The top reported proficiency rate is 73% in Social studies. The lowest is 50% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Brookwood High
Brookwood High serves students from seventh through twelfth grade in a single building, part of the Norwalk-Ontario-Wilton School District. The school is located in Ontario, a small rural village in the Kickapoo Valley of western Wisconsin. Ontario’s identity is tied to outdoor recreation, particularly canoeing and kayaking on the Kickapoo River, and the local economy reflects that with seasonal outfitters, campgrounds, and small businesses. The village has experienced a modest population decline over the past decade, and its housing market and income levels point to a lower-income rural community. Flood risk in the river valley constrains development, and no major growth or new housing projects are evident.
The school’s enrollment is small, with a student body that is predominantly white, while a substantial share of students are Hispanic, and a small number identify as two or more races or black. A significant portion of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, consistent with the area’s economic profile. The school does not have charter or magnet status, and Title I information was not available in the data, so a parent may want to ask the district about that directly.
On state assessments, Brookwood High’s results show a mixed picture. In seventh grade, math proficiency was around the midpoint of the tested cohort, while English language arts proficiency was slightly higher. Eighth graders showed stronger results, with math proficiency above the seventh-grade level and English language arts proficiency also higher. Science proficiency among eighth graders was around the midpoint, while social studies proficiency was notably stronger, with a clear majority of students meeting the state’s benchmark. The school’s overall proficiency index across tested subjects and grades places it in the top quartile relative to other districts in Monroe County, meaning that among the districts in that county, Brookwood’s performance stands out on the stronger end. That is a good sign, especially given the small student groups tested. The data comes from the Wisconsin Forward exam, and the school had perfect or near-perfect participation rates, which supports the reliability of the results.
The school serves grades seven through twelve, so there is no state testing data for high school grades in this dataset. Graduation rate data was also not available for the high school level here. A parent may want to ask the school directly about its on-time graduation rate and what postsecondary pathways students typically pursue. The data also did not include information on course offerings, AP or dual-credit programs, career and technical education, or staffing ratios, so that picture is incomplete. Many schools of this size in rural areas offer a limited number of advanced courses, and the absence of such data could mean the school does not publicize them widely or they are not part of the available public reporting.
The data did not include information on chronic absenteeism, discipline rates, or special education and English learner enrollment, so those aspects of the school environment are not captured here. A parent interested in student support services, behavioral climate, or how the school serves students with disabilities or language needs would need to follow up with the school directly.
The district brief found no evidence of recent referenda, curriculum changes, or other major operational shifts, and the district’s website and available materials indicated no scheduled referendum. That suggests stability in the district’s operations over the near term, though it also means a parent will not find recent public discussion about program investment or facility improvements.
Brookwood High offers a small, rural secondary education setting where state test results are solid relative to other schools in the same county, particularly in social studies. The school’s size means small class groups and likely close relationships between students and staff, but it also means fewer course options than a larger high school would provide. The community is quiet, with a seasonal outdoor-recreation economy, and the housing market is affordable by national standards. For a family seeking a rural school where academic proficiency is on par with or slightly above neighboring districts, and where the student body is relatively small and homogeneous, Brookwood could be a reasonable fit. A family wanting a wide range of advanced coursework, robust career pathways, or detailed public data on student outcomes beyond state tests would need to do further investigation.
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