The top reported proficiency rate is 48% in English language arts. The lowest is 31% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on West Elementary
West Elementary serves students from pre-kindergarten through third grade in Antigo, Wisconsin, as a regular public school within the Antigo Unified School District. Because it covers only the early elementary years, several metrics that apply to older grade spans do not apply here. There is no graduation rate, no high school course access data, and no chronic absenteeism or discipline data in the available records. The school’s academic picture is drawn from state assessments in grades where testing happens, and for this school that is limited to third grade in math and English language arts, with older science and social studies results from a prior year when the school served fourth graders.
On the most recent state assessments, a parent should know that performance in math and English language arts for third graders fell below the midpoint among the districts of Langlade County, placing in the bottom quartile compared to the three-district county cohort. About two out of every five third graders scored at the proficient level or above in math, and about half reached that threshold in English language arts. The school’s overall proficiency index, which averages tested subjects and grades, landed in the bottom quartile relative to other Langlade County districts. The earlier results from the fourth-grade science and social studies tests, from a school year before the most recent, showed lower proficiency rates in both subjects. It is worth noting that the cut scores for the science assessment changed between that testing period and now, so direct comparisons with the current year would not be reliable. A parent may want to talk with the school about what academic support looks like in the primary grades, especially given the proficiency levels reported.
The student body is small for a school that serves through third grade. Racially, it is predominantly white, with a Hispanic share and a modest share of students who identify as two or more races. More than two out of every three students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which is a substantial share and indicates that the school serves a community with significant economic need. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not reported in the available records.
The school sits in Antigo, a small city that functions as the county seat of Langlade County and a commercial and industrial hub for the surrounding farm and timber region. The local economy blends wood-product manufacturing, agriculture including potatoes and dairy, and various other manufacturing. Homes in the area are priced well below both the state and national medians, and the housing costs relative to local incomes are moderate. Rents are lower than a typical mortgage payment, suggesting a market where renting may be more immediately affordable than buying. The city has a traditional downtown with shops and restaurants, a county fairgrounds, a year-round aquatic center, and a museum, but the school sits on its own site in a residential area rather than in the downtown core. No major new housing developments or population growth projects were identified in available sources, and the city appears to be relatively stable in size.
Because West Elementary covers only pre-kindergarten through third grade, students will move on to another elementary school or a middle school within the district after third grade. A parent considering this school should factor in the transition that will come after the primary years. The district did not have any recent notable changes reported that would affect families at this level.
For families looking for a small early-elementary school in a modest, stable community with lower housing costs than much of Wisconsin, West Elementary offers a neighborhood setting. The proficiency results are lower than the county average, and the economic need among students is high, both of which are worth discussing with the school to understand the instructional approach and available supports.
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