Northwoods Reporter

Among the many ethnicities represented in Bayfield County schools, white was the most prevalent ethnicity among students in the 2023-24 school year, according to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

Of the 1,604 students attending Bayfield County schools, 65.5% were white. American Indian students were the second largest ethnicity, making up 23.8% of Bayfield County students.

In the previous school year, white students were also the most common group in Bayfield County, representing 66.9% of the student body.

Countywide, Bayfield Elementary School had the most even distribution of races, which included 64.5% American Indian students, 16.8% white students, 12.2% Hispanic students, 5.6% multiracial students, and 1% Asian students.

In the 2023-24 school year, the total number of students enrolled in public schools in the county dropped 2.8% compared to the previous year.

According to the NAEP's 2022 results, there was a significant achievement gap between ethnic groups in Wisconsin. On average, white students outperformed Black students by 40 to 50 points in mathematics and reading. Hispanic students also scored lower than their white peers in both subjects, with an average gap of about 20 points.

School Name	Most Represented Ethnicity	Percent of Total Student Body	Total Enrollment
Bayfield Elementary School	Amer Indian	64.5%	197
Bayfield High School	Amer Indian	72.8%	114
Bayfield Middle School	Amer Indian	76.3%	93
Drummond Elementary School	White	85.4%	164
Drummond High School	White	87.4%	103
Drummond Junior High School	White	82.4%	51
Iron River Elementary School	White	83.2%	101
South Shore Elementary School	White	86.4%	110
South Shore Junior-Senior High School	White	83.3%	96
Washburn Elementary School	White	78.5%	302
Washburn High School	White	78.8%	189
Washburn Middle School	White	81%	84