Northwoods Reporter

The majority of students in Rusk County districts were white in the 2023-24 school year, according to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

Of the 1,609 students attending Rusk County district schools, 91.3% were white. Hispanic students were the second largest ethnic group among Rusk County's districts, making up 3.5% of the student body.

In the previous school year, white students were also the most common group in Rusk County districts, representing 91.6% of the student body.

During the 2023-24 school year, Bruce School District and Ladysmith School District were recognized as having the most diverse student bodies in Rusk County. Bruce School District had a student population comprising American Indian, African American, Hispanic, Pacific Islander, multiracial, and white while Ladysmith School District was had American Indian, Asian, African American, Hispanic, multiracial, and white students.

In the 2023-24 school year, the total number of students enrolled in school districts in the county dropped to 0.3% compared to the previous year.

The main offices of all districts mentioned in the story are located in cities associated with Rusk County.

White students were more likely to graduate from high school than any other ethnic group in Wisconsin. According to recent US Census data, nearly 95% of white students in the state successfully graduated in 2021.

Graduation rates for Black and Multiracial students lagged behind white students by 10%.

Even further behind, only 71.6% of Hispanic students completed their high school education during the same period, one of the lowest graduation rates in the state.

District	Most Prevalent	Percent of Total Student Body	Total Enrollment
Bruce School District	White	92.4	410
Flambeau School District	White	96.7	450
Ladysmith School District	White	87.4	749