Total enrollment
2,351
-464 (-16%) vs SY 2017-18
Ashland County
Wisconsin · Public K-12
Public K-12 schools in Ashland County number 11 per the most recent NCES data, averaging about 214 students per campus. By grade band, the county runs 5 elementary, 2 middle, and 3 high schools.
7-year change in Ashland County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
10
-5 (-33%) vs SY 2017-18
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
11
5 districts
Enrollment
2,352
NCES CCD
Median income
$62,462
Below Wisconsin avg
Free/reduced lunch
55.9%
Above Wisconsin avg
Elementary
5
907 students
Middle
2
511 students
High
3
682 students
Combined / other
1
252 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Ashland School District
1,759 students · 5 districts in Ashland County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Ashland County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
24.5%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
8.2%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.8%
civilian labor
Median age
43
20.7% under 18
Test scores in Ashland County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 7 schools ranked. Wisconsin state average: 53.1%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Butternut Elementary· 63.2%
- Butternut High· 57.5%
- Mellen Public School· 49.5%
- Marengo Valley Elementary· 45.0%
- Lake Superior Elementary· 37.1%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Ashland Middle· 36.6%
- Chequamegon Middle· 36.6%
- Lake Superior Elementary· 37.1%
- Marengo Valley Elementary· 45.0%
- Mellen Public School· 49.5%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Superior Elementary | Ashland | Elementary | PK-05 | 603 | · |
| Ashland High | Ashland | High | 09-12 | 589 | · |
| Ashland Middle | Ashland | Middle | 06-08 | 383 | · |
| Mellen Public School | Mellen | Combined | PK-12 | 252 | · |
| Marengo Valley Elementary | Ashland | Elementary | PK-05 | 184 | · |
| Chequamegon Middle | Glidden | Middle | 06-08 | 128 | · |
| Butternut High | Butternut | High | 06-12 | 92 | · |
| Butternut Elementary | Butternut | Elementary | PK-05 | 84 | · |
| Glidden Elementary | Glidden | Elementary | PK-02 | 25 | · |
| La Pointe Elementary | La Pointe | Elementary | KG-06 | 11 | · |
| Promethean Charter School | Butternut | High | 09-12 | 1 | · |
Cities in Ashland County
About Ashland County
Ashland County is a thinly populated Wisconsin county of about 16,080 residents, home to 11 public schools and roughly 2,352 students.
Looking at the wider area, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $62,462, 25% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate is around 8%. That income level is 15% noticeably below the Wisconsin median.
In terms of grade levels, Ashland County spans 5 elementary schools (907 students), 2 middle schools (511), 3 high schools (682), and 1 combined or other schools.
Ashland School District is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 1,759 students across Ashland County.
Trend over the past 7 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 2,351 students, contracted 16% from the 2,815 reported in SY 2017-18. Over that span, Ashland County closed 5 schools, going from 15 to 10.
On this page, the community for Ashland County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.
Frequently asked questions
Ashland County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data