Press Release

February 11, 2025

Contact: Sam Stockwell
samuel_stockwell@gse.harvard.edu
617.495.0342

Wisconsin Ranked 16th in Math Recovery and 30th in Reading Between 2019 and 2024

Average student achievement in Wisconsin remains a third of a grade level below 2019 levels in math and half a grade level below in reading.

Still, there are bright spots: mean achievement for students in Waukesha has nearly recovered to 2019 levels in both reading and math. And some districts such as Fond Du Luc are now scoring above their 2019 means in math.

(February 11, 2025) In its third year of reporting on the pace of academic recovery measures in districts nationwide, the Education Recovery Scorecard (a collaboration between the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University and The Educational Opportunity Project at Stanford University) is issuing its annual report on district-level student growth in math and reading.

  • Wisconsin ranked 16th among states in terms of recovery in math and 30th in reading between 2019 and 2024.
  • Average student achievement in Wisconsin remains a third of a grade level below 2019 levels in math (.38 grade equivalents) and half a grade level below in reading (.54 grade equivalents). In other words, the loss in math achievement in Wisconsin is equivalent to 38 percent of the progress students typically make annually between grades 4 through grade 8.
  • In Wisconsin, 83 percent of students are in districts whose average math achievement in 2024 remained below their own 2019 levels. The average student in some districts, such as West Allis-West Milwaukee, remains a full grade equivalent or more below their 2019 mean achievement in math.
  • Reading remains a concern in Wisconsin, with 94 percent of students in districts with average reading achievement below 2019 levels. This is true in many other states, with 89 percent of students in districts nationally below 2019 levels in reading, and only 11 percent above.
  • Still, there are bright spots: mean achievement for students in Waukesha has nearly recovered to 2019 levels in both reading and math. And some districts such as Fond Du Luc are now scoring above their 2019 means in math.
  • A rise in chronic absenteeism (students missing more than 10 percent of a school year) from 13 percent of students in 2019 before the pandemic to 23 percent in 2022 (down to 20 percent in 2023) is slowing the recovery in many districts in Wisconsin.
  • Wisconsin received $2.4 billion in federal pandemic relief for K-12 schools—or roughly $2,800 per student (which is less than the national average of $3,700 per student.) Nationally, our analysis suggests that the dollars did contribute to the academic recovery, especially when targeted at academic catch-up efforts such as summer learning and tutoring.

The federal pandemic relief dollars may be gone, but the pandemic’s impact lingers in many Wisconsin schools.  Even without federal relief dollars, states could be targeting continuing federal Title I dollars and state dollars to implement interventions which have been shown effective, such as tutoring and summer learning.  State leaders, mayors, employers and other community leaders should join schools to redouble efforts on the shared challenge of reducing student absenteeism.

One of the project leaders, Professor Tom Kane from Harvard, said: “Unless state and local leaders step up now, the achievement losses will be the longest lasting– and most inequitable– legacy of the pandemic.”

For the national press release and findings click here.

About the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University 

The Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University, based at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, seeks to transform education through quality research and evidence. CEPR and its partners believe all students will learn and thrive when education leaders make decisions using facts and findings, rather than untested assumptions. Learn more at cepr.harvard.edu.

Contact: Sam Stockwell, samuel_stockwell@gse.harvard.edu, (617) 495-0342

District Fact Sheets

Statewide Data
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Abbotsford School District - 5500030
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Adams Friendship Area School District - 5500060
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Algoma School District - 5500150
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Alma Center School District - 5500210
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Alma School District - 5500180
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Almond Bancroft School District - 5500240
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Altoona School District - 5500270
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Amery School District - 5500300
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Antigo Unified School District - 5500360
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Appleton Area School District - 5500390
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Arcadia School District - 5500420
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Argyle School District - 5500450
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Ashland School District - 5500510
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Ashwaubenon School District - 5500540
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Athens School District - 5500570
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Auburndale School District - 5500600
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Augusta School District - 5500630
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Baldwin Woodville Area School District - 5500720
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Bangor School District - 5500780
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Baraboo School District - 5500810
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Barneveld School District - 5500840
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Barron Area School District - 5500870
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Beaver Dam Unified School District - 5500960
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Beecher Dunbar Pembine School District - 5511550
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Belleville School District - 5500990
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Belmont Community School District - 5501020
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Beloit School District - 5501050
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Beloit Turner School District - 5501080
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Benton School District - 5501110
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Berlin Area School District - 5501140
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Black Hawk School District - 5505730
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Black River Falls School District - 5501260
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Blair Taylor School District - 5500016
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Bloomer School District - 5501350
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Bonduel School District - 5501470
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Boscobel Area School District - 5501500
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Boyceville Community School District - 5501590
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Brighton 1 School District - 5501650
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Brillion School District - 5501680
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Bristol 1 School District - 5501710
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Brodhead School District - 5501740
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Brown Deer School District - 5501800
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Bruce School District - 5501830
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Burlington Area School District - 5501890
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Cadott Community School District - 5502040
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Cambridge School District - 5502100
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Cameron School District - 5502130
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Campbellsport School District - 5502160
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Cashton School District - 5502340
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Cedar Grove Belgium Area School District - 5502430
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Cedarburg School District - 5502460
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Chequamegon School District - 5500058
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Chetek Weyerhaeuser Area School District - 5500061
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Chilton School District - 5502520
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Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District - 5502550
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Clayton School District - 5502580
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Clear Lake School District - 5502610
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Clinton Community School District - 5502640
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Clintonville School District - 5502670
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Cochrane Fountain City School District - 5502700
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Colby School District - 5502730
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Coleman School District - 5502760
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Colfax School District - 5502790
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Columbus School District - 5502820
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Crandon School District - 5502910
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Crivitz School District - 5502970
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Cuba City School District - 5503030
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Cudahy School District - 5503060
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Cumberland School District - 5503090
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D C Everest Area School District - 5513170
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Darlington Community School District - 5503150
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De Forest Area School District - 5503180
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De Pere School District - 5503210
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De Soto Area School District - 5503240
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Deerfield Community School District - 5503270
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Delavan Darien School District - 5503640
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Denmark School District - 5503660
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Dodgeland School District - 5507260
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Dodgeville School District - 5503690
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Drummond Area School District - 5503810
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Durand Arkansaw School District - 5503840
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East Troy Community School District - 5504020
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Eau Claire Area School District - 5504050
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Edgar School District - 5504080
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Edgerton School District - 5504110
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Elcho School District - 5504170
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Eleva Strum School District - 5504200
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Elk Mound Area School District - 5504230
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Elkhart Lake Glenbeulah School District - 5504260
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Elkhorn Area School District - 5504290
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Ellsworth Community School District - 5504320
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Elmbrook School District - 5501770
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Elmwood School District - 5504350
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Erin School District - 5504410
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Evansville Community School District - 5504440
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Fall Creek School District - 5504500
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Fall River School District - 5504530
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Fennimore Community School District - 5504590
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Flambeau School District - 5514970
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Florence County School District - 5504650
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Fond Du Lac School District - 5504680
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Fontana J 8 School District - 5504720
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Fort Atkinson School District - 5504740
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Fox Point J 2 School District - 5504800
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Franklin Public School District - 5504830
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Frederic School District - 5504860
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Freedom Area School District - 5504920
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Galesville Ettrick Trempealeau School District - 5504960
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Genoa City J 2 School District - 5505130
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Germantown School District - 5505160
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Gibraltar Area School District - 5505220
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Gillett School District - 5505250
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Gilman School District - 5505280
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Gilmanton School District - 5505370
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Glendale River Hills School District - 5505460
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Glenwood City School District - 5505520
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Grafton School District - 5505610
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Grantsburg School District - 5505670
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Green Bay Area Public School District - 5505820
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Green Lake School District - 5505880
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Greendale School District - 5505910
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Greenfield School District - 5505940
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Greenwood School District - 5505970
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Gresham School District - 5500056
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Hamilton School District - 5506030
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Hartford J 1 School District - 5506090
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Hartland Lakeside J 3 School District - 5506140
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Hayward Community School District - 5506270
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Herman Neosho Rubicon School District - 5500075
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Hilbert School District - 5506450
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Hillsboro School District - 5506480
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Holmen School District - 5506540
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Holy Hill Area School District - 5500080
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Horicon School District - 5506570
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Hortonville Area School District - 5506600
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Howard Suamico School District - 5506630
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Howards Grove School District - 5506660
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Hudson School District - 5506690
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Hustisford School District - 5506780
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Independence School District - 5506810
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Iola Scandinavia School District - 5506840
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Iowa Grant School District - 5506870
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Ithaca School District - 5506960
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Janesville School District - 5507020
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Jefferson School District - 5507050
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Johnson Creek School District - 5507170
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Juda School District - 5507230
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Kaukauna Area School District - 5507290
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Kenosha School District - 5507320
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Kettle Moraine School District - 5503510
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Kewaskum School District - 5507380
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Kewaunee School District - 5507410
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Kickapoo Area School District - 5512540
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Kiel Area School District - 5507440
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Kimberly Area School District - 5507470
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Kohler School District - 5507500
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La Crosse School District - 5507530
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Lac Du Flambeau 1 School District - 5504620
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Ladysmith School District - 5507590
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Lake Country School District - 5500013
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Lake Geneva J 1 School District - 5507620
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Lake Holcombe School District - 5507680
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Lancaster Community School District - 5507770
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Laona School District - 5507830
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Lena School District - 5507860
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Linn J 6 School District - 5508070
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Little Chute Area School District - 5508160
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Lodi School District - 5508190
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Lomira School District - 5508220
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Loyal School District - 5508250
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Luck School District - 5508280
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Luxemburg Casco School District - 5508340
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Madison Metropolitan School District - 5508520
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Manawa School District - 5508550
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Manitowoc School District - 5508610
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Maple Dale Indian Hill School District - 5504770
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Maple School District - 5508640
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Marathon City School District - 5508670
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Marinette School District - 5508700
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Marion School District - 5508730
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Markesan School District - 5508760
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Marshall School District - 5508790
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Marshfield Unified School District - 5508820
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Mauston School District - 5508850
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Mayville School District - 5508880
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Mellen School District - 5508970
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Melrose Mindoro School District - 5509000
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Menasha Joint School District - 5509030
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Menomonee Falls School District - 5509060
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Menomonie Area School District - 5509090
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Mequon Thiensville School District - 5509130
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Merton Community School District - 5509360
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Middleton Cross Plains Area School District - 5509510
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Milton School District - 5509570
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Milwaukee School District - 5509600
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Mineral Point Unified School District - 5509660
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Minocqua J 1 School District - 5509690
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Mishicot School District - 5509750
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Mondovi School District - 5509780
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Monona Grove School District - 5509810
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Monroe School District - 5509840
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Montello School District - 5509870
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Monticello School District - 5509900
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Mosinee School District - 5509960
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Mount Horeb Area School District - 5509990
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Mukwonago School District - 5510060
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Muskego Norway School District - 5510170
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Necedah Area School District - 5510230
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Neenah Joint School District - 5510320
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Neillsville School District - 5510350
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Nekoosa School District - 5510380
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New Auburn School District - 5510440
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New Berlin School District - 5510470
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New Glarus School District - 5510500
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New Holstein School District - 5510530
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New Lisbon School District - 5510560
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New London School District - 5510590
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New Richmond School District - 5510620
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Niagara School District - 5510680
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North Cape School District - 5512510
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North Fond Du Lac School District - 5510740
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North Lake School District - 5509300
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Northland Pines School District - 5503860
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Northwood School District - 5509720
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Norwalk Ontario Wilton School District - 5510770
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Oak Creek Franklin Joint School District - 5510830
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Oakfield School District - 5510860
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Oconomowoc Area School District - 5510890
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Oconto Falls Public School District - 5510950
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Oconto Unified School District - 5510920
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Omro School District - 5510980
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Onalaska School District - 5511010
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Oostburg School District - 5511070
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Oregon School District - 5511100
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Osceola School District - 5511160
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Oshkosh Area School District - 5511190
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Osseo Fairchild School District - 5511220
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Owen Withee School District - 5511310
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Palmyra Eagle Area School District - 5511350
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Pardeeville Area School District - 5511370
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Paris J 1 School District - 5511400
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Parkview School District - 5511130
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Pecatonica Area School District - 5501310
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Peshtigo School District - 5511610
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Pewaukee School District - 5511640
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Phillips School District - 5511730
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Pittsville School District - 5511790
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Platteville School District - 5511850
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Plum City School District - 5511880
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Plymouth Joint School District - 5511940
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Port Edwards School District - 5511970
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Port Washington Saukville School District - 5512000
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Portage Community School District - 5512060
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Potosi School District - 5512090
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Poynette School District - 5512120
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Prairie Du Chien Area School District - 5512150
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Prairie Farm Public School District - 5512180
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Prescott School District - 5512240
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Princeton School District - 5512300
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Pulaski Community School District - 5512330
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Racine Unified School District - 5512360
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Randall J 1 School District - 5512390
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Randolph School District - 5512420
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Random Lake School District - 5512450
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Raymond 14 School District - 5512480
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Reedsburg School District - 5512660
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Reedsville School District - 5512690
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Rhinelander School District - 5512720
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Rice Lake Area School District - 5512810
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Richland School District - 5512960
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Richmond School District - 5508130
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Rio Community School District - 5512990
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Ripon Area School District - 5513020
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River Falls School District - 5513050
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River Ridge School District - 5500017
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River Valley School District - 5514250
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Riverdale School District - 5510140
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Rosendale Brandon School District - 5513100
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Rosholt School District - 5513140
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Royall School District - 5504380
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Saint Croix Central School District - 5506060
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Saint Croix Falls School District - 5513230
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Saint Francis School District - 5513260
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Salem School District - 5513350
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Sauk Prairie School District - 5513410
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Seneca Area School District - 5513470
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Sevastopol School District - 5513500
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Seymour Community School District - 5513530
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Shawano School District - 5513620
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Sheboygan Area School District - 5513650
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Sheboygan Falls School District - 5513680
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Shell Lake School District - 5513710
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Shiocton School District - 5513770
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Shorewood School District - 5513800
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Shullsburg School District - 5513830
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Silver Lake J 1 School District - 5513860
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Siren School District - 5513890
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Slinger School District - 5513950
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Solon Springs School District - 5513980
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Somerset School District - 5514010
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South Milwaukee School District - 5514040
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Southern Door County School District - 5514130
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Southwestern Wisconsin School District - 5506300
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Sparta Area School District - 5514160
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Spencer School District - 5514190
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Spooner Area School District - 5514220
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Spring Valley School District - 5514340
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Stanley Boyd Area School District - 5514430
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Stevens Point Area Public School District - 5514490
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Stockbridge School District - 5514520
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Stone Bank School District - 5509390
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Stoughton Area School District - 5514550
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Stratford School District - 5514580
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Sturgeon Bay School District - 5514610
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Sun Prairie Area School District - 5514640
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Superior School District - 5514670
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Suring Public School District - 5514700
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Swallow School District - 5509240
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Thorp School District - 5514820
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Three Lakes School District - 5514850
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Tomah Area School District - 5514910
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Tomahawk School District - 5514940
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Trevor Wilmot Consolidated School District - 5500052
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Tri County Area School District - 5511820
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Turtle Lake School District - 5515060
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Twin Lakes 4 School District - 5515090
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Union Grove J 1 School District - 5515180
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Unity School District - 5500750
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Valders Area School District - 5515210
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Verona Area School District - 5515330
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Viroqua Area School District - 5515360
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Wabeno Area School District - 5515390
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Walworth J 1 School District - 5515450
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Washington Caldwell School District - 5515700
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Waterford Graded J 1 School District - 5515660
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Waterloo School District - 5515720
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Watertown Unified School District - 5515750
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Waukesha School District - 5515780
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Waunakee Community School District - 5515810
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Waupaca School District - 5515840
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Waupun School District - 5515870
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Wausau School District - 5515900
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Wausaukee School District - 5515930
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Wautoma Area School District - 5515960
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Wauwatosa School District - 5515990
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Webster School District - 5516230
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West Allis West Milwaukee School District - 5516260
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West Bend School District - 5516290
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West De Pere School District - 5516320
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West Salem School District - 5516350
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Westby Area School District - 5516410
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Westfield School District - 5516440
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Weyauwega Fremont School District - 5516500
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Wheatland J 1 School District - 5516560
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Whitefish Bay School District - 5516620
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Whitehall School District - 5516650
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Whitewater Unified School District - 5516680
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Whitnall School District - 5506000
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Wild Rose School District - 5516710
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Williams Bay School District - 5516740
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Winneconne Community School District - 5516830
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Wisconsin Dells School District - 5517040
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Wisconsin Heights School District - 5501230
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Wisconsin Rapids School District - 5517070
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Wittenberg Birnamwood School District - 5517100
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Wonewoc Union Center School District - 5517130
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Woodruff J 1 School District - 5517160
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Wrightstown Community School District - 5517190
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Yorkville J 2 School District - 5517220
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