The top reported proficiency rate is 75% in Social studies. The lowest is 39% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Linn J4 School District
Linn J4 School District is a small, PK-through-8th-grade district in Walworth County that operates a single school building, Traver Elementary. The district does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report, and the academic picture is limited to the state assessments taken in grades 3 through 8. Many of those grade-level results are suppressed due to very small student counts, which is a common pattern when a district has only a handful of students per grade.
From the reported data, performance varies noticeably by subject and grade. Fifth graders showed a strong share of students meeting or exceeding expectations in math, while seventh and eighth graders in that same subject had a smaller share reaching the proficient level. In English language arts, the seventh grade cohort had a modest majority proficient, while other reported grades had a smaller share. Eighth graders showed a solid majority proficient in social studies, and half of that grade met the bar in science. Because the groups are small, a single student’s result can shift the rate noticeably, and parents may want to discuss with the school how it supports students across the full range of readiness. The district’s overall proficiency index, which averages tested subjects and grades, sits in the bottom quartile among Walworth County’s districts.
Enrollment is small, with roughly a total that would fill a medium-sized elementary school. The student body is predominantly white, with a substantial Hispanic population and a small share identifying as two or more races. Data on economic disadvantage and on students with disabilities or English learner status was not available from the source, so a parent would need to ask the district directly about those support services and the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals.
The chronic absenteeism rate is reported and falls above the midpoint among county districts, meaning a larger share of students miss a notable number of school days compared to many of its neighbors. This is a metric a family may want to explore further with the school to understand what drives it and what attendance supports are in place.
On the financial side, the district’s per-pupil current spending places in the upper range among Walworth County’s districts. This reflects in part the district’s reliance on voter-approved operating referendums. As publicly reported, a recurring operating referendum passed in 2021 strengthened the operational base budget, and another passed in 2024 to support ongoing operational costs and key capital projects. These measures have a lasting impact on the district’s financial stability, staffing, facilities, and the educational program at Traver School.
Housing in the area, drawn from the Lake Geneva ZIP code that partly overlaps the district, shows home values that are above the Wisconsin statewide benchmark and well above the national typical home value. The area’s median household income and mortgage rate context are national figures, not specific to the district, but the price-to-income ratio suggests that buying a home here requires a notably higher multiple of income than the national typical.
The district is a K-8 setting, meaning students who continue into high school must transfer to another district for grades 9 through 12. That is an important planning consideration for families with older children. The district’s single school building keeps the community tight-knit, and the small class sizes mean students get a lot of individual attention from teachers. The academic results are uneven across grades and subjects, which is worth a conversation with the school about how curriculum and support are structured to ensure consistent progress through the middle grades. The financial commitments the community has made through referendums signal an investment in the district’s long-term viability.
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