Northwoods Reporter

White students were the most represented ethnic group within Bayfield County schools in the 2024-25 school year, according to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

Of the 1,540 students attending Bayfield County schools, 64% were white. American Indian students were the second largest ethnicity, making up 23.6% of Bayfield County students.

In the previous school year, white students were also the most common group in Bayfield County, representing 65.5% of the student body.

Countywide, Bayfield Elementary School had the most even distribution of races, which included 64.6% American Indian students, 13.2% Hispanic students, 11.6% white students, 9.5% multiracial students, 0.5% Asian students, and 0.5% Pacific Islander students.

In the 2024-25 school year, the total number of students enrolled in public schools in the county dropped 4% compared to the previous year.

According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) 2024 Mathematics Snapshot Report for Wisconsin Grade 8, there remains a significant achievement gap between ethnic groups in Wisconsin. White students outperformed Black students by an average of 50 points, and Hispanic students scored on average 32 points lower than their white peers.

School Name	Most Represented Ethnicity	Percent of Total Student Body	Total Enrollment
Bayfield Elementary School	American Indian	64.6%	189
Bayfield High School	American Indian	71.4%	119
Bayfield Middle School	American Indian	70.8%	96
Drummond Elementary School	White	84.6%	156
Drummond High School	White	82.6%	92
Drummond Junior High School	White	81.1%	53
Iron River Elementary School	White	84.2%	95
South Shore Elementary School	White	94.1%	102
South Shore Junior-Senior High School	White	82.4%	91
Washburn Elementary School	White	80.4%	285
Washburn High School	White	76.9%	182
Washburn Middle School	White	75%	80