Menomonie Area School District, WI

Original Research by School Decision on Menomonie Area School District

The School District of the Menomonie Area serves a sizeable section of rural west-central Wisconsin, covering the city of Menomonie and a handful of smaller surrounding communities such as Knapp, Downsville, and parts of Colfax and Elk Mound. The district is the largest by enrollment in Dunn County, with a student population that is predominantly white. Asian students make up the next largest group, followed by smaller shares of Hispanic, two-or-more-races, Black, and Native American students. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch was not available, nor were figures on students with disabilities or English learners, so a parent would need to ask the district for that picture directly.

The district runs eight schools: a 4K program, five elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. Each elementary school serves a distinct attendance area across the district's geography, which means commute patterns vary. Families in the more rural northern reaches might send a child to Knapp Elementary or Downsville Elementary, while those inside Menomonie itself typically attend Oaklawn, Wakanda, or River Heights. All elementary students then feed into a single middle school and a single high school, so the peer group consolidates at the secondary level.

Academically, the district shows a mixed pattern that a parent will want to weigh against their own expectations. On the 2024–25 Wisconsin Forward exams, math proficiency rates climbed steadily from third grade through seventh grade, peaking at a level that is a clear strength. Eighth-grade math then dropped back. English language arts proficiency followed a similar upward trajectory, though the peak in seventh grade was more moderate. Science and social studies, tested only in grades four and eight, both showed eighth-grade results noticeably stronger than fourth-grade. Taken together, the district's overall proficiency index across all tested subjects and grades places it in the bottom quartile among Dunn County's three districts. That is a soft spot. At the same time, a parent should note that the county's other two districts are much smaller, and a small-district comparison can amplify differences. The per-pupil current spending here sits in the middle range, upper half among the same group, which suggests the district is not under-resourced compared to its immediate neighbors.

The district has made several recent financial and operational moves that families should understand. In April 2022, voters approved a recurring operational referendum that lets the district exceed its state-imposed revenue limit annually through 2027. That directly funds educational programs and operations, and it has a lasting impact on property tax bills. In November 2024, voters passed two more referendum questions: one authorizes borrowing for capital improvements such as safety upgrades, roofing, and HVAC work, and the other allows the district to exceed the revenue limit again for operational and educational expenses from 2025 through 2029. Together, these three referendums mean the district has chosen to ask taxpayers for sustained additional funding, which families moving into the area should factor into their housing cost calculations.

On the pedagogical side, the district has shifted to standards-based grading for elementary and middle school, beginning in the 2023–24 school year with full implementation targeted for 2025–26. Report cards will no longer carry traditional letter grades but instead proficiency-based indicators tied to Wisconsin Academic Standards. That is a meaningful change for a parent used to A-through-F marks, and it is worth understanding how the school communicates student progress under this system.

Chronic absenteeism in the district registers as a concern. The rate places it in the bottom quartile among Dunn County's districts, meaning a higher share of students are missing substantial school than in neighboring systems. A parent may want to ask what supports the district has in place to address attendance, especially at the middle and high school levels where absenteeism often climbs.

Housing in the district centers on Menomonie, whose ZIP code accounts for the bulk of the area's home values. Typical home prices there are in line with the state median, and rents are moderate relative to incomes. The district covers a mix of small-town and rural settings, so housing options range from older homes on village lots to acreage properties. This is not a high-pressure market, but the recent referendum approvals signal that property taxes are likely to rise.

On balance, the School District of the Menomonie Area offers a solidly middle-ground academic experience in a traditional small-city and rural setting, with recent financial investments that aim to sustain programs and improve facilities. The proficiency results are uneven, particularly in the earlier elementary grades, and the chronic absenteeism figure raises a flag. The shift to standards-based grading will change how parents track their child's progress. For a family that values a cohesive secondary experience with a single middle and high school, and that accepts the trade-offs of a county-seat school system with modest academic outcomes compared to its smaller neighbors, this district is a straightforward option worth investigating directly.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

3,244

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 4%

Black 1%

White 79%

Asian 10%

Two+ 5%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

34%

60%

Gr 4

36%

61%

Gr 5

34%

67%

Gr 6

36%

78%

Gr 7

47%

72%

Gr 8

41%

68%

Math

Gr 3

39%

60%

Gr 4

42%

69%

Gr 5

33%

69%

Gr 6

43%

86%

Gr 7

61%

86%

Gr 8

46%

69%

Science

Gr 4

40%

65%

Gr 8

38%

72%

Social studies

Gr 4

51%

78%

Gr 8

49%

82%

source_specific:read

Gr 3

33%

64%

Gr 4

34%

59%

Gr 5

30%

66%

Gr 6

38%

75%

Gr 7

41%

70%

Gr 8

41%

68%

source_specific:wri

Gr 3

33%

55%

Gr 4

34%

66%

Gr 5

33%

68%

Gr 6

37%

76%

Gr 7

49%

68%

Gr 8

35%

64%

Schools in this District

8 schools are officially reported under this district.

Knapp Elementary

Oaklawn Elementary

Wakanda Elementary

Downsville Elementary

Menomonie High

Menomonie Middle

River Heights Elementary

School District of the Menomonie Area 4K

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

6 grades reported

50%

Grade 3

58%

Grade 4

52%

Grade 5

66%

Grade 6

75%

Grade 7

61%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

47%

Grade 3

50%

Grade 4

51%

Grade 5

58%

Grade 6

61%

Grade 7

59%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

55%

Grade 4

60%

Grade 8

Social Studies

2 grades reported

67%

Grade 4

70%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$308,825

Year-over-year change+3.7%

Range across 11 ZIP codes$250K to $393K

vs. state typical0.92x

vs. national typical0.84x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (11 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
54751	Menomonie	$306K	+3.6%	81.9%
54749	Knapp	$299K	+3.5%	8.1%
54739	Elk Mound	$372K	+5.1%	4.4%
54730	Colfax	$321K	+4.8%	2.4%
54767	Spring Valley	$316K	+2.6%	1.4%
54725	Boyceville	$295K	+6.3%	0.7%
54740	Elmwood	$263K	+2.5%	0.7%
54737	Eau Galle	$314K	+5.1%	0.3%
54027	Wilson	$393K	+10.1%	0.2%
54772	Wheeler	$305K	+4.5%	0.1%
54736	Durand	$250K	+10.3%	0.0%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,086/mo

Year-over-year change+5.0%

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (1 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
54751	Menomonie	$1,086	+5.0%	81.9%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$1,558/mo

Home price / national median income3.7x

Annual rent / national median income15.6%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$472/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.