Total enrollment
1,547
-248 (-14%) vs SY 2017-18
Rusk County
Wisconsin · Public K-12
In Rusk County, Wisconsin, the public-school system rolls up to 9 schools and roughly 1,547 K-12 students, with county median household income around $59,944. That works out to 3 elementary, 3 middle, and 3 high schools.
7-year change in Rusk County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
9
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
91%
was 92%
% Hispanic
4%
was 3%
% Black
1%
was 1%
% Asian
0%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
9
3 districts
Enrollment
1,547
NCES CCD
Median income
$59,944
Below Wisconsin avg
Free/reduced lunch
71.0%
Above Wisconsin avg
Elementary
3
715 students
Middle
3
332 students
High
3
500 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Ladysmith School District
727 students · 3 districts in Rusk County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Rusk 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+
16.9%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
9.5%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
5.4%
civilian labor
Median age
49
20.0% under 18
Test scores in Rusk County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 6 schools ranked. Wisconsin state average: 53.1%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Ladysmith Middle· 55.1%
- Bruce Middle· 47.8%
- Flambeau Elementary· 39.5%
- Ladysmith Elementary· 34.0%
- Bruce Elementary· 32.6%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Flambeau Middle· 31.3%
- Bruce Elementary· 32.6%
- Ladysmith Elementary· 34.0%
- Flambeau Elementary· 39.5%
- Bruce Middle· 47.8%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ladysmith Elementary | Ladysmith | Elementary | PK-05 | 328 | · |
| Ladysmith High | Ladysmith | High | 09-12 | 255 | · |
| Bruce Elementary | Bruce | Elementary | PK-05 | 199 | · |
| Flambeau Elementary | Tony | Elementary | PK-05 | 188 | · |
| Ladysmith Middle | Ladysmith | Middle | 06-08 | 144 | · |
| Flambeau High | Tony | High | 09-12 | 129 | · |
| Bruce High | Bruce | High | 09-12 | 116 | · |
| Flambeau Middle | Tony | Middle | 06-08 | 115 | · |
| Bruce Middle | Bruce | Middle | 06-08 | 73 | · |
Cities in Rusk County
About Rusk County
In Wisconsin, Rusk County is a compact county of about 14,179 residents. 9 public schools across the county educates about 1,547 students between them.
For perspective, census numbers show the median household earns about $59,944 a year, 17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and roughly 10% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 18% below the Wisconsin median.
For a sense of the school types, Rusk County covers 3 elementary schools (715 students), 3 middle schools (332), and 3 high schools (500).
Ladysmith School District dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 727 students on its own.
Looking at the last 7 years. Total public-school enrollment in Rusk County has decreased 14% since SY 2017-18, moving from about 1,795 students to 1,547.
On this page, the community for Rusk County discusses sports rivalries, cross-district programs, and shared facilities. Discussions cut across districts, schools, and grade levels.
Frequently asked questions
Rusk County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data