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Old Indian Agency House (Boundary Increase)Old Indian Agency House (Boundary Increase) · Photo: Royalbroil · CC BY-SA 3.0
C+
Schools in Portage · Portage Community School District

Portage’s public schools score below 63% of Wisconsin districts on tests and graduation

The grade covers the public school district serving Portage, 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.

#278of 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
35%
▼ 3 pts vs WI 38%
2021–22
Math proficiency
36%
▼ 3 pts vs WI 39%
2021–22
Graduate on time
90–94%
▼ 0–4 pts vs WI 90%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$15.7K
▼ 5% vs WI $16.5K
FY2024
Students per teacher
12.9
WI 13.6 · smaller classes
Schools in town
7
1,791 students on the public path
In brief

Portage’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 984 Wisconsin towns with household incomes within a quarter of Portage’s, its schools beat 48%, higher than their 37% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 35% of tested students were proficient in reading and 36% in math, against 38% and 39% statewide; 98% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

90–94% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 90% across Wisconsin (the state reports Portage’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $15,698 per student, against $16,459 across Wisconsin (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one elementary, one middle and one high school

From grade 2 the district’s path is Muir Elementary, then Wayne Bartels Middle, then Portage High. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

St. Mary School (private) and St. Johns Lutheran 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 Portage’s grade

C+ Test scoresC− Graduation

C+: better than 37% of Wisconsin school districts, #278 of 362 Wisconsin towns. Graduation is above the Wisconsin average; test scores are below it.

Wisconsin school districts we grade (441)Better than 37%
Lower resultsHigher results
Wisconsin towns with similar household incomes (984)Better than 48%
CB−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 998 test results and a graduating class of 194 could put Portage anywhere from C to B−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 98% of Portage’s students in the tested grades sat them (999 in math, 997 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
K–1Woodridge ElementaryPortage Community School DistrictNo scores
2–5Muir ElementaryPortage Community School DistrictB+
6–8Wayne Bartels MiddlePortage Community School DistrictC+
9–12Portage HighPortage Community School DistrictC

Portage’s public schools are run by Portage Community School District, which also serves Caledonia, Douglas, Endeavor and Fort Winnebago 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.

Portage Community School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 8 schools · 1,956 students · 12.9 per teacher (WI 13.6)
$15,698WI $16,459 · FY2024
C+
Test scores · 2021–22

Below the state in reading

Reading35%
State average 38.1% · 997 students tested
Math36%
State average 38.7% · 999 students tested

Portage vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
PortageC+Portage
Fort Winnebago—Portage
PacificC+Portage PK–12 · Pardeeville Area PK–12
LewistonC+Portage
CaledoniaC+Portage

All 4 neighbors share Portage with Portage, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in Portage

7 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 Portageby address
Portage Partnering Preschool
Prekindergarten · Grades PK
129 students22:1Rate it →
Woodridge Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–1
201 students12:1Rate it →
Muir Elementary
Elementary · Grades 2–5
B+
439 students11:1Rate it →
Wayne Bartels Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8
C+
422 students13:1Rate it →
Portage High
High · Grades 9–12
C
600 students14:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
St. Mary School
Elementary · Grades K–8
Private · Catholic
169 students11:1Rate it →
St. Johns Lutheran School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Religious
85 students11:1Rate it →

Left off: 2 public programs with fewer than 25 students (DOC: Columbia Correctional Institution and Portage Academy of Achievement).

Questions about Portage’s schools

Are Portage’s schools good?

On Wisconsin’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Portage children attend score below 63% of Wisconsin’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C+ Schools grade, #278 of 362 Wisconsin towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 48%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Portage in?

Portage Community School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 1,956 students in 8 schools (2024–25).

Where do Portage kids go to high school?

Portage High, with 600 students; its own test results earn a C.

What is Portage’s graduation rate?

90–94% of the class of 2023 in Portage Community School District graduated in four years, against 90% across Wisconsin.

How much does Portage spend per student?

$15,698 in Portage Community School District (FY2024), against $16,459 across Wisconsin. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Portage?

Yes: St. Mary School (Catholic, grades K–8, 169 students) and St. Johns Lutheran School (religious, grades PK–8, 85 students).

Parents talk

What Portage families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Portage → 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.