The top reported proficiency rate is 63% in Social studies. The lowest is 41% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Westby Elementary
Westby Elementary serves students from pre-kindergarten through fourth grade as part of the Westby Area School District, and sits in a small city in Vernon County whose identity is rooted in agriculture and Norwegian heritage. The school itself is a regular public school, not a charter, and its enrollment is roughly the size you would expect for a primary school serving these grade levels in a community of this scale. The student body is predominantly white, with a modest share of Hispanic students and a very small number of students of other racial backgrounds present. Just over a third of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which is a common measure of economic need and suggests a meaningful but not overwhelming share of families facing financial pressure. Data on special education identification and English learner status were not available, so a parent would want to ask the school directly about the support structures for those populations, if that is a concern.
On state assessments, which are the Forward exams given in Wisconsin, the school shows a pattern of results that varies by subject and grade. In third-grade English language arts, a clear majority of students met or exceeded the state’s proficiency standard, a solid result. Fourth-grade ELA was somewhat lower, with just over half of students reaching that bar. In math, third graders also posted a majority proficient, while fourth graders saw a notably lower proficiency rate. Science, which is tested in fourth grade, showed roughly two-fifths of students proficient, a softer area. Social studies, also tested in fourth grade, showed a stronger outcome, with a clear majority proficient. Overall, when you average the school’s performance across all tested subjects and grades, it sits above the midpoint relative to other districts in Vernon County. That comparison group is small, only six districts, so being above the middle is a meaningful positive within the local context, though not an extraordinary statewide position. No graduation rate applies here, as the school does not serve high school grades.
The community of Westby is compact and walkable, with a traditional Main Street corridor. The local economy has a strong cooperative tradition, with the Westby Cooperative Creamery, Vernon Telephone Cooperative, and several others functioning as major employers. The city has seen steady but modest population growth over recent decades. Housing values in the area are below the Wisconsin state benchmark, though they have risen at a pace that outpaces the national average over the most recent year. This combination of below-state-average home prices and a local economy with stable cooperative employers may be relevant for a family considering a move. Bus service connects Westby to La Crosse and Viroqua multiple times daily, which expands the practical range of commuting and amenities.
The district brief was searched for recent parent-relevant changes such as a referendum, curriculum shifts, or boundary adjustments, but no confirmed changes of that kind were found. Some construction expenditure was noted in district fiscal records, but the nature and scope of that work could not be verified from the available information. A parent moving to the area would need to ask the district office for the current picture on facilities or programming updates.
For a family trying to understand whether Westby Elementary fits them, the academic picture is one of a school that performs around the middle of its county with some stronger areas in early literacy and social studies and softer spots in fourth-grade math and science. The student body is fairly homogeneous, and the economic diversity is present but not extreme. The school is small enough that a parent might expect a close relationship with teachers and staff. The town itself is small, agricultural in character, with a distinctive cultural identity and a stable, cooperative-based economy. A family that values a tight-knit primary school in a community with a clear sense of place, and who does not need to navigate high school decisions from this building, would find a straightforward match here. A family concerned about the math or science proficiency rates, or one seeking a highly diverse setting, would want to investigate further with the school or district.
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