Northwoods Reporter

Among the many ethnicities represented in Polk 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 6,298 students attending Polk County schools, 90.2% were white. Ethnicities <5% students were the second largest ethnicity, making up 9.8% of Polk County students.

In the previous school year, white students were also the most common group in Polk County, representing 90.6% of the student body.

Countywide, Amery High School had the most even distribution of races, which included 90.7% white students, 3.5% multiracial students, 3.3% Hispanic students, 1.4% Black students, 0.7% Asian students, and 0.5% American Indian students.

In the 2023-24 school year, the total number of students enrolled in public schools in the county dropped 5.9% 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
Amery High School	White	90.7%	430
Amery Intermediate School	White	89.8%	275
Amery Middle School	White	90.7%	300
Clayton Elementary School	White	93.4%	136
Clayton High School	White	96.9%	96
Clayton Middle School	White	97.9%	47
Clear Lake High School	White	89.9%	198
Clear Lake Junior High School	White	96%	74
Dresser Elementary School	White	89.4%	66
Frederic 6-12 School	White	88.1%	226
Frederic Elementary School	White	92.6%	189
Gaylord A. Nelson Educational Center	White	91.8%	269
Lien Elementary School	White	92.5%	321
Luck Elementary School	White	91%	177
Luck High School	White	94.3%	123
Luck Middle School	White	92.4%	79
Osceola Elementary School	White	92.9%	339
Osceola High School	White	93.5%	463
Osceola Intermediate School	White	89.8%	265
Osceola Middle School	White	88.8%	294
Saint Croix Falls Elementary School	White	91%	322
Saint Croix Falls High School	White	90.5%	356
Saint Croix Falls Middle School	White	90.7%	311
Unity Elementary School	White	82.5%	389
Unity High School	White	81.7%	295
Unity Middle School	White	87.2%	258