The top reported proficiency rate is 66% in Social studies. The lowest is 35% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Wonewoc-center Elementary
Wonewoc-Center Elementary serves students from prekindergarten through fifth grade in the Wonewoc-Union Center School District, a small rural district in Juneau County. The school is located in the village of Wonewoc, a quiet community in the driftless area of Wisconsin, along the Baraboo River. The village is compact, with a downtown that includes a public library, several churches, and village hall. The surrounding landscape features rocky bluffs and pine trees, and recreation is centered on a state trail, the river, and nearby lakes. Wonewoc’s growth has been stable or slow since the railroad era ended, and it remains a small, close-knit village. Housing values in the area are modest compared to state and national benchmarks.
The school itself is a regular public school with a single building on School Road. A recent community-approved referendum funded major facility additions, including a new Tech Ed and CTE wing, an expanded cafeteria, a band and choir wing, a new science lab, and a relocated main office. A walkway was added to allow safe student commuting from the main entrance, and a safety fence was installed around the playground. These upgrades give the building modern teaching spaces that benefit students across all grade levels.
Academically, the school’s state test results provide a mixed picture. On the Wisconsin Forward Exam, third graders posted proficiency rates that were solidly above half in both math and English language arts. Fifth graders also showed a strong performance, with proficiency in English language arts reaching a notably high level. Fourth grade results were softer. In math, fourth grade proficiency was below a third of students, and the same cohort’s science proficiency was also low. In social studies, however, fourth graders achieved a proficiency rate that was solidly above half. The overall picture is one of variability by grade and subject, with early elementary performance stronger than mid-elementary in several areas. When compared to other school districts in Juneau County, the school’s combined proficiency across tested subjects and grades places it in the top quarter of the county’s districts, a strong relative showing.
The student body is small and reflects the surrounding community’s demographics. The vast majority of students are white, with small numbers of Hispanic students and students identifying as two or more races. A substantial share of students come from low-income households, as measured by eligibility for free or reduced-price lunch. Data on the share of students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the source materials, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about the specific supports available for these populations. The school does not serve grades where a graduation rate would apply.
This is a school that fits a family looking for a small, rural elementary setting with a close community feel. The recent facility investments show a district that has prioritized upgrading its physical space. The academic results are strongest in the early grades and in certain subjects, while the middle elementary years show more variation. A parent should be aware that fourth grade math and science results are areas where the school may be working on improvement. The village itself offers limited commercial activity and a quiet pace of life, with outdoor recreation nearby. For a family that wants a tight-knit school in a slow-growing rural area, Wonewoc-Center Elementary is a reasonable fit.
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