Fran Fruzen Intermediate, Beloit WI

Original Research by School Decision on Fran Fruzen Intermediate

Fran Fruzen Intermediate is a regular public school in Beloit, Wisconsin, serving grades six through eight. It is one of two intermediate schools in the Beloit School District following a recent grade reconfiguration that moved sixth through eighth graders into dedicated intermediate buildings while elementary schools now serve pre-kindergarten through fifth. The school sits on Milwaukee Road on the south side of the city, a setting that blends industrial heritage, residential neighborhoods, and a revitalized downtown corridor a short drive away.

Academically, state assessment results place Fran Fruzen in a challenging position. Across math, English language arts, science, and social studies, the share of students scoring proficient or above is substantially below the midpoint of Rock County districts, falling in the bottom quartile among the nine districts in the county. In each tested grade, math proficiency rates are below one in five students, while English language arts rates hover around a quarter of students. Science proficiency for eighth graders is lower still, and social studies reaches just under a third proficient. These are the school's own reported numbers, and a parent considering this school may want to talk with administrators about what academic interventions and supports are in place. The school's participation rates on state tests were very high, indicating that nearly all enrolled students took the assessments, so the results reflect the full student body.

The student population at Fran Fruzen is moderately sized for a middle school. A large majority of students come from low-income households, as indicated by the share qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. The student body is racially and ethnically diverse: the largest groups are Hispanic students and White students, followed by Black students and students who identify as two or more races. Asian students make up a very small share. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the records we examined, so a family with a child in either category should ask the school directly about how those students are served and supported.

Fran Fruzen operates as a standard intermediate school, not a charter or magnet. No information was available about discipline rates, chronic absenteeism, staffing ratios, or specific course offerings such as advanced classes or electives. Without that data, a parent may want to visit the school to learn about the range of academic pathways and the school climate firsthand.

Beloit itself is a city with a long industrial past that has undergone sustained redevelopment over recent decades. The downtown and Rock River frontage have seen substantial public and private investment, adding new housing, hotels, and public spaces. The city is home to Beloit College, several corporate headquarters, and a minor league baseball stadium. Housing in Beloit is more affordable than the Wisconsin state average; typical home values and rents are lower, which may matter to families weighing cost of living alongside school performance. The district’s recent reconfiguration means feeder patterns have shifted, so families moving into the area should confirm which elementary schools feed into Fran Fruzen and which intermediate school serves their neighborhood.

In sum, Fran Fruzen Intermediate serves a diverse, high-poverty student body in a city that is working to rebuild its economic base. Its academic results on state tests are notably below county averages, a pattern a prospective parent will want to explore further with the school. The school’s program offerings, staffing, and discipline environment are not detailed in the available data, leaving several important questions open for a family to investigate directly.

See more original research from School Decision →

Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 619%

School 19% · District 17% · ▲ 2 pts above district

▼ 35 pts below state median · ▼ 40 pts below county median

Grade 720%

School 20% · District 27% · ▼ 7 pts below district

▼ 34 pts below state median · ▼ 30 pts below county median

Grade 817%

School 17% · District 19% · ▼ 2 pts below district

▼ 34 pts below state median · ▼ 34 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 628%

School 28% · District 25% · ▲ 3 pts above district

▼ 25 pts below state median · ▼ 23 pts below county median

Grade 721%

School 21% · District 28% · ▼ 6 pts below district

▼ 31 pts below state median · ▼ 27 pts below county median

Grade 824%

School 24% · District 24%

▼ 28 pts below state median · ▼ 28 pts below county median

Science

Grade 816%

School 16% · District 19% · ▼ 3 pts below district

▼ 36 pts below state median · ▼ 34 pts below county median

Social studies

Grade 829%

School 29% · District 32% · ▼ 3 pts below district

▼ 35 pts below state median · ▼ 39 pts below county median

This schoolBeloit School District, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 4Lower-income10%Higher-income28%18 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income16%Higher-income35%19 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income22%Higher-income46%24 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income17%Higher-income34%17 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income22%Higher-income31%9 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 4Lower-income5%Higher-income6%1 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income14%Higher-income31%17 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income16%Higher-income28%12 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income15%Higher-income34%20 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income12%Higher-income32%20 pp gap