The top reported proficiency rate is 55% in Science. The lowest is 24% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on La Farge Middle
La Farge Middle is a small public school in the Kickapoo River valley of Vernon County, serving sixth through eighth grade as part of the La Farge School District. The school shares a single address with the district’s elementary and high school within the compact village of La Farge, a quiet rural community that has seen a slight population decline in recent years. Housing values in the area are modest relative to state benchmarks, and the local economy is anchored by the headquarters of Organic Valley, a farmer-owned organic cooperative. The district itself recently undertook a major capital construction project, a lasting infrastructure investment that affects the physical learning environment and local tax obligations. It also operates a small nature-based charter school, the Kickapoo Valley Forest School, offering a distinct pedagogical option for early grades.
Academically, La Farge Middle’s state test results show a mixed picture that varies significantly by grade and subject. In sixth grade, a notable share of students reached the proficient level or above in both math and reading, with reading showing a stronger outcome than math. Seventh-grade results were considerably lower in both subjects, with proficiency rates that were a minority of test-takers. By eighth grade, math proficiency dropped still further, reaching a level that a parent would find concerning. Eighth-grade reading was also low. On the positive side, eighth-grade science and social studies each showed a majority of students scoring proficient, the strongest single-grade result across the school. Overall, the school’s combined proficiency across all tested subjects and grades places it in the bottom quartile relative to the districts in Vernon County. The data covers a single year, so no trend is available to say whether these patterns are long-standing.
The student body is small and predominantly white, with a very small number of Black and Hispanic students. A majority of students come from low-income households, as measured by eligibility for free or reduced-price lunch. Information on students with disabilities and English learners was not reported, and no discipline, staffing, or chronic absenteeism data was available. Because the school serves only middle grades, there is no graduation rate to report.
For families considering this school, the academic performance pattern is uneven: sixth graders showed relative strength in reading, but by eighth grade proficiency rates had fallen off markedly, especially in math. The lower eighth-grade results may reflect the transition to more demanding content, but a parent would want to ask the school how it supports students whose skills lag as they approach high school. The school’s very small enrollment means that class sizes are likely small, but it also limits the range of course offerings; no program data was provided. The district’s capital investment suggests that facilities have been updated, and the presence of a nature-based early-grade charter in the district may interest families who value outdoor learning, though La Farge Middle itself is a regular public school.
The broader community is a quiet, fully rural crossroads village with limited commercial activity and no public transit. Most errands require a vehicle. Home values are well below the Wisconsin state median, and the area is not experiencing growth. For a family that values a small, close-knit setting and is comfortable with rural life, La Farge Middle offers a clear option, though the academic results warrant a closer look, particularly the decline in performance between sixth and eighth grade.
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