The top reported proficiency rate is 60% in Social studies. The lowest is 35% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Crescent Elementary
Crescent Elementary serves the community of Rhinelander, a commercial, industrial, retail, medical, and recreational hub for the Northwoods region of Wisconsin. The city is notable for its paper mill, hospital, and a historic downtown centered on the Oneida County Courthouse. Major highways and a regional airport connect the area, and the Nicolet Area Technical College campus sits just outside the city. The city’s growth context is that of a regional hub for Northern Wisconsin, continuing to develop in that role.
The school itself is a regular public elementary school within the Rhinelander School District, serving students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. It is not a charter school. The student body is predominantly white, and a substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a level of economic diversity that parents may want to consider as part of the peer environment.
In terms of academic performance, Crescent Elementary takes Wisconsin’s Forward assessments in grades three through five. The results present a mixed picture. In English language arts, the share of students scoring proficient or above in grade three and grade four was roughly on par with one another, but the rate in grade five was lower, with a smaller proportion meeting the proficiency bar. A similar pattern holds in math, where grade four had the highest rate of proficiency across the school, while grade three posted a lower rate, and grade five again showed the lowest share of students reaching proficiency. In fourth-grade science, the portion of students scoring proficient or above was comparable to the fourth-grade English and math results. Social studies in fourth grade was a relative strength, as a majority of students reached the proficient-or-above threshold. When looked at overall, the school’s combined proficiency index across tested subjects and grades placed it among the lower-performing schools relative to other districts in Oneida County.
It is important to note that the school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report. No chronic absenteeism data was available in the source material, and information on student discipline, course access, and staffing was also absent. Similarly, data on the school’s Title I status and on special populations such as students with disabilities and English learners were not reported in the data provided. A parent may want to ask the school directly about these areas to get a fuller picture of student support and the learning environment.
The district-level data did not surface any recent major changes or strategic initiatives that would be directly relevant to a parent researching Crescent Elementary. No information on specific program offerings at the school, such as gifted services, arts, or enrichment, was included in the source material.
For a family considering this school, the key takeaway is that Crescent Elementary sits in a well-established Northwoods community with a clear regional role. Academically, the school shows variability by grade and subject, with fourth grade being a stronger year and fifth grade presenting more of a challenge. The overall proficiency picture, relative to other districts in the county, suggests that a parent may want to look into this further with the school to understand the specific instructional approaches and support systems in place, particularly for the upper elementary grades. The housing market in the area reflects a place that is more affordable than the national benchmark, which may be a factor for families looking to relocate. The school’s size and elementary-only focus make it a straightforward entry point for a family with younger children, and the substantial share of students qualifying for meal assistance points to a school community with a range of household economic circumstances.
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