Kennedy Elementary, Junction City WI

Original Research by School Decision on Kennedy Elementary

Kennedy Elementary is a regular public school in Junction City, Wisconsin, serving kindergarten through sixth grade. It is part of the Stevens Point Area Public School District, which covers a broader region centered on Stevens Point and nearby communities. The school itself sits in Junction City, a small rural village that grew up where two rail lines once met. Many of the village’s residents commute to larger cities such as Stevens Point, Wisconsin Rapids, Marshfield, or Wausau for work. The village has a modest population, a Main Street lined with local businesses, and a village park with a walking trail and sports facilities. A recent highway rerouting reduced through-traffic, and the village’s population has seen a slight decline in recent years. Families living in Junction City and the surrounding area send their children here for elementary and middle school grades.

Kennedy Elementary enrolls a relatively small student body for a school spanning kindergarten through sixth grade. The student population is predominantly white, with smaller shares of Hispanic, Asian, and multiracial students, and very small numbers of Black and American Indian students. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a notable presence of lower-income households in the community. Data on special education identification and English learner status was not available in the materials reviewed, so parents interested in those supports may want to ask the school directly.

State testing results for the most recent school year show a mixed picture across grades and subjects. In mathematics, the share of students scoring proficient or above varied by grade, with the strongest result in third grade and weaker results in fourth grade. English language arts proficiency followed a similar pattern: third grade and sixth grade showed a solid majority of students meeting the bar, while fourth and fifth grade saw lower rates. Fourth grade science proficiency was lower than the social studies result for that same grade, where a clear majority of students were proficient. Across all tested subjects and grades, the school’s overall proficiency index fell below the midpoint when compared to other schools in Portage County. That comparison set includes five districts, and Kennedy’s composite proficiency placed it on the lower end relative to its county peers. A parent reviewing these outcomes may want to discuss grade-level trends with the school and ask how the school supports students who are not yet meeting benchmarks.

Because Kennedy serves only elementary and middle grades, there are no graduation rate or college readiness data to report. The school’s participation rates on state assessments were essentially universal, which is a positive sign for inclusive testing.

The broader school district recently passed two referendum questions that will bring significant changes. Voters approved a capital measure for building improvements, including safety and security upgrades, HVAC work, and additions and renovations at the district’s high school and junior high, as well as districtwide accessibility improvements. A second measure authorized the district to exceed its state revenue limit for ongoing maintenance and operational needs over a multi-year period. These investments will affect school facilities across the district, though the specific impact on Kennedy Elementary itself will depend on how the district allocates the funds. The associated property tax implications are something families moving into the district should be aware of.

Program offerings, such as art, music, physical education, or enrichment activities, were not detailed in the available data. No information was provided on class sizes, teacher experience, or disciplinary climate. Parents seeking a fuller picture of Kennedy’s daily life and supports should consider visiting the school or speaking with current families. The school’s small size and rural setting may appeal to those looking for a close-knit school community within commuting distance of several mid-sized Wisconsin cities.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 362%

School 62% · District 50% · ▲ 12 pts above district

▲ 6 pts above state median · ▲ 4 pts above county median

Grade 438%

School 38% · District 54% · ▼ 16 pts below district

▼ 16 pts below state median · ▼ 14 pts below county median

Grade 548%

School 48% · District 51% · ▼ 3 pts below district

▼ 3 pts below state median · ▼ 4 pts below county median

Grade 645%

School 45% · District 59% · ▼ 13 pts below district

▼ 8 pts below state median · ▼ 15 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 357%

School 57% · District 51% · ▲ 6 pts above district

▲ 4 pts above state median · even with county median

Grade 429%

School 29% · District 54% · ▼ 26 pts below district

▼ 24 pts below state median · ▼ 27 pts below county median

Grade 544%

School 44% · District 53% · ▼ 9 pts below district

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

Grade 652%

School 52% · District 60% · ▼ 8 pts below district

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

Science

Grade 438%

School 38% · District 54% · ▼ 16 pts below district

▼ 13 pts below state median · ▼ 14 pts below county median

Social studies

Grade 457%

School 57% · District 70% · ▼ 12 pts below district

▼ 8 pts below state median · ▼ 11 pts below county median

This schoolStevens Point Area Public 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-income22%Higher-income83%61 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income33%Higher-income50%17 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income46%Higher-income56%9 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income22%Higher-income92%70 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income22%Higher-income64%42 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income62%Higher-income33%28 pp gap