The top reported proficiency rate is 54% in Social studies. The lowest is 37% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Lincoln Elementary
Lincoln Elementary is a regular public school in Green Bay, Wisconsin, serving children from prekindergarten through fifth grade. It sits within the Green Bay Area Public School District, a mid-sized urban district that covers many of the city’s residential neighborhoods and commercial strips. The school itself is a small building for its grade band, with an enrollment that is modest enough that a parent might recognize most of the families in the hallways.
The student body is diverse in race and ethnicity. White students and Hispanic students each make up roughly a third of enrollment, with smaller shares of students who are Black, two or more races, Asian, and American Indian or Alaska Native. A large majority of students come from households that qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a level that places the school well above the district average in economic need and signals that many families face financial constraints. Data on students with disabilities and English learners were not available from the provided records, so a parent who needs that information would want to ask the school directly.
When it comes to state assessments, Lincoln’s results are uneven. The school participates fully in Wisconsin’s Forward Exam, with every tested student taking part. In third grade, about two out of five students scored proficient or above in both math and English language arts, a rate that is typical for a school with this level of economic need but still below the district median. Fourth grade performance improved to just under half proficient in math and just under half in English language arts, with similar results in science and a slight majority reaching proficiency in social studies. Fifth grade saw a notable drop, especially in math, where only about one in five students met the bar. In English language arts, about one in three fifth graders were proficient. These figures place Lincoln in the bottom quarter of schools across Brown County when an overall proficiency index is calculated across tested subjects and grades. The trend data was not available, so it is not clear whether these numbers represent a change from prior years. A family focused on test scores will want to weigh these results carefully, and a parent may want to ask the school what supports are in place, particularly in the upper elementary grades where performance falls off.
The broader district context matters for any family considering Lincoln. In June 2024, the Green Bay school board voted to consolidate several elementary schools, and Lincoln is directly affected. Under the plan, which the district publicly reported, Elmore Elementary students will be consolidated into Chappell and Lincoln. Elmore, along with Langlade and MacArthur, are expected to close at the end of the 2025-26 school year. A November 2024 referendum was tied to the plan; if it did not pass, new boundaries would have been drawn. This restructuring means that Lincoln’s enrollment will likely grow in the coming years as it absorbs students from Elmore. Families moving to the area should confirm whether Lincoln’s attendance boundary has been redrawn and what the timeline for consolidation actually looks like, as the district’s plans can shift with local votes and board decisions.
Green Bay itself is a mid-sized industrial and commercial city with a strong paper and meatpacking history; healthcare has since become the leading employer. The city’s population has edged down slightly in recent years, but the metro area remains stable. Housing values in the zip code that includes Lincoln are moderate relative to state averages, with rents that are below the national median. The neighborhood around the school, near South Buchanan Street, is a mix of older homes and modest apartments, a setting that families with limited budgets may find accessible.
Lincoln Elementary offers a regular instructional program with no special magnet or charter status. It does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to consider. A parent choosing this school should be aware that its academic profile is a real soft spot compared to other elementary schools in the county, and the consolidation ahead will bring change to the building’s size and community mix. For a family that values a small, diverse urban school with high economic need and wants to be part of a school that is being reshaped by district-wide restructuring, Lincoln could be a fit. A family that prioritizes strong test performance or prefers a stable, untouched school environment may want to look further into what academic supports the school offers and how the consolidation will affect it before making a decision.
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