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Frank Eugene Nichols HouseFrank Eugene Nichols House · Photo: Royalbroil · CC BY-SA 3.0
B+
Schools in Onalaska · Onalaska School District

Onalaska’s public schools outscore 68% of Wisconsin districts

Math proficiency in Onalaska’s districts is 47%, above the Wisconsin average (39%). The grade covers the public school district serving Onalaska, 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.

#148of 362 Wisconsin townsK–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
43%
▲ 5 pts vs WI 38%
2021–22
Math proficiency
47%
▲ 8 pts vs WI 39%
2021–22
Graduate on time
95%
▲ 4 pts vs WI 90%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$17.0K
▲ 3% vs WI $16.5K
FY2024
Students per teacher
13.8
WI 13.6
Schools in town
10
2,920 students on the public path
In brief

Onalaska’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 1310 Wisconsin towns with household incomes within a quarter of Onalaska’s, its schools beat 76%, higher than their 68% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 43% and math 47% in spring 2022, against 38% and 39% statewide; 95% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 90%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $17,001 per student, against $16,459 across Wisconsin (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Three elementary schools, then one middle and one high school

Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 6 the district’s path is Onalaska Middle, then Onalaska High. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

St. Pauls Lutheran School (private), St. Paul Lutheran School (private), Luther High School (private) and St. Patrick School (private) are in town. Every school ↓

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 Onalaska’s grade

B+ Test scoresC+ Graduation

B+: better than 68% of Wisconsin school districts, #148 of 362 Wisconsin towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Wisconsin average; test scores are the stronger of the two.

Wisconsin school districts we grade (441)Better than 68%
Lower resultsHigher results
Wisconsin towns with similar household incomes (1310)Better than 76%
BA−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,490 test results and a graduating class of 233 could put Onalaska anywhere from B to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 98% of Onalaska’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,490 in math, 1,489 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–53 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressB+ to A−
6–8Onalaska MiddleOnalaska School DistrictB−
9–12Onalaska HighOnalaska School DistrictB−

Onalaska’s public schools are run by Onalaska School District. Parts of Onalaska (12% of its land) are served by Holmen instead. 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.

Onalaska School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 6 schools · 2,920 students, down 4% since 2020–21 · 13.8 per teacher (WI 13.6)
$17,001WI $16,459 · FY2024
B+
Test scores · 2021–22

Above the state in reading

Reading43%
State average 38.1% · 1489 students tested
Math47%
State average 38.7% · 1490 students tested

Onalaska vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
OnalaskaB+Onalaska
Onalaska (town)B+Holmen
La CrosseCLa Crosse
MedaryCLa Crosse
HolmenB+Holmen
HamiltonA−West Salem

Every school in Onalaska

10 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).

District schools in Onalaskaby address
Eagle Bluff Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
A−
471 students15:1Rate it →
Northern Hills Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
B+
463 students13:1Rate it →
Pertzsch Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
B+
373 students13:1Rate it →
Onalaska Prekindergarten Partner School
Prekindergarten · Grades PK
68 students23:1Rate it →
Onalaska Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8
B−
620 students13:1Rate it →
Onalaska High
High · Grades 9–12
B−
925 students14:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
St. Pauls Lutheran School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Religious
264 students20:1Rate it →
St. Paul Lutheran School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Religious
263 students19:1Rate it →
Luther High School
High · Grades 9–12
Private · Religious
253 students11:1Rate it →
St. Patrick School
Elementary · Grades PK–6
Private · Catholic
224 students12:1Rate it →

Questions about Onalaska’s schools

Are Onalaska’s schools good?

By Wisconsin’s own tests, yes: the public schools Onalaska children attend outscore 68% of Wisconsin’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade, #148 of 362 Wisconsin towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 76%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Onalaska in?

Onalaska School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 2,920 students in 6 schools (2024–25). Small parts of Onalaska are served by Holmen.

Where do Onalaska kids go to high school?

Onalaska High, with 925 students; its own test results earn a B−.

What is Onalaska’s graduation rate?

95% of the class of 2023 in Onalaska School District graduated in four years, against 90% across Wisconsin.

How much does Onalaska spend per student?

$17,001 in Onalaska School District (FY2024), against $16,459 across Wisconsin. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Onalaska?

Yes: St. Pauls Lutheran School (religious, grades PK–8, 264 students), St. Paul Lutheran School (religious, grades PK–8, 263 students), Luther High School (religious, grades 9–12, 253 students) and St. Patrick School (Catholic, grades PK–6, 224 students).

Parents talk

What Onalaska families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Onalaska → 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.