The top reported proficiency rate is 78% in Social studies. The lowest is 59% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Washburn Middle
Washburn Middle is a regular public school that serves only seventh and eighth grade within the Washburn School District in the small city of Washburn, Wisconsin, on the shore of Lake Superior’s Chequamegon Bay. With an enrollment of around that size for a two-grade building, each grade level has roughly the same number of students, making for a compact, intimate academic setting. The student body is predominantly white, with a noticeable representation of American Indian/Alaska Native students; there are very small numbers of Black students and students who identify as two or more races. No data was available for students with disabilities or English learners, so a family with those specific needs would want to ask the school directly about how it provides support.
About half of the students at this school qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a marker of the economic profile of the community. Washburn itself has seen population decline from its mid-twentieth-century industrial peak, and the local economy now leans on tourism and county government. The housing market in the area shows home values that are notably lower than the state average, reflecting the area’s slower growth and more modest cost of living. The school has no charter or magnet status, and Title I funding status was not reported.
In terms of academic performance on Wisconsin’s Forward Exam, the school’s results tell a story of generally solid proficiency with one area that may give a parent pause and another that stands out as a clear strength. In seventh-grade math and seventh-grade English language arts, just under half and just over half of students scored proficient or above, respectively. Those results are close to what one might expect from a middle school that serves a broad mix of students. The eighth-grade numbers tell a more positive story: a large majority of eighth graders scored proficient or above in both math and English language arts, and an even larger majority did so in social studies. Science proficiency for eighth graders, tested only at that grade, landed between the math and social studies figures, with a solid share meeting the bar. Across all tested subjects and grades, the school’s overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile among districts in Bayfield County. That is a meaningful distinction given the small count of districts in the county, and it suggests this school is performing at the stronger end of the local landscape.
Because the school serves only middle grades, there is no high school graduation rate to report. The small grade span means students move on to Washburn High School after eighth grade. No data on chronic absenteeism was available, and the school’s discipline and staffing profiles were also not reported. The district brief did not turn up any recent major changes or strategic initiatives, so a parent looking for recent shifts in programming or facilities may need to ask the district office directly.
For a family considering this school, the takeaway is a middle school of modest size in a small Lake Superior community, with academic results that are respectable and top-ranked in its county, though a seventh-grade dip in proficiency might warrant a conversation with the school about how it supports that transition year. The absence of special population data and staffing details means a thorough inquiry before enrolling is wise. The community itself is quiet, slow-growing, and affordable, and the school appears to be doing its work without much fanfare or disruption.
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