The top reported proficiency rate is 75% in Social studies. The lowest is 59% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Plum City Elementary
Plum City Elementary is a small, regular public school serving prekindergarten through fifth grade in the rural village of Plum City, Wisconsin. The school is one of two public schools in the Plum City School District, sitting directly on Main Street alongside the village’s civic buildings and the separate high school building for grades six through twelve. This is a classic small-town arrangement where school and community life share the same block.
The student body is small. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, and the enrollment is predominantly white with a modest number of Hispanic students and a very small number of American Indian students. Data on the share of students with individualized education plans or English learner status was not available for this school year, so a parent may want to ask the district directly about special education and language support services.
State testing results for the 2024-25 school year show a mixed picture that varies noticeably by grade level and subject. In math, third-grade proficiency was roughly a third of students, a lower figure that a parent may want to inquire about further. Fourth-grade math reached about three in five students, and fifth-grade math reached about four in five, a strong result. In English language arts, third-grade proficiency was around half of students, fourth-grade reached about two-thirds, and fifth-grade stood at roughly three in five. In science and social studies, tested only in fourth grade, about three in five students were proficient in science and about three in four in social studies. Participation on all tests was universal. When compared with other school districts in Pierce County, the school’s overall proficiency index across all tested subjects and grades sits below the midpoint of the county. Because the school does not serve high school grades, there is no graduation rate to report.
The village of Plum City is very small and rural, with a compact layout. Schools, village hall, the library, and the senior center are all within walking distance along Main Street. The trout pond in the center of town serves as a longtime community gathering spot. The population has been slowly declining over recent years, and no major new housing or commercial developments were found in publicly reported sources. Housing values in the area are below both the state and national benchmarks, and the local economy is primarily residential with no single dominant employer publicly identified. Parents should expect that personal vehicles are the primary means of transportation.
The district has recently made notable changes. In early 2024, voters approved a recurring referendum that permanently raises the district’s revenue cap, funding program needs, class sizes, instructional technology, and facility maintenance. A separate non-recurring measure for a fixed period also passed, while a third question for an additional amount was rejected. These decisions create a lasting shift in local property taxes and district finances. The district has also adopted new elementary literacy curriculum aligned with Wisconsin’s science-based early literacy law, new math curriculum, and new science curriculum aligned with national standards. These curriculum overhauls represent a multi-year investment in core programming at the elementary level.
Plum City Elementary offers a tightly knit, rural elementary experience in a village where school and town life are one. The academic results show pockets of strength, particularly in upper elementary math and fourth-grade social studies, alongside areas such as third-grade math where proficiency is lower. A parent exploring this school will want to understand how the recent curriculum changes are taking hold in the classroom and to ask about supports for the small number of students from diverse backgrounds. The district’s recent funding increase signals an ongoing commitment to the school, but the village’s slow population decline and limited local economy are long-term context any family should consider.
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