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#1604 of 2,105 schools in WI

West High

High School · Wausau School District · Wausau, WI

A Wausau School District high school where students score 11 points below what's typical for similar communities.

1200 W Wausau Ave, Wausau, WI 54401

  • Math 33% proficient (2021)
  • Reading 37% proficient (2021)
  • 93.0% 4-year graduation

Academics

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress3.0Needs Improvement25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data13
Annual Change-3.35 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2021
TrendDeclining
Academics4.6Below Average25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency33% (2021 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency37% (2021 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency35% (2021 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)46% (model expectation from 2021 EdFacts)
vs. Expected-11.1 pts
Adjusted Percentile27th
College Readiness6.9Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate93%
AP Participation17%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment5.6Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio14.7:1
District spending per student$15,133
Chronic Absenteeism20.4%

Students at West High score 35% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 46%).

How we calculate scores →

2021 EdFacts proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. WI average.

Math Proficiency33%(2021 EdFacts)
School
State
Not reported(2021 EdFacts)
ELA Proficiency37%(2021 EdFacts)
School
State
Not reported(2021 EdFacts)

Trend

↑ Recovering

Proficiency declined earlier in the 13-year record (2009–2021), then recovered 6 points since 2018, reaching 35% in 2021.

Show all 13 years
2009
Math
74%
ELA
75%
2010
Math
79%
ELA
79%
2011
Math
39%
ELA
40%
2012
Math
44%
ELA
39%
2013
Math
36%
ELA
43%
2014
Math
34%
ELA
48%
2015
Math
33%
ELA
43%
2016
Math
40%
ELA
45%
2017
Math
32%
ELA
33%
2018
Math
25%
ELA
34%
2019
Math
25%
ELA
34%
2020*
Math
33%
ELA
37%
2021*
Math
33%
ELA
37%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 41% (multi-year average, 2009-2021) · reading/ELA 45% (multi-year average, 2009-2021)

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Based on 26 test records from WI state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

43.9%

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 rate

The neighborhood

Where West High 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 8Car-Dependent
  • Bike 51Bikeable
  • City Safety: Elevated1,324/100K

Powered byWalk Score

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

AP/IB Programs3AP courses offered
17% participation·State avg: 2.4 AP courses·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Athletics27sports offered
13 boys'·14 girls'·60 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Advanced STEM Courses5of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Gifted & Talented ProgramAvailable
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students.·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Newman Catholic High SchoolPrivate · tuition6.4private6–120.3 mi241Compare →
Newman Catholic SchoolsPrivate · tuition6.8privatePK–120.3 mi501Compare →
Wausau Area Virtual EducationCharter · enrollment unverified4.6K–122.0 mi175Compare →
East HighEnrollment path unverified5.09–122.7 mi897Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.

Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.

Wausau School District

Schools in district
20
Rank in district
#17 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

West High is listed in Wausau School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About West High

West High is a public high school in Wausau, WI, part of Wausau School District, serving approximately 1,443 students in grades 9th-12th with a 14.7:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.1 out of 10 and ranks #1,604 of 2,105 schools in WI. State assessment records show 41% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021) and 45% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about West High

What grades does West High serve?

West High serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend West High?

West High has an enrollment of approximately 1,443 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at West High?

The student-teacher ratio at West High is 14.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does West High rank in WI?

West High ranks #1,604 of 2,105 schools in WI.

What is West High's MySchoolScout rating?

West High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.1 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 West High?

Based on loaded state assessment records, West High has 41% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021) and 45% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021).

Is West High a charter school?

No, West High is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is West High a Title I school?

No, West High is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for West High?

43.9% of students at West High 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
9th – 12th
Enrollment
1,443
Student-Teacher Ratio
14.7:1
Teachers (FTE)
98
Type
regular
Setting
Small City
County
Marathon County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
20.4%
4-Year Graduation
93.0%
Area population (ZIP 54401)
31,430
Area average commute
15.4 min
Area median age
40.6
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 · 2021 EdFacts · Low confidence
  • Older source: 2021 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Reading/ELA proficiency
State department of education · 2021 EdFacts · Low confidence
  • Older source: 2021 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • 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, 2009-2021; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

Related reading

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