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B−
Schools in Calamus · Beaver Dam School District, Columbus School District

Calamus’s public schools score below 54% of Wisconsin districts on tests and graduation

The grade covers the three public school districts serving Calamus, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Wisconsin, not nationally.

K–12Where will my kid go?

From Wisconsin state tests taken in spring 2022, when 98% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
37%
▼ 1 pts vs WI 38%
2021–22
Math proficiency
40%
▲ 1 pts vs WI 39%
2021–22
Graduate on time
90%
▼ 0 pts vs WI 90%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$15.1K
▼ 8% vs WI $16.5K
FY2024 · Beaver Dam
Students per teacher
12.7
WI 13.6 · smaller classes
Schools in town
0
4,364 students on the public path
In brief

Calamus’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 909 Wisconsin towns with household incomes within a quarter of Calamus’s, its schools beat 35%, lower than their 46% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state in math, below in reading

Reading proficiency is 37% and math 40% across its districts in spring 2022, against 38% and 39% statewide; 90% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 90%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

Beaver Dam spends $15,130 per student and Columbus $15,320, against $16,459 across Wisconsin (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Seven elementary schools, then three middle and three high schools

Which school depends on the address at every step. Enrollment is down 10% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Calamus’s grade

B− Test scoresC− Graduation

B−: better than 46% of Wisconsin school districts. Test scores are above the Wisconsin average; graduation is below it.

Wisconsin school districts we grade (441)Better than 46%
Lower resultsHigher results
Wisconsin towns with similar household incomes (909)Better than 35%
Towns in Dodge County (23)Better than 35%
C+BA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 2,381 test results and a graduating class of 295 could put Calamus anywhere from C+ to B. The tests are from spring 2022, when 98% of Calamus’s students in the tested grades sat them (2,383 in math, 2,379 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Calamus, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–57 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressB− to A−
6–83 middle schoolsDepends on your addressC+ to B
9–123 high schoolsDepends on your addressC− to B

Parts of Calamus (4% of its land) are served by Randolph instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Three districts serve Calamus

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Beaver Dam School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 8 schools · 2,988 students, down 10% since 2020–21 · 12.8 per teacher (WI 13.6)
$15,130WI $16,459 · FY2024
C+
Columbus School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 4 schools · 1,120 students, up 9% since 2020–21 · 12.6 per teacher (WI 13.6)
$15,320WI $16,459 · FY2024
B−
Fall River School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 2 schools · 484 students, up 3% since 2020–21 · 12.3 per teacher (WI 13.6)
$16,300WI $16,459 · FY2024
A−
Test scores · 2021–22

Close to the state in reading

Reading · PK–12, Beaver Dam School District36%
State average 38.1% · 1561 students tested
Math · PK–12, Beaver Dam School District41%
State average 38.7% · 1565 students tested
Reading · PK–12, Columbus School District35%
State average 38.1% · 577 students tested
Math · PK–12, Columbus School District35%
State average 38.7% · 577 students tested
Reading · PK–12, Fall River School District50%
State average 38.1% · 241 students tested
Math · PK–12, Fall River School District43%
State average 38.7% · 241 students tested

Calamus vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Wisconsin towns that share Calamus’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
CalamusB−Beaver Dam PK–12 · Columbus PK–12 · Fall River PK–12
Fountain Prairie—Fall River
WestfordC+Randolph PK–12 · Beaver Dam PK–12
LowellC+Dodgeland PK–12 · Waterloo PK–12
Beaver DamC+Beaver Dam
ElbaB−Columbus

2 of the 5 neighbors share Beaver Dam with Calamus for grades PK–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.

Every school in Calamus

12 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Wisconsin’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

Also serving Calamusin other towns
Columbus Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Columbus
425 students12:1Rate it →
Prairie View Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Beaver Dam
A−
337 students12:1Rate it →
Jefferson Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Beaver Dam
B−
328 students10:1Rate it →
Fall River Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Fall River
B+
231 students12:1Rate it →
Wilson Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Beaver Dam
A−
41 students4:1Rate it →
Washington Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Beaver Dam
B−
260 students16:1Rate it →
Lincoln Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Beaver Dam
B−
201 students10:1Rate it →
Beaver Dam Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Beaver Dam
C+
633 students13:1Rate it →
Fall River High
High · Grades 6–12 · Fall River
B
253 students12:1Rate it →
Columbus Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Columbus
C+
241 students13:1Rate it →
Beaver Dam High
High · Grades 9–12 · Beaver Dam
C−
1,031 students15:1Rate it →
Columbus High
High · Grades 9–12 · Columbus
C
383 students13:1Rate it →

Questions about Calamus’s schools

Are Calamus’s schools good?

On Wisconsin’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Calamus children attend score below 54% of Wisconsin’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B− Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 35%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Calamus in?

Beaver Dam School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 2,988 students in 8 schools (2024–25). Small parts of Calamus are served by Randolph.

Where do Calamus kids go to high school?

One of 3 high schools, depending on your address: Beaver Dam High, Columbus High and Fall River High.

What is Calamus’s graduation rate?

90% of the class of 2023 in Beaver Dam School District graduated in four years, against 90% across Wisconsin.

How much does Calamus spend per student?

$15,130 in Beaver Dam School District, $15,320 in Columbus School District and $16,300 in Fall River School District (FY2024), against $16,459 across Wisconsin. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Calamus families are saying about school.

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Looking for colleges? Colleges near Calamus → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Wisconsin. Stars are from neighbors.