The top reported proficiency rate is 65% in Math. The lowest is 52% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Medford Elementary
Medford Elementary serves the youngest students in the Medford Area Public School District, from pre-kindergarten through fourth grade, on a shared campus east of downtown Medford that also houses the middle and high schools. It is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet, and it draws from a community that is a small county seat in north-central Wisconsin with a mix of residential neighborhoods, local government offices, healthcare facilities, and agricultural industry including mink farming. The school itself is housed in a building that, along with the rest of the campus, sits roughly a mile from the downtown core and the Black River pedestrian corridor.
The student body is predominantly white, with a modest Hispanic population and very small shares of other racial groups. About half of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, placing the school in a middle ground economically — not exceptionally high poverty, but a substantial share of families rely on the program. The district operates a Rural Virtual Academy, a full-time online learning option that serves many students across grades, which is a choice available to elementary families within the public system, though Medford Elementary itself is a traditional brick-and-mortar setting. The district also set new strategic goals in 2023, indicating an active effort to define near-term priorities.
State test results are available for grades three and four. In math, the school performs above the midpoint among Taylor County districts on an overall proficiency index. Specifically, third graders reached a level where a clear majority met proficiency, and fourth graders also showed a majority proficient, though the share dropped somewhat from third grade. In English language arts, the picture is more varied. Third-grade proficiency was a solid majority, but fourth-grade proficiency fell noticeably short of a majority, landing below half. That drop is a soft spot a parent may want to explore further with the school — what literacy supports are in place for the transition to upper elementary, and how the school addresses the dip. Fourth graders also took state tests in science and social studies. In science, just over half of students were proficient; in social studies, a clear majority met the bar. Across all subjects and grades, the school’s overall proficiency index places it above the midpoint when compared with the three districts in Taylor County, a positive signal relative to local peers.
Data on special education enrollment, English learner numbers, chronic absenteeism, discipline rates, and staffing were not available in the record. For a PK-4 building, some of those categories may not be reported at the same level as for a full K-12 district, but a parent interested in specific supports for students with disabilities or English language learning would want to ask directly. The school did not report information about course access, which is typical for an elementary building where the curriculum is self-contained rather than elective-driven.
Housing in Medford is moderately priced relative to the state overall, with home values growing recently, consistent with a stable small-city market. The community offers a river walk, a multi-use trail, a city park with recreation amenities, and local healthcare and county government employment. For a family looking at this school, the key takeaway is that it provides a straightforward early elementary experience in a traditional public school setting, with academic results that are solid in math and social studies, and a notable literacy challenge at the fourth-grade level that warrants attention. The school is part of a district that offers both in-person and virtual pathways, and the campus arrangement means children can stay in the same physical location as they move through the system.
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