West Side Elementary, Elkhorn WI

Original Research by School Decision on West Side Elementary

West Side Elementary is a regular public school in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, serving students from prekindergarten through fifth grade as part of the Elkhorn Area School District. It is one of several elementary schools in the district and occupies a residential street in this small city that serves as the county seat of Walworth County. For a family considering this school, the picture that emerges is of a solid academic performer set in a stable, traditional community with modest economic diversity.

On state assessments, West Side Elementary’s results show a school where most students meet proficiency benchmarks, with some variation by grade and subject. In math, the majority of third, fourth, and fifth graders scored proficient or above, with fourth grade posting the strongest showing. In English language arts, third grade produced a notably high proficiency rate, while fourth grade and fifth grade had lower but still majority-proficient outcomes. Science results for fourth grade also showed a majority proficient. Social studies, tested only in fourth grade, saw a very high share of students reaching proficiency, the school’s strongest subject performance. Across all tested grades and subjects, the school’s overall proficiency index ranked in the top quartile among districts in Walworth County. This places West Side Elementary on stronger academic footing than most of its county peers, a meaningful signal for parents focused on early-grade achievement.

The student body is predominantly white, with a substantial Hispanic minority and small numbers of Black, Asian, and multiracial students. A notable share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that the school serves a moderately economically diverse population. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the profile, so a parent who wants to understand supports for those groups would need to follow up directly with the school. The school has no charter or magnet designation.

Elkhorn itself is a small county seat with a traditional downtown centered on a park surrounding the government center. It is known for its historic holiday decorations and for hosting the largest county fair in Wisconsin. Employment is anchored in manufacturing, educational services, and retail, with county government as a significant employer. The city has seen a slight population decline in recent years, and the housing market reflects stability rather than rapid growth. Most residents commute by car, and the built environment is low-density residential with a compact commercial core. For a family, this means a walkable downtown but a car-dependent daily routine overall.

The Elkhorn Area School District, which oversees West Side Elementary, recently received voter approval for a major facilities referendum. This funding is earmarked for district-wide capital projects and building improvements, so West Side Elementary’s physical plant and learning spaces are likely to see upgrades in the coming years. That is a concrete, publicly reported development that may matter to families weighing long-term investment in the district.

In sum, West Side Elementary offers a strong academic foundation relative to other districts in the county, set within a small town that prizes its civic traditions. The school’s proficiency picture is solid across the board, with social studies standing out. Economic diversity is present but not extreme. Missing data on special populations and discipline means those are open questions. For a family looking for a well-performing elementary in a stable, self-contained community, this school fits that description.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 358%

School 58% · District 69% · ▼ 11 pts below district

▲ 2 pts above state median · ▼ 1 pts below county median

Grade 470%

School 70% · District 73% · ▼ 3 pts below district

▲ 16 pts above state median · ▲ 8 pts above county median

Grade 565%

School 65% · District 72% · ▼ 6 pts below district

▲ 14 pts above state median · ▲ 1 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 375%

School 75% · District 70% · ▲ 5 pts above district

▲ 22 pts above state median · ▲ 16 pts above county median

Grade 462%

School 62% · District 72% · ▼ 10 pts below district

▲ 10 pts above state median · ▲ 10 pts above county median

Grade 554%

School 54% · District 72% · ▼ 17 pts below district

▲ 3 pts above state median · ▼ 4 pts below county median

Science

Grade 462%

School 62% · District 69% · ▼ 6 pts below district

▲ 11 pts above state median · ▲ 12 pts above county median

Social studies

Grade 487%

School 87% · District 86%

▲ 22 pts above state median · ▲ 16 pts above county median

This schoolElkhorn Area 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 3Lower-income63%Higher-income84%21 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income44%Higher-income68%24 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income31%Higher-income70%39 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income47%Higher-income68%21 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income78%Higher-income68%10 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income52%Higher-income74%23 pp gap