Total enrollment
2,658
+162 (+6%) vs SY 2017-18
Lafayette County
Wisconsin · Public K-12
The 17 public K-12 schools in Lafayette County cover all standard grade bands (6 elementary, 4 middle, and 7 high), with combined enrollment around 2,658.
7-year change in Lafayette County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
17
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
81%
was 88%
% Hispanic
17%
was 10%
% Black
0%
was 1%
% Asian
0%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
17
7 districts
Enrollment
2,658
NCES CCD
Median income
$76,462
Above Wisconsin avg
Free/reduced lunch
41.8%
Above Wisconsin avg
Elementary
6
1,436 students
Middle
4
242 students
High
7
980 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Darlington Community School District
899 students · 7 districts in Lafayette County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Lafayette 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+
22.6%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
7.6%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
2.9%
civilian labor
Median age
41
25.3% under 18
Test scores in Lafayette County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 12 schools ranked. Wisconsin state average: 53.1%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Pecatonica High· 75.6%
- Benton Middle· 70.0%
- Argyle Elementary· 68.1%
- Belmont High· 63.8%
- Black Hawk Elementary· 60.3%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Shullsburg Elementary· 37.7%
- Argyle Middle· 44.3%
- Shullsburg Junior High· 45.8%
- Black Hawk Middle· 48.6%
- Darlington Elementary/Middle· 51.5%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Darlington Elementary/Middle | Darlington | Elementary | PK-08 | 636 | · |
| Darlington High | Darlington | High | 09-12 | 263 | · |
| Belmont Elementary | Belmont | Elementary | PK-06 | 213 | · |
| Pecatonica High | Blanchardville | High | 06-12 | 198 | · |
| Belmont High | Belmont | High | 07-12 | 168 | · |
| Black Hawk Elementary | South Wayne | Elementary | PK-05 | 163 | · |
| Argyle Elementary | Argyle | Elementary | PK-05 | 150 | · |
| Shullsburg Elementary | Shullsburg | Elementary | PK-05 | 143 | · |
| Benton Elementary | Benton | Elementary | PK-06 | 131 | · |
| Shullsburg High | Shullsburg | High | 09-12 | 109 | · |
| Black Hawk High | South Wayne | High | 09-12 | 96 | · |
| Argyle High | Argyle | High | 09-12 | 85 | · |
| Black Hawk Middle | South Wayne | Middle | 06-08 | 76 | · |
| Shullsburg Junior High | Shullsburg | Middle | 06-08 | 73 | · |
| Argyle Middle | Argyle | Middle | 06-08 | 62 | · |
| Benton High | Benton | High | 09-12 | 61 | · |
| Benton Middle | Benton | Middle | 07-08 | 31 | · |
Cities in Lafayette County
About Lafayette County
Lafayette County is a thinly populated Wisconsin county of about 16,942 residents, home to 17 public schools and roughly 2,658 students.
Looking at the wider area, census numbers show the median household earns about $76,462 a year, 23% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the federal-poverty share is near 8%.
On the school-mix side, Lafayette County consists of 6 elementary schools (1,436 students), 4 middle schools (242), and 7 high schools (980).
The largest single district in Lafayette County is Darlington Community School District, which alone enrolls about 899 students.
Trend over the past 7 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 2,658 students, expanded 6% from the 2,496 reported in SY 2017-18. The Hispanic share of public-school enrollment climbed from 10% to 17%.
On allk12, the community for Lafayette County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.
Frequently asked questions
Lafayette County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data