Jackson Elementary, Sheboygan WI

Original Research by School Decision on Jackson Elementary

Jackson Elementary serves students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade as a regular public school within the Sheboygan Area School District. The school is located on the western edge of Sheboygan, a mid-sized Lake Michigan port city with a mixed residential and industrial character, a strong German and Hmong community, and a lakefront downtown core. The school draws from a portion of the city where many families rent or own homes at prices below the state median, though rents have risen sharply in recent years, and homes have appreciated modestly.

The student body is small for an elementary school enrolling those grade bands, and it reflects the diversity of the surrounding neighborhood. More than half of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, meaning the school serves a population with above-average economic need. The racial and ethnic makeup includes a substantial share of white students, a notable Asian population, and meaningful shares of students who are Hispanic, Black, or identify as two or more races. Data on students with disabilities and English learners were not available; a parent may want to ask the school directly about supports in those areas.

Academically, Jackson Elementary participates in the state’s Forward assessment, and results are reported for grades three through five. Overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades places the school below the midpoint among districts in Sheboygan County. Within the school, performance varies by grade level and subject. Third graders posted notably higher results in both math and reading, while fourth and fifth graders showed more mixed scores. Fourth-grade science and social studies results were moderate. The school has a strong participation rate on assessments. There is no graduation rate to report because the school does not serve high school grades.

The Sheboygan Area School District has undergone two recent changes that may affect Jackson Elementary families. The district has adopted new reading curriculum materials for elementary grades under a state mandate requiring science-based early literacy instruction, screening, and interventions beginning in the 2024-25 school year. District enrollment has declined over recent years, which can influence class sizes and staffing decisions across the district’s sixteen elementary schools. A parent may want to ask how this trend specifically affects Jackson’s class sizes and program offerings.

No information was available on chronic absenteeism, discipline rates, or staffing ratios for this school. Those are areas a parent might wish to explore further when visiting or speaking with the principal.

Jackson Elementary is a neighborhood school in a city with a working waterfront and a range of civic and cultural amenities, including lakefront parks, an arts center, and a performing arts venue. The downtown and lakefront are moderately walkable; the rest of the city is car-dependent. Major employers in the region include Johnsonville Sausage, Kohler Company, and the school district itself. Housing in Sheboygan is relatively affordable compared to state and national benchmarks, though rising rents are a factor.

For a family considering this school, the picture is of a small, economically diverse elementary that serves a broad mix of students. Academic results are strongest in the early grades and soften by fourth and fifth grade, and the school overall trails the county median in proficiency. The district’s shift to science-based reading instruction is a recent development that may be relevant for families of young children. The community offers affordable housing and lakefront amenities, but the district’s enrollment decline and the gaps in available data on student supports and school climate are worth investigating directly.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 367%

School 67% · District 53% · ▲ 14 pts above district

▲ 11 pts above state median · ▲ 9 pts above county median

Grade 455%

School 55% · District 51% · ▲ 5 pts above district

▲ 1 pts above state median · even with county median

Grade 561%

School 61% · District 48% · ▲ 12 pts above district

▲ 9 pts above state median · ▲ 3 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 366%

School 66% · District 44% · ▲ 22 pts above district

▲ 13 pts above state median · ▲ 13 pts above county median

Grade 440%

School 40% · District 45% · ▼ 4 pts below district

▼ 12 pts below state median · ▼ 13 pts below county median

Grade 558%

School 58% · District 45% · ▲ 13 pts above district

▲ 7 pts above state median · ▲ 6 pts above county median

Science

Grade 445%

School 45% · District 41% · ▲ 4 pts above district

▼ 7 pts below state median · ▼ 2 pts below county median

Social studies

Grade 455%

School 55% · District 53% · ▲ 3 pts above district

▼ 10 pts below state median · even with county median

This schoolSheboygan Area School District, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 3Lower-income43%Higher-income89%46 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income29%Higher-income58%29 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income30%Higher-income90%60 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income46%Higher-income89%43 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income39%Higher-income79%40 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income30%Higher-income95%65 pp gap