Manawa Elementary

Set in Manawa, Wisconsin, Manawa Elementary is a low-enrollment K-5 school, one of the schools within Manawa School District. It serves 221 students across grades pre-K through 5. Compared to the state average of about 323 students per school, that is 32% leaner than typical.

Manawa Elementary is one of 3 schools operated by Manawa School District, a district that caters to 528 students overall.

Demographically, Manawa Elementary lists that 87% of students identify as White, making the school strongly White-majority. Beyond that, the school records 8% Hispanic, 4% multiracial.

On the resource side, Manawa Elementary logs 17 full-time-equivalent teachers, putting the student-to-teacher ratio at about 12.8:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 14.7:1, putting Manawa Elementary tighter than the state norm the norm. An estimated 52% of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, a number frequently used as a low-income enrollment indicator. That share is north of Waupaca County's rate of about 43%.

After controlling for student poverty, Manawa Elementary tracks the demographic baseline. The model predicts 45.7% given the school's FRL share; actual proficiency is 55.6%.

Around the school, community-level numbers for Waupaca County indicate median household income runs about $72,830, roughly 21% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 7% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Across Waupaca County's 26 public schools (combined enrollment of about 7,466 students), Manawa Elementary is one campus in the mix.

Little Wolf High is the nearest neighboring public school, about 0.2 miles from this campus. 2 of the 8 nearest public schools sit inside a five-mile radius. Ranking that nearby cluster on reported proficiency puts Manawa Elementary at 6th of 9; the average score across the group is 56.0%.

The campus sits in a small-town setting.

Trend over the last 7 years. Over the past 7-year window, the student count contracted 33%: 332 students in 2018 compared to 221 in 2025. Over the same period, the White share ticked down from 93% to 87%. Class-load math has fell: from 14.4:1 in 2018 to 12.8:1 in 2025.

On the community side, posts here usually surface around school events, parent volunteer needs, and clubs. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.