Sullivan Elementary, Sullivan WI

Original Research by School Decision on Sullivan Elementary

Sullivan Elementary is a public school serving students from prekindergarten through fifth grade in the village of Sullivan, Wisconsin. It is part of the Jefferson School District and operates as a regular elementary school, not a charter or magnet. The school sits a few blocks from the village center, integrated into a small, quiet residential area rather than on a separated campus.

Sullivan is a very small, rural village with limited commercial activity and an essentially static population. The village originated as a railroad stop and remains a low-density community where single-family homes dominate. There is no public transit, and residents rely on personal vehicles; Interstate 94 is a short drive north. Housing values in the area have consistently run above the national median, reflecting broader price pressures in southeastern Wisconsin. The most notable local employer is the National Weather Service forecast office, and many residents commute to larger employment centers such as Milwaukee or Madison.

Academically, Sullivan Elementary shows a mixed picture that varies by grade and subject. In grade three, a very high share of students reached proficiency in math and a strong share in English language arts. By grade four and five, math proficiency rates were lower, settling around half of students. English language arts proficiency in those grades was at a moderate level. Science and social studies, tested only in grade four, showed solid results. The school’s overall proficiency index across all tested subjects and grades places it above the midpoint and in the top quartile relative to other districts in Jefferson County. However, the variability across grades means a parent may want to inquire about how the school supports students as they move through the elementary years, particularly in math.

The student body is small and predominantly white, with a modest share of students from other racial backgrounds. About a fifth of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a measure of economic need that is lower than what many public schools report, though not negligible. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available, so the school’s support for those populations is unclear from the evidence provided. Because the school serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report, nor data on chronic absenteeism or discipline. Those are typical gaps for a PK-5 school.

Staffing information, course access details, and district-level strategic priorities were not found in the available data. The district brief was searched for recent referenda but yielded no results, so any financial or programmatic changes at the district level are unknown.

Sullivan Elementary offers a small, rural setting for families who want an elementary school close to home in a quiet village. The academic results are strongest in early literacy and early math, with a notable drop-off in later elementary math that is worth exploring with the school. The village itself provides limited amenities and services, so families should expect to travel to nearby towns for shopping, libraries, and most extracurricular activities. The housing market in the area is above average nationally, reflecting broader demand in the region despite the village’s small size.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 392%

School 92% · District 71% · ▲ 22 pts above district

▲ 36 pts above state median · ▲ 30 pts above county median

Grade 444%

School 44% · District 50% · ▼ 5 pts below district

▼ 10 pts below state median · ▼ 10 pts below county median

Grade 550%

School 50% · District 55% · ▼ 5 pts below district

▼ 1 pts below state median · ▼ 11 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 372%

School 72% · District 68% · ▲ 4 pts above district

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

Grade 461%

School 61% · District 54% · ▲ 8 pts above district

▲ 9 pts above state median · ▲ 6 pts above county median

Grade 554%

School 54% · District 48% · ▲ 6 pts above district

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

Science

Grade 461%

School 61% · District 58% · ▲ 3 pts above district

▲ 10 pts above state median · ▲ 6 pts above county median

Social studies

Grade 472%

School 72% · District 69% · ▲ 3 pts above district

▲ 7 pts above state median · ▲ 4 pts above county median

This schoolJefferson 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-income57%Higher-income64%7 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income25%Higher-income69%44 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 4Lower-income43%Higher-income46%3 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income38%Higher-income56%19 pp gap