Central Wisconsin STEM Academy

Q: Is Central Wisconsin STEM Academy a good school?

Central Wisconsin STEM Academy ranks 262 nd of 641 Wisconsin middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Central Wisconsin STEM Academy is a public charter middle school in Nekoosa, Wisconsin, serving grades 6-8 with a total enrollment of 22 students. The school is part of the Nekoosa School District, which is ranked 370 out of 428 districts in the state and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Central Wisconsin STEM Academy has consistently outperformed the Nekoosa School District and the state of Wisconsin in various subject areas on the Forward Exam, with significantly higher proficiency rates in English Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Science compared to the district and state averages. However, the school's performance has been variable over the years, with a high of 4 stars from SchoolDigger in 2018-2019 and a low of 2 stars in 2020-2021 and 2017-2018. The school has maintained a 0.0% dropout rate and low chronic absenteeism rates, except for a spike during the COVID-19 pandemic. While the school serves a relatively small student population with a lower socioeconomic status compared to nearby schools, its spending per student is also lower than the nearby Wisconsin Rapids Area Middle and Alexander Middle schools.

The strong academic performance of Central Wisconsin STEM Academy, particularly in STEM-related subjects, suggests a focus on STEM-focused curriculum and instruction, which aligns with its mission as a STEM-focused charter school. While the school's variability in rankings and the challenges it faces in terms of resources and student support are areas that warrant further investigation, its ability to maintain low dropout and chronic absenteeism rates indicates that it is effectively addressing the needs of its students.

Detail:

Public, Charter 6-8

540 Birch St
Nekoosa, WI 54457-1318

(715) 886-8040

District: Nekoosa School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
262^nd of 641 Wisconsin Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $8,682

Student/teacher ratio: 24.6

Number of students: 32

Racial breakdown:

White:

100.0%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 56.3%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Central Wisconsin STEM Academy is not ranked due for the most recent year due to insufficient test score data. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2017 the calculated Average Standard Score was 53.3. (See more...)

Compare Details Central Wisconsin STEM Academy ranks better than 59.1% of middle schools in Wisconsin. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 60.57. (See more...)

The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (100%). (See more...)

Compare Details 56.3% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Central Wisconsin STEM Academy is 24.6. (See more...)

Compare Central Wisconsin STEM Academy employs 1.3 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Central Wisconsin STEM Academy is $8,682.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Central Wisconsin STEM Academy was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

SchoolDigger ranks Central Wisconsin STEM Academy 262^nd of 641 Wisconsin public middle schools. (See Central Wisconsin STEM Academy in the ranking list.)

Nekoosa School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Nekoosa School District 370^th of 428 Wisconsin school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Central Wisconsin STEM Academy

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	WI State Percentile
2015	36.87	804^th	1076	25.3%
2016	51.14	573^rd	1075	46.7%
2017	53.30	540^th	1071	49.6%

See the entire list of Wisconsin Middle School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Rank History for Central Wisconsin STEM Academy

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Rank History for all middle school students at Central Wisconsin STEM Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	WI State Percentile
2015	60.19	250^th	612	59.2%
2016	55.70	277^th	609	54.5%
2017	71.92	123^rd	612	79.9%
2018	45.58	347^th	579	40.1%
2019	77.19	94^th	594	84.2%
2021	42.33	387^th	613	36.9%
2023	51.97	304^th	640	52.5%
2024	60.57	262^nd	641	59.1%

See the entire list of Wisconsin Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for middle school White students at Central Wisconsin STEM Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	WI State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	39.55	255^th	393	35.1%
2024	44.44	239^th	407	41.3%

See the entire list of Best Wisconsin Middle Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction

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Enrollment information for Central Wisconsin STEM Academy

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Year	White	African American	Hispanic	American Indian	Two or More Races	Total
2015	50	4	11	0	0	65
2016	47	3	13	1	2	66
2017	43	1	9	1	4	58
2018	26	1	2	0	1	30
2019	23	0	3	0	0	26
2020	17	0	3	0	1	21
2021	21	0	2	0	1	24
2022	14	0	1	0	0	15
2023	20	0	1	0	1	22
2024	32	0	0	0	0	32

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Central Wisconsin STEM Academy

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2015	65	n/a	n/a	41.5
2016	66	4.0	16.5	43.9
2017	58	3.4	16.8	25.9
2018	30	1.4	20.6	30
2019	26	1.1	23.2	38.5
2020	21	1.1	17.9	38.1
2021	24	0.1	133.3	45.8
2022	15	1.3	11.5	40
2023	22	1.3	16.9	31.8
2024	32	1.3	24.6	56.3

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Central Wisconsin STEM Academy

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2015	65	n/a	n/a	41.5
2016	66	4.0	16.5	43.9
2017	58	3.4	16.8	25.9
2018	30	1.4	20.6	30
2019	26	1.1	23.2	38.5
2020	21	1.1	17.9	38.1
2021	24	0.1	133.3	45.8
2022	15	1.3	11.5	40
2023	22	1.3	16.9	31.8
2024	32	1.3	24.6	56.3

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Central Wisconsin STEM Academy

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$155 (1.7%)	$8,824 (98.3%)	$8,979
2020	$105 (1.1%)	$9,745 (98.9%)	$9,850
2021	$255 (2.9%)	$8,427 (97.1%)	$8,682

Data source: Wisconsin Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Central Wisconsin STEM Academy

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 94^th of 594 Middle schools	Ranks 304^th of 640 Middle schools	31.7%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
6th Grade English Language Arts (Central Wisconsin STEM Academy)	70	37.5	32.5%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Nekoosa School District)	31.7	24.7	6.9%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Wisconsin)	41.7	40.6	1.1%
6th Grade Mathematics (Central Wisconsin STEM Academy)	60	37.5	22.5%
6th Grade Mathematics (Nekoosa School District)	34.6	23.5	11%
6th Grade Mathematics (Wisconsin)	43.5	42.6	0.9%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	26	22	15.4%
African American	0	0
American Indian	0	0
Asian	0	0
Hispanic	3	1	66.7%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	23	20	13%
Two or More Races	0	1
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	38.5%	31.8%	6.6%

Schools Near Central Wisconsin STEM Academy

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				Forward Exam English Language Arts (2024)					Forward Exam Mathematics (2024)					Forward Exam Social Studies (2024)		Forward Exam Science (2024)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2021)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	Forward Exam English Language Arts 4th Grade	Forward Exam English Language Arts 5th Grade	Forward Exam English Language Arts 6th Grade	Forward Exam English Language Arts 7th Grade	Forward Exam English Language Arts 8th Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 4th Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 5th Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 6th Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 7th Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 8th Grade	Forward Exam Social Studies 4th Grade	Forward Exam Social Studies 8th Grade	Forward Exam Science 4th Grade	Forward Exam Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Alexander Middle	Public	4-8	540 Birch St	Nekoosa	54457	Wood County	Nekoosa School District	No	No	No	No	(715) 886-8040	333	28	11.9	57.1%	261 (78.4%)	1 (0.3%)	36 (10.8%)	2 (0.6%)	17 (5.1%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (4.8%)	29.1	498^th of 641 public middle schools	22.3%		27.2	491^st of 640 public middle schools	23.3%	7	42.4	37.5	28.6	43.1	34.5	36.4	40.3	22.2	50.0	43.9	56.1	54.4	43.9	36.8	$13,679	$655	$13,024
Central Wisconsin STEM Academy	Public, Charter	6-8	540 Birch St	Nekoosa	54457	Wood County	Nekoosa School District	Yes	No	No	No	(715) 886-8040	32	1	24.6	56.3%	32 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	60.6	262^nd of 641 public middle schools	59.1%		52	304^th of 640 public middle schools	52.5%	42			58.8		54.6			29.4		63.6		81.8		72.7	$8,682	$255	$8,427
John Edwards Middle	Public	6-8	801 2nd St	Port Edwards	54469	Wood County	Port Edwards School District	No	No	No	No	(715) 887-9000	102	9	11.1	56.9%	87 (85.3%)	2 (2.0%)	5 (4.9%)	2 (2.0%)	5 (4.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.0%)	49.9	362^nd of 641 public middle schools	43.5%		42.5	391^st of 640 public middle schools	38.9%	29			53.1	50.0	39.4			53.1	65.4	54.6		60.6		42.4	$14,766	$714	$14,052
Wisconsin Rapids Area Middle	Public	6-8	1921 27th Ave S	Wisconsin Rapids	54495	Wood County	Wisconsin Rapids School District	No	No	No	No	(715) 424-6740	912	67	13.6	49.9%	713 (78.2%)	16 (1.8%)	73 (8.0%)	46 (5.0%)	12 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	52 (5.7%)	47.6	383^rd of 641 public middle schools	40.2%		46.3	357^th of 640 public middle schools	44.2%	26			53.6	49.7	38.5			58.7	57.7	52.4		52.0		40.0	$13,649	$1,085	$12,563

Frequently Asked Questions about Central Wisconsin STEM Academy

What is the racial makeup of Central Wisconsin STEM Academy?

Students at Central Wisconsin STEM Academy are 100% White.

How many students attend Central Wisconsin STEM Academy?

In the 2023-24 school year, 32 students attended Central Wisconsin STEM Academy.

Is Central Wisconsin STEM Academy a good school?

Central Wisconsin STEM Academy ranks 262^nd of 641 Wisconsin middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What district is Central Wisconsin STEM Academy in?

Nekoosa School District

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.