The top reported proficiency rate is 68% in Social studies. The lowest is 52% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Edgar Elementary
Edgar Elementary is a regular public school serving children from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in the small Marathon County village of Edgar. It is the only elementary school within the Edgar School District, and its size and structure reflect a tight-knit rural environment where students typically move through the grades together.
Academically, the school’s performance sits above the midpoint relative to other districts in Marathon County when looking at overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades. The state assessment results show a pattern that merits a closer look: proficiency in both math and English language arts is strongest in third grade, then declines in fourth grade and more noticeably in fifth grade. For example, math proficiency in the earliest tested grade is substantially higher than in the last tested grade, and the same downward trend appears in reading and writing. Fourth-grade science falls around the middle of the range, while fourth-grade social studies is one of the stronger results. The reason for the drop-off by fifth grade could be related to a smaller cohort of test-takers in that grade, but the pattern is clear enough that a parent considering the school may want to ask the principal how the school addresses academic growth as students approach middle school.
The student body is small, and its composition is overwhelmingly white, with a modest share identifying as two or more races and very small numbers of Asian, Black, or Hispanic students. About a third of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a marker of the economic mix in the community. Data on special education identification and English learner status were not available, so a parent with specific needs in those areas would need to reach out to the district directly. The school does not operate under a charter or magnet designation, and Title I status was not reported, which means it is not possible to assess whether it receives federal funds targeted at high-poverty schools.
The housing context in the Edgar area shows home values that are notably lower than the Wisconsin state average and below the national median, making it a relatively affordable entry point for families looking for a rural school setting. The mortgage rate environment at the time of this analysis is moderate by recent historical standards, but national economic indicators such as rising rent costs and a stable unemployment rate suggest a broadly normal housing market for the region.
The district itself appears stable. A search for recent major changes such as referendums, curriculum overhauls, or boundary shifts turned up nothing of lasting impact beyond typical fiscal reporting. That lack of news is not itself a concern, but it means there is no publicly reported strategic direction to draw on.
Several pieces of information that many families rely on were not present in the available data. There is no reported chronic absenteeism rate, no discipline data, no information on class sizes or student-to-teacher ratios, and no listing of special programs such as gifted education or music. These are common offerings in elementary schools of this size, but their absence from the record means a family should confirm them directly with the school.
Edgar Elementary fits a family looking for a straightforward, small-town elementary experience with the usual range of pre-K through fifth grade services. The test results show solid early learning, but the decline in later elementary grades is worth understanding. The school carries no labeling or special status, which may appeal to parents who prefer a traditional local public school without charter or magnet designations. The village itself offers affordable housing compared to much of Wisconsin, and the district’s apparent quiet stability suggests a consistent environment. Gaps in the data on student support populations and school climate mean that direct inquiry with the school is essential before making a decision.
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