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Excelsior Town Hall - panoramioPhoto: Corey Coyle · CC BY 3.0
C+
Schools in Excelsior · Reedsburg School District, Baraboo School District

Excelsior’s public schools score below 65% of Wisconsin districts on tests and graduation

The grade covers the two public school districts serving Excelsior, 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 95% 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
35%
▼ 3 pts vs WI 38%
2021–22
Math proficiency
35%
▼ 4 pts vs WI 39%
2021–22
Graduate on time
92%
▲ 2 pts vs WI 90%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$13.8K
▼ 16% vs WI $16.5K
FY2024 · Baraboo
Students per teacher
12.4
WI 13.6 · smaller classes
Schools in town
0
4,516 students on the public path
In brief

Excelsior’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 1239 Wisconsin towns with household incomes within a quarter of Excelsior’s, its schools beat 26%, lower than their 35% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 35% of tested students were proficient in reading and 35% in math, against 38% and 39% statewide; 95% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

92% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 90% across Wisconsin. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

Reedsburg spends $13,777 per student and Baraboo $13,823, against $16,459 across Wisconsin (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

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 Excelsior’s grade

C+ Test scoresC− Graduation

C+: better than 35% of Wisconsin school districts. Graduation is above the Wisconsin average; test scores are below it.

Wisconsin school districts we grade (441)Better than 35%
Lower resultsHigher results
Wisconsin towns with similar household incomes (1239)Better than 26%
Towns in Sauk County (22)Better than 23%
CB−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 2,567 test results and a graduating class of 228 could put Excelsior anywhere from C to B−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 95% of Excelsior’s students in the tested grades sat them (2,570 in math, 2,563 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–57 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressB− to A−
6–82 middle schoolsDepends on your addressC to C+
9–122 high schoolsDepends on your addressC+ to B

Excelsior runs its own schools through grade 12 (Reedsburg School District). From grade PK, students attend the Baraboo School District, shared with Baraboo, Baraboo, Delton, Fairfield, Freedom, Greenfield, Merrimac, North Freedom and West Baraboo. Its elementary school is in Reedsburg. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Excelsior

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

Reedsburg School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 6 schools · 2,591 students · 13.2 per teacher (WI 13.6)
$13,777WI $16,459 · FY2024
C+
Baraboo School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 9 schools · 2,598 students, down 7% since 2020–21 · 11.7 per teacher (WI 13.6)
$13,823WI $16,459 · FY2024
C
Test scores · 2021–22

Below the state in reading

Reading · PK–12, Reedsburg School District36%
State average 38.1% · 1257 students tested
Math · PK–12, Reedsburg School District37%
State average 38.7% · 1266 students tested
Reading · PK–12, Baraboo School District34%
State average 38.1% · 1306 students tested
Math · PK–12, Baraboo School District33%
State average 38.7% · 1304 students tested

Excelsior vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
ExcelsiorC+Reedsburg PK–12 · Baraboo PK–12
DellonaB−Reedsburg PK–12 · Wisconsin Dells PK–12
North Freedom—Baraboo
BarabooCBaraboo
ReedsburgC+Reedsburg
DeltonC+Baraboo PK–12 · Wisconsin Dells PK–12
Freedom—Reedsburg PK–12 · Baraboo PK–12

4 of the 6 neighbors share Baraboo with Excelsior for grades PK–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.

Every school in Excelsior

11 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 Excelsiorin other towns
Pineview Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–2 · Reedsburg
390 students12:1Rate it →
East Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Baraboo
A−
334 students12:1Rate it →
Willson Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Baraboo
B
284 students12:1Rate it →
Al Behrman Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Baraboo
B−
278 students10:1Rate it →
West Side Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–2 · Reedsburg
198 students10:1Rate it →
North Freedom Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · North Freedom
B
103 students11:1Rate it →
West Elementary-Kindergarten Center
Elementary · Grades PK–K · Baraboo
35 students5:1Rate it →
Webb Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Reedsburg
C+
572 students13:1Rate it →
Jack Young Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Baraboo
C
548 students11:1Rate it →
Reedsburg Area High
High · Grades 9–12 · Reedsburg
B
889 students15:1Rate it →
Baraboo High
High · Grades 9–12 · Baraboo
C+
885 students14:1Rate it →

Questions about Excelsior’s schools

Are Excelsior’s schools good?

On Wisconsin’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Excelsior children attend score below 65% of Wisconsin’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C+ Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 26%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Excelsior in?

Two districts: Reedsburg School District runs grades PK–12, and Baraboo School District runs grades PK–12, shared with Baraboo, Baraboo, Delton, Fairfield, Freedom, Greenfield, Merrimac, North Freedom and West Baraboo.

Where do Excelsior kids go to high school?

One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Reedsburg Area High and Baraboo High.

What is Excelsior’s graduation rate?

92% of the class of 2023 in Reedsburg School District graduated in four years, against 90% across Wisconsin.

How much does Excelsior spend per student?

$13,777 in Reedsburg School District and $13,823 in Baraboo School District (FY2024), against $16,459 across Wisconsin. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Excelsior families are saying about school.

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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.