The top reported proficiency rate is 50% in Social studies. The lowest is 23% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on New Lisbon Junior High/high
New Lisbon Junior High/High is the single public secondary school serving the small rural city of New Lisbon, Wisconsin, in Juneau County. It houses grades seven through twelve, so a student who enters in seventh grade can stay in the same building all the way through senior year. With an enrollment that is fairly small for a combined middle and high school, it is a place where most students know one another and the staff likely know every student by name. The student body is predominantly white, and about half of the students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which is an indicator of the modest household incomes that characterize this community.
Academically, the school’s state test results paint a mixed picture. In seventh grade, about one in five students scored proficient or better in math, and just over one in five reached that level in English language arts. In eighth grade, the numbers were a bit higher: roughly one in four were proficient in math and one in three in ELA. Eighth grade science showed about one in three students proficient, while social studies was the strongest tested subject at half of students reaching proficiency. Across all tested subjects and grades, the school’s overall proficiency index placed it in the bottom quartile relative to other districts in Juneau County. That is a soft spot a parent may want to discuss with the school, especially to understand what academic supports and interventions are in place for students who are not yet at grade level. The high school grades do not have state testing data reported here; those students take different assessments tied to graduation requirements, so a parent may want to ask about how the school measures learning in the upper grades.
New Lisbon itself is a quiet rural community situated along the Lemonweir River just off Interstate 90/94. The town has a traditional small center with city hall and a public library, but street life is minimal and the area is car-oriented. Outdoor recreation is a central part of local life, including fishing, boating, snowmobiling, and ATV riding, and the nearby Elroy-Sparta State Bike Trail and Castle Rock Lake draw residents and visitors. The largest employer in town is a state correctional facility, and many residents commute to nearby Mauston or other regional centers for work. The population has fluctuated over recent decades and has been largely stable in recent years, with limited new development. Housing values in the area are notably lower than national medians, which contributes to a more affordable cost of living than in many parts of the state.
The district itself did not have any publicly reported recent changes or major initiatives that could be confirmed from available sources. That does not mean nothing is happening, just that nothing surfaced in a standard search of district and news materials. A parent moving into the area may want to contact the school or district office directly to learn about current curriculum updates, extracurricular offerings, and any building-level programs that are not captured in the standard data.
For a family considering New Lisbon Junior High/High, the school offers a small, contained secondary experience where a student can go from middle school through high school in one community. The test scores are below county averages, particularly in math and ELA, and the school serves a student population with a substantial share of economic need. The surrounding town is affordable, quiet, and oriented toward outdoor life rather than urban amenities. This is a school and a community that may be a good fit for a family that values a close-knit rural setting and wants to stay engaged with the school around academic progress, rather than one seeking high test scores or a broad array of advanced courses.
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