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Washburn County

Wisconsin · Public K-12

Of the 16 public K-12 schools in Washburn County, the largest district by enrollment is Spooner Area School District (1,000 students). Total county enrollment runs around 2,097. That works out to 7 elementary, 2 middle, and 4 high schools.

7-year change in Washburn County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
2,097
-408 (-16%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
15
-2 (-12%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
90%
was 90%
% Hispanic
4%
was 3%
% Black
0%
was 1%
% Asian
0%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
16
4 districts
Enrollment
2,097
NCES CCD
Median income
$63,441
Below Wisconsin avg
Free/reduced lunch
47.2%
Above Wisconsin avg
Elementary
7
911 students
Middle
2
312 students
High
4
860 students
Combined / other
3
14 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Spooner Area School District
1,000 students · 4 districts in Washburn County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Washburn 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
White
93%
Hispanic
2%
Black
0%
Asian
1%
Two or more
5%
Native American
1%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
90%
Hispanic
3%
Black
0%
Asian
0%
Two or more
4%
Native American
1%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
25.5%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
6.4%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.9%
civilian labor
Median age
53
18.0% under 18

Test scores in Washburn County

Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 8 schools ranked. Wisconsin state average: 53.1%.

Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
  1. Northwood High/Middle· 32.0%
  2. Northwood Elementary· 41.0%
  3. Birchwood Elementary· 42.2%
  4. Spooner Elementary· 54.4%
  5. Spooner Middle· 55.6%

See all 8 schools in Washburn County ranked by score →

All schools (16)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Spooner ElementarySpoonerElementaryPK-04363·
Spooner HighSpoonerHigh09-12361·
Shell Lake Junior/Senior HighShell LakeHigh07-12300·
Spooner MiddleSpoonerMiddle05-08276·
Shell Lake Elementary (3-6)Shell LakeElementary03-06153·
Northwood High/MiddleMinongHigh06-12140·
Northwood ElementaryMinongElementaryPK-05133·
Shell Lake Primary (K-2)Shell LakeElementaryPK-02131·
Birchwood ElementaryBirchwoodElementaryPK-0586·
Birchwood HighBirchwoodHigh09-1259·
Birchwood MiddleBirchwoodMiddle06-0836·
Birchwood Public MontessoriBirchwoodElementaryPK-0625·
NorthStar Community Charter SchoolMinongElementaryPK-0820·
Bobcat Virtual AcademyBirchwoodCombinedPK-1211·
Northwood Virtual Charter SchoolMinongCombinedPK-123·
Birchwood Blue Hills Charter SchoolBirchwoodCombinedM-M··

Cities in Washburn County

Birchwood6 schoolsMinong4 schoolsShell Lake3 schoolsSpooner3 schools

About Washburn County

In Wisconsin, Washburn County is a sparse county of about 16,854 residents. 16 public schools across the county instructs about 2,097 students between them.

In context, census numbers show median household income runs near $63,441, 26% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the federal-poverty share is near 6%. That income level is 14% below the Wisconsin median.

On the school-mix side, Washburn County is made up of 7 elementary schools (911 students), 2 middle schools (312), 4 high schools (860), and 3 combined or other schools.

The largest single district in Washburn County is Spooner Area School District, which alone enrolls about 1,000 students.

Over the past 7-year window. Combined enrollment now sits at 2,097 students, shrank 16% from the 2,505 reported in SY 2017-18. Over that span, Washburn County lost 2 schools, going from 17 to 15.

In the discussion threads here, the community for Washburn County discusses sports rivalries, cross-district programs, and shared facilities. Discussions cut across districts, schools, and grade levels.

Frequently asked questions

How many K-12 schools serve Washburn County?
There are 16 public K-12 schools in Washburn County, Wisconsin, with a combined enrollment of about 2,097.
How many high schools are in Washburn County?
Washburn County, Wisconsin has 4 public high schools, serving approximately 860 students.
How many middle schools are in Washburn County?
Washburn County, Wisconsin has 2 public middle schools, serving approximately 312 students.
How many elementary schools are in Washburn County?
Washburn County, Wisconsin has 7 public elementary schools, serving approximately 911 students.
What is the largest school district in Washburn County?
Spooner Area School District is the largest school district in Washburn County, serving approximately 1,000 students. The county contains 4 school districts overall.
What is the population of Washburn County?
Washburn County, Wisconsin has a population of approximately 16,854, with a median age of 53. About 18.0% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Washburn County?
Median household income in Washburn County is $63,441, below the Wisconsin average of $73,469. About 6.4% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Washburn County?
Approximately 25.5% of adults 25 and older in Washburn County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Washburn County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 47.2% of students in Washburn County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is higher than the Wisconsin county average of 41.4%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Washburn County schools?
Across Washburn County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 11.7 to 1.

Washburn County school rankings

Largest schoolsAll rankings →
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data