The top reported proficiency rate is 48% in Science. The lowest is 39% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on James Williams Middle
James Williams Middle serves grades six through eight in Rhinelander, a city that functions as a commercial and medical hub for Wisconsin's Northwoods region. The school sits within the Rhinelander School District, and its roughly 470 students come from a community anchored by a paper mill, a hospital, a historic downtown centered on the Oneida County Courthouse, and recreational access to the area's lakes and trails. Midway through the 2020s, there were no major recent district-level changes publicly reported.
The student body is predominantly white, with small numbers of Hispanic, two-or-more-races, American Indian or Alaska Native, Black, and Asian students. Just over half of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a measure of family economic need that is relatively common for a public school in this part of the state.
On the Wisconsin Forward exam, results varied noticeably by grade and subject. Seventh graders posted the strongest math scores, with a solid majority reaching the proficient or advanced level. Sixth and eighth graders showed lower math proficiency, with fewer than half meeting that bar. In English language arts, seventh graders again led the school, at just under half proficient, while sixth and eighth graders were below that mark. Eighth graders also took science and social studies assessments; roughly half scored proficient or above in science, and a slightly smaller share did so in social studies. When an overall proficiency index was calculated across all tested subjects and grades, the school placed in the bottom quarter among the four districts in Oneida County. A parent may want to ask the school how it supports students who arrive below grade-level benchmarks and whether there are targeted interventions in place for the grades and subjects where performance is softer.
The school does not serve high school grades, so graduation rate data is not applicable. No course access information was provided, and there is no available data on discipline rates, staffing ratios, or chronic absenteeism. A parent interested in those areas would need to inquire directly with the school or district office.
Housing in the area is priced somewhat below the state median but above the national median, and rents are moderate relative to incomes, making Rhinelander a more affordable option than many Wisconsin communities of similar size. The unemployment rate recently sat near the national average, and the local economy appears stable, driven by manufacturing, healthcare, and tourism-related services.
Because the school is a regular public middle school, students will feed into Rhinelander High School after eighth grade. The academic picture is mixed, with a clear bright spot in seventh-grade math and a weaker set of results in eighth-grade English language arts. Families accustomed to consistently high state test scores across all levels may find this school's profile uneven. For families who value a middle school experience rooted in a small city that serves as a regional center, and who are comfortable with a school where proficiency rates vary by grade, James Williams Middle offers a typical Northwoods public school environment. Those seeking more detailed information about class size, special education services, or enrichment programs should reach out directly, as those details were not available in the data reviewed.
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