The top reported proficiency rate is 58% in Social studies. The lowest is 48% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Altoona Intermediate
Altoona Intermediate is a regular public school in the Altoona School District serving fourth and fifth graders. Because it only covers these two grade levels, there is no graduation rate to report, and the school does not have indicators like chronic absenteeism data that are typically tracked across a full K-12 span. The enrollment is moderate for an intermediate school, and a substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.
The school is located on a shared campus that also houses Altoona Middle School and Altoona High School, placing fourth and fifth graders in proximity to older students’ facilities but in their own building. The elementary school and an early education center are less than a mile east. This clustering means families with children across different grade bands have a single drop-off zone for three of the district’s four school buildings.
On state assessments, the school’s performance sits below the midpoint of districts in Eau Claire County on an overall proficiency measure. In math, results are mixed between the two grades. Fourth-grade math proficiency is around half of students tested, while fifth-grade math is higher. In English language arts, the pattern is similar: fourth grade runs below half proficient, and fifth grade rises past half. Science, tested only in fourth grade, lands near half of students proficient. Social studies, also tested only in fourth grade, is the strongest single result, with a comfortable majority of students reaching proficiency. The school’s overall proficiency index places it in the bottom grouping among the county’s districts. This is a factual position. A parent may want to ask the school how it addresses the gap between the two grades in math and reading and what supports are available for students who are not yet at the proficient mark.
The student body is predominantly white, with a smaller share of students who are two or more races, a smaller Hispanic population, and very small numbers of Asian and Black students. Enrollment counts in special populations such as students with disabilities and English learners were not available in the data, so it is not possible to describe those groups here. That gap sometimes reflects the way a state or district reports these categories for intermediate schools, but without confirmation, a parent should check with the school directly. The school is not a charter or magnet, and its Title I status was not included in the data.
Altoona itself is a small city that originated as a railroad terminal and has grown into a primarily residential community contiguous with Eau Claire. It is bounded by Lake Altoona and the Eau Claire River to the north and Otter Creek to the south. The city has seen steady population growth in recent years, and the district has responded with capital investments. A new elementary school opened in the 2016/17 school year, and the Altoona Early Education Center opened in fall 2020, adding a dedicated facility for four-year-old kindergarten. In April 2024, voters approved a five-year operating referendum that allows the district to exceed state revenue limits to maintain programming and staffing. This referendum suggests the district has been working to close budget gaps that could otherwise lead to reductions in class sizes and course offerings.
Housing in Altoona is meaningfully more affordable than the national typical home value. Rents are lower than a typical mortgage payment in the area, which tips the math toward renting for families not ready to buy. The unemployment rate at the national level is modest, and the economic context points to a stable if not booming local job market anchored by the Union Pacific Railroad terminal, the school district itself, and a broadcasting company.
For a family considering this school, the picture is one of a district that has invested in facilities and passed a referendum to protect programming, sitting in a growing community adjacent to a larger city. The academic results are mixed and place the school below the midpoint of its county peers, which is a realistic starting point for conversations with the school about academic support and enrichment. The intermediate-only structure means students transition after two years, with a middle school and high school on the same campus. The community is suburban in character, car-oriented, and affordable relative to the nation, with recent school construction signaling that the district expects its enrollment to hold or grow.
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