Total enrollment
2,480
+227 (+10%) vs SY 2020-21
Sawyer County
Wisconsin · Public K-12
Sawyer County's public-school directory totals 12 schools, with student enrollment near 2,501. Hayward Community School District is the largest district. Median household income runs around $60,801. The level mix is 3 elementary, 2 middle, and 5 high schools.
4-year change in Sawyer County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
10
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Sawyer County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Wisconsin | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 2,501 | #55 of 70 | #2,014 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 11 | #55 of 70 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 10.5:1 | #3 of 70 | #209 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 54.9% | #8 of 70 | #1,363 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 57.1% | #7 of 70 | #732 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Sawyer County school rankings
Residents
18,476
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
12
5 districts
Enrollment
2,501
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$60,801
Below Wisconsin avg
Free/reduced lunch
54.9%
Above Wisconsin avg
Elementary
3
823 students
Middle
2
381 students
High
5
658 students
Combined / other
2
639 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Hayward Community School District
1,885 students · 5 districts in Sawyer County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Sawyer 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+
27.4%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
14.3%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
6.0%
civilian labor
Median age
53
17.4% under 18
Test scores in Sawyer County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 5 schools ranked. Wisconsin state average: 53.1%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Hayward Intermediate· 60.6%
- Hayward Middle· 57.8%
- Winter Elementary· 45.0%
- Winter Middle· 40.0%
- Hayward Ctr for Individualized Learning· 34.4%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hayward High | Hayward | High | 09-12 | 522 | · |
| Hayward Primary | Hayward | Elementary | PK-02 | 403 | · |
| Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa School | Hayward | Combined | KG-12 | 389 | · |
| Hayward Middle | Hayward | Middle | 06-08 | 340 | · |
| Hayward Intermediate | Hayward | Elementary | 03-05 | 327 | · |
| Hayward Ctr for Individualized Learning | Hayward | Combined | PK-12 | 250 | · |
| Winter Elementary | Winter | Elementary | PK-05 | 93 | · |
| Winter High | Winter | High | 09-12 | 72 | · |
| Northern Waters Environmental School | Hayward | High | 06-12 | 43 | · |
| Winter Middle | Winter | Middle | 06-08 | 41 | · |
| WOLI/Akii'gikinoo'amaading Environmental School | Hayward | High | 06-12 | 21 | · |
| DOC: Flambeau Correctional Center | Hawkins | High | 09-12 | 0 | · |
Cities in Sawyer County
About Sawyer County
In Wisconsin, Sawyer County is a rural-scale county of about 18,476 residents. 12 public schools across the county educates about 2,501 students between them.
For perspective, census numbers show median household income runs near $60,801, roughly 27% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the poverty rate is around 14%. That income level is 17% lower than the Wisconsin median.
On the level-by-level breakdown, Sawyer County covers 3 elementary schools (823 students), 2 middle schools (381), 5 high schools (658), and 2 combined or other schools.
Hayward Community School District dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 1,885 students on its own.
Over the past 4-year window. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment increased 10%: 2,253 students in SY 2020-21 versus 2,480 in SY 2024-25.
On this page, the community for Sawyer County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data