Total enrollment
6,126
-980 (-14%) vs SY 2017-18
Polk County
Wisconsin · Public K-12
Polk County reports 26 public K-12 schools to NCES, against a population of 45,555, with an average school size of 236 students. By grade band, the county runs 11 elementary, 7 middle, and 8 high schools.
7-year change in Polk County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
26
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
90%
was 93%
% Hispanic
4%
was 3%
% Black
1%
was 1%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
26
8 districts
Enrollment
6,126
NCES CCD
Median income
$77,219
Above Wisconsin avg
Free/reduced lunch
37.2%
Below Wisconsin avg
Elementary
11
2,574 students
Middle
7
1,408 students
High
8
2,144 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Osceola School District
1,421 students · 8 districts in Polk County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Polk 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+
24.3%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
5.7%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.4%
civilian labor
Median age
47
19.9% under 18
Test scores in Polk County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 16 schools ranked. Wisconsin state average: 53.1%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Saint Croix Falls Elementary· 79.9%
- Saint Croix Falls Middle· 68.6%
- Amery Middle· 65.8%
- Osceola Middle· 63.7%
- Clear Lake Junior High· 62.9%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Luck Elementary· 42.9%
- Gaylord A Nelson Educational Center· 43.0%
- Unity Middle· 46.1%
- Luck Middle· 46.8%
- Frederic Elementary· 54.7%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Osceola High | Osceola | High | 09-12 | 498 | · |
| Amery High | Amery | High | 09-12 | 418 | · |
| Osceola Middle | Osceola | Middle | 05-08 | 398 | · |
| Unity Elementary | Balsam Lake | Elementary | PK-04 | 385 | · |
| Saint Croix Falls High | Saint Croix Falls | High | 09-12 | 345 | · |
| Saint Croix Falls Elementary | Saint Croix Falls | Elementary | PK-04 | 303 | · |
| Lien Elementary | Amery | Elementary | PK-03 | 299 | · |
| Saint Croix Falls Middle | Saint Croix Falls | Middle | 05-08 | 297 | · |
| Unity High | Balsam Lake | High | 09-12 | 292 | · |
| Amery Middle | Amery | Middle | 06-08 | 275 | · |
| Osceola Intermediate | Osceola | Elementary | 02-04 | 275 | · |
| Gaylord A Nelson Educational Center | Clear Lake | Elementary | PK-06 | 266 | · |
| Amery Intermediate | Amery | Elementary | 03-05 | 260 | · |
| Osceola Elementary | Osceola | Elementary | PK-01 | 250 | · |
| Unity Middle | Balsam Lake | Middle | 05-08 | 238 | · |
| Frederic 6-12 School | Frederic | High | 06-12 | 214 | · |
| Frederic Elementary | Frederic | Elementary | PK-05 | 192 | · |
| Clear Lake High | Clear Lake | High | 09-12 | 189 | · |
| Luck Elementary | Luck | Elementary | PK-05 | 174 | · |
| Clayton Elementary | Clayton | Elementary | PK-05 | 124 | · |
| Luck High | Luck | High | 09-12 | 102 | · |
| Clayton High | Clayton | High | 09-12 | 86 | · |
| Luck Middle | Luck | Middle | 06-08 | 82 | · |
| Clear Lake Junior High | Clear Lake | Middle | 07-08 | 72 | · |
| Clayton Middle | Clayton | Middle | 06-08 | 46 | · |
| Dresser Elementary | Dresser | Elementary | PK-KG | 46 | · |
Cities in Polk County
About Polk County
In Wisconsin, Polk County is a sparse county of about 45,555 residents. 26 public schools across the county enrolls about 6,126 students between them.
Looking at the broader picture, census numbers show the median household earns about $77,219 a year, about 24% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and roughly 6% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 5% higher than the Wisconsin median.
In terms of grade levels, Polk County spans 11 elementary schools (2,574 students), 7 middle schools (1,408), and 8 high schools (2,144).
The largest single district in Polk County is Osceola School District, which alone enrolls about 1,421 students.
Five-year track record. Total public-school enrollment in Polk County has contracted 14% since SY 2017-18, moving from about 7,106 students to 6,126.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Polk County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.
Frequently asked questions
Polk County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data