Excellent
#162 of 2,105 schools in WI
Top 8% in state
South Mountain Elementary
Elementary School · Wausau School District · Wausau, WI
A Wausau School District elementary school where students score 13 points above what's typical for similar communities.
5400 Bittersweet Rd, Wausau, WI 54401
- Math 68% vs WI 53% (2025)
- Reading 75% vs WI 51% (2025)
- 12.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at South Mountain Elementary score 71% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 59%).
2025 FORWARD proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. WI average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 12 points since 2020, reaching 72% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 66% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 64% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 34 test records from WI state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
22%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where South Mountain Elementary sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 4Car-Dependent
- Bike 49Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: Elevated1,324/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Wausau), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$69,542
Median home value
$186,100
Median rent
$969/mo
College educated
30.9%
Homeownership
66.3%
Poverty rate
11.3%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 54401; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rib Mountain ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 8.0 | K–5 | 1.5 mi | 209 | Compare → |
| Our Saviors Lutheran SchoolPrivate · tuition | Not rated | PK–7 | 2.7 mi | 23 | Compare → |
| Rothschild ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 6.7 | PK–5 | 2.8 mi | 391 | Compare → |
| G D Jones ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 6.1 | PK–5 | 3.0 mi | 547 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Wausau School District
- Schools in district
- 20
- Rank in district
- #1 of 20
- District spending per student
- $15,133NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 9.6%Census SAIPE · 2024
South Mountain Elementary is listed in Wausau School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About South Mountain Elementary
South Mountain Elementary is a public elementary school in Wausau, WI, part of Wausau School District, serving approximately 223 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 12.4:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.7 out of 10 and ranks #162 of 2,105 schools in WI. State assessment records show 66% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 64% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about South Mountain Elementary
What grades does South Mountain Elementary serve?
South Mountain Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend South Mountain Elementary?
South Mountain Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 223 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at South Mountain Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at South Mountain Elementary is 12.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does South Mountain Elementary rank in WI?
South Mountain Elementary ranks #162 of 2,105 schools in WI.
What is South Mountain Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
South Mountain Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.7 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at South Mountain Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, South Mountain Elementary has 66% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 64% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is South Mountain Elementary a charter school?
No, South Mountain Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is South Mountain Elementary a Title I school?
No, South Mountain Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for South Mountain Elementary?
22.0% of students at South Mountain Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 223
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 12.4:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 18
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Fringe Rural
- County
- Marathon County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 13.0%
- Phone
- (715) 261-0235
- Area population (ZIP 54401)
- 31,430
- Area average commute
- 15.4 min
- Area median age
- 40.6
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 FORWARD · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 FORWARD. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 FORWARD · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 FORWARD. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 54401; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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