- Rice Lake High — 2.4 mi · Grades 9–12 · 674 students
- Hilltop Elementary — 2.6 mi · Grades K–4 · 251 students
- Hilltop Day Care and Preschool — 2.6 mi · Grades PK–PK · 21 students
- Rice Lake Middle — 2.7 mi · Grades 5–8 · 622 students
- Tainter Elementary — 3.4 mi · Grades PK–4 · 445 students
- Haugen Elementary — 6.6 mi · Grades PK–4 · 83 students
| Metric | Rice Lake Area School District | National Average | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student Enrollment | 2,186 | 3,544 | ↓ Smaller than avg |
| Number of Schools | 7 | 7 | Varies by district |
| Per-Pupil Spending | $15,791/yr | $17,619/yr | ↓ 10% below avg |
| District Type | Public School District | Public District | — |
| Overall Rating | 5/10 — Average | — | Near average |
| District | Rating | Percentile | Students |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rice Lake Area School District (this district) | 5/10 | 46th | 2,186 |
| Cameron School District | 7/10 | 69th | 1,151 |
| Barron Area School District | 2/10 | 17th | 1,119 |
| Spooner Area School District | 4/10 | 39th | 1,015 |
🔢 Show the math behind this rating
Ranked against 426 rated districts in WI → 46th percentile → 5/10.
Source: Wisconsin DPI Forward Exam, grades 3–8 Meeting/Advanced, 2024–25 school year. Full methodology →
About Rice Lake Area School District
Rice Lake Area School District is the public school district assigned to zip code 54868 in Rice Lake, Wisconsin. Serving students from Pre-K–12th, this district is the primary public education system for families living in and around zip code 54868. The sections below cover the district’s resources, scale, rating, and everything families need to know about enrollment and school assignment.
Understanding the 5/10 Rating
SchoolDistrictFinder rates Rice Lake Area School District 5 out of 10 — average among Wisconsin public school districts. Our ratings are based on state assessment results — the share of students scoring proficient or above in reading and math, as reported in Wisconsin’s Forward Exam grades 3–8 assessments (2024–25 school year). We average each district’s reading and math proficiency, then rank it against other districts in the same state to produce a 1–10 score. Because Wisconsin is compared only against itself, the rating reflects how this district performs relative to its in-state peers.
Rice Lake Area School District falls near the middle of Wisconsin on state assessment results, with reading and math proficiency close to the state median. Average-rated districts provide foundational public education, and many families find they deliver solid day-to-day learning — particularly when parents stay engaged. If you're considering this area, look beyond the overall rating: visit schools, talk to current parents, and research the specific school your child would attend. Average districts often have individual schools that significantly outperform the district mean.
Enrollment for Families in Zip Code 54868
Children in zip code 54868 are assigned to Rice Lake Area School District for public school enrollment, covering grades Pre-K–12th. School assignments are address-specific — your elementary, middle, and high school placements depend on your exact street address within zip code 54868, not just your neighborhood. Two homes on opposite ends of the same zip code may be assigned to different schools within the same district.
To confirm your specific school assignments, contact Rice Lake Area School District at the number listed on the district website or visit the district’s official website. Typical enrollment documents include a signed lease or mortgage statement, birth certificate, state-required immunization documentation, and recent report cards or transcripts. If your child has an IEP or 504 plan, bring that documentation to enrollment — Wisconsin districts are required to continue services within a reasonable period. Fall enrollment windows typically open in late winter or early spring; contact the district for exact dates and required steps.
School Districts and Home Values in Rice Lake
Research consistently shows that district assignment affects residential property values. Because Rice Lake Area School District serves zip code 54868, district assignment still factors into home-pricing comparisons between zip code 54868 and neighboring areas. District boundaries are address-specific — verify the exact district assignment for any property you’re seriously considering rather than assuming based on the neighborhood. A single block can place two adjacent homes in different districts with different ratings and different annual property tax implications.
Use the property tax estimator on this page to calculate estimated annual tax obligations based on your target purchase price. In Wisconsin, property taxes are a primary funding source for public schools — your tax payments directly support Rice Lake Area School District programs and staff. Understanding both district quality and the associated tax burden is essential financial due diligence before committing to any home in zip code 54868.
Data Sources and Accuracy
All district information on this page is sourced from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024–2025, the U.S. Department of Education’s annual census of all public school districts — the same dataset used by researchers, journalists, and policymakers to analyze American public education. District boundaries, school assignments and phone numbers are updated annually when NCES publishes new data, typically in spring; per-pupil spending comes from the US Census Bureau's Annual Survey of School System Finances, released about two years after the fiscal year it covers. Always verify your specific school assignment and enrollment requirements directly with Rice Lake Area School District before making any housing or enrollment decision based on zip code 54868 data.