses, including staffing and programs. The district also adopted new reading curriculum materials to comply with Wisconsin's early literacy law, shifting to structured literacy approaches in elementary grades. Career and technical education offerings have expanded, with new pathways in welding and healthcare certification programs that allow students to earn industry credentials before graduation.

Families considering Hayward will find a district that has invested in its facilities and CTE programming, with stable elementary test results and a pattern of declining middle school proficiency that warrants attention. The student body reflects the region's demographics, with a significant Native American presence. Housing is moderately priced relative to national averages, and the area is rural with a small-town core. The absence of high school outcome data and limited information on special populations means that a thorough evaluation may require direct outreach to the district.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

1,891

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 6%

Black 1%

White 69%

Asian 0%

Two+ 7%

Am. Indian / AK Native 16%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

50%

78%

Gr 4

51%

64%

Gr 5

59%

62%

Gr 6

47%

66%

Gr 7

49%

64%

Gr 8

57%

73%

Math

Gr 3

47%

86%

Gr 4

61%

68%

Gr 5

62%

68%

Gr 6

54%

69%

Gr 7

48%

67%

Gr 8

37%

65%

Science

Gr 4

51%

59%

Gr 8

54%

70%

Social studies

Gr 4

80%

76%

Gr 8

74%

85%

source_specific:read

Gr 3

47%

73%

Gr 4

57%

64%

Gr 5

57%

64%

Gr 6

50%

64%

Gr 7

54%

66%

Gr 8

69%

78%

source_specific:wri

Gr 3

50%

78%

Gr 4

51%

59%

Gr 5

61%

60%

Gr 6

47%

66%

Gr 7

41%

61%

Gr 8

48%

60%

Schools in this District

6 schools are officially reported under this district.

Northern Waters Environmental School

Hayward Ctr for Individualized Learning

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

6 grades reported

65%

Grade 3

65%

Grade 4

65%

Grade 5

61%

Grade 6

57%

Grade 7

52%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

63%

Grade 3

58%

Grade 4

61%

Grade 5

56%

Grade 6

57%

Grade 7

66%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

56%

Grade 4

62%

Grade 8

Social Studies

2 grades reported

78%

Grade 4

80%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$366,062

Year-over-year change+3.3%

Range across 7 ZIP codes$233K to $466K

vs. state typical1.10x

vs. national typical0.99x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (7 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
54843	Hayward	$366K	+2.8%	78.9%
54876	Stone Lake	$466K	+4.2%	9.2%
54517	Clam Lake	$282K	+6.3%	4.7%
54875	Springbrook	$254K	+9.2%	3.4%
54896	Winter	$233K	+2.8%	1.2%
54821	Cable	$376K	+5.7%	0.7%
54859	Minong	$321K	+4.1%	0.0%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$1,847/mo

Home price / national median income4.4x

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.