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Schools in Dakota · Wautoma Area School District

Dakota’s public schools score below 51% of Wisconsin districts on tests and graduation

The grade covers the public school district serving Dakota, 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 100% 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
36%
▼ 2 pts vs WI 38%
2021–22
Math proficiency
35%
▼ 4 pts vs WI 39%
2021–22
Graduate on time
95–100%
▲ 4–10 pts vs WI 90%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$13.6K
▼ 18% vs WI $16.5K
FY2024
Students per teacher
13.3
WI 13.6
Schools in town
0
1,300 students on the public path
In brief

Dakota’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 1333 Wisconsin towns with household incomes within a quarter of Dakota’s, its schools beat 55%, higher than their 49% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 36% of tested students were proficient in reading and 35% in math, against 38% and 39% statewide; 100% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

95–100% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 90% across Wisconsin (the state reports Dakota’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $13,568 per student, against $16,459 across Wisconsin (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Two elementary schools, then one middle and one high school

Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 6 the district’s path is Parkside School, then Wautoma High. 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 Dakota’s grade

C+ Test scoresB Graduation

B−: better than 49% of Wisconsin school districts. Graduation is above the Wisconsin average; test scores are below it.

Wisconsin school districts we grade (441)Better than 49%
Lower resultsHigher results
Wisconsin towns with similar household incomes (1333)Better than 55%
Towns in Waushara County (18)Better than 56%
C+BA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 662 test results and a graduating class of 92 could put Dakota anywhere from C+ to B. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Dakota’s students in the tested grades sat them (662 in math, 662 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–52 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressB
6–8Parkside Schoolin WautomaC+
9–12Wautoma Highin WautomaC−

Dakota’s public schools are run by Wautoma Area School District, which also serves Deerfield, Leon, Lohrville and Marion and others. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

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

Wautoma Area School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 4 schools · 1,300 students · 13.3 per teacher (WI 13.6)
$13,568WI $16,459 · FY2024
B−
Test scores · 2021–22

Below the state in reading

Reading36%
State average 38.1% · 662 students tested
Math35%
State average 38.7% · 662 students tested

Dakota vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
DakotaB−Wautoma Area
WautomaB−Wautoma Area
Crystal Lake—Westfield
MarionB−Wautoma Area
Richford—Wautoma Area PK–12 · Westfield PK–12

3 of the 4 neighbors share Wautoma Area with Dakota, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in Dakota

4 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 Dakotain other towns
Riverview Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–3 · Wautoma
B
302 students12:1Rate it →
Redgranite Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Redgranite
B
130 students15:1Rate it →
Parkside School
Middle · Grades 4–8 · Wautoma
C+
480 students14:1Rate it →
Wautoma High
High · Grades 9–12 · Wautoma
C−
388 students13:1Rate it →

Questions about Dakota’s schools

Are Dakota’s schools good?

On Wisconsin’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Dakota children attend score below 51% of Wisconsin’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B− Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 55%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Dakota in?

Wautoma Area School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 1,300 students in 4 schools (2024–25).

Where do Dakota kids go to high school?

Wautoma High in Wautoma, with 388 students; its own test results earn a C−.

What is Dakota’s graduation rate?

95–100% of the class of 2023 in Wautoma Area School District graduated in four years, against 90% across Wisconsin.

How much does Dakota spend per student?

$13,568 in Wautoma Area School District (FY2024), against $16,459 across Wisconsin. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Dakota families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Dakota → 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.