Public schools in La Crosse, WI
19 open public schools with an address in La Crosse, operated by 1 education agency. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
19
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
5,717
19 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
11.6:1
Wisconsin median 13.2:1
Charter schools
5
1 virtual
An overview of La Crosse public schools
The federal directory lists 19 public schools in La Crosse, WI: 11 elementary, 3 middle, 3 high, 2 combined or other. The 19 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 5,717 students, an average of 301 per school. The largest campus is Central High (969 students), and the largest elementary school is Southern Bluffs Elementary (333).
Every listed school belongs to La Crosse School District. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 11.6:1, lower than the statewide school median of 13.2:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 5 charter schools, 1 virtual school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 4 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 4 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 1 of 4 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 48% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving La Crosse
Elementary schools in La Crosse
11| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coulee Montessori Charter School La Crosse School District · Charter | PK–06 | 118 | 13.8:1 | |
| Emerson Elementary La Crosse School District | PK–05 | 317 | 12.5:1 | |
| Hamilton Elementary School La Crosse School District | PK–05 | 151 | 7.6:1 | |
| Hintgen Elementary La Crosse School District | PK–05 | 210 | 7.6:1 | |
| North Woods International School La Crosse School District | PK–05 | 255 | 9.3:1 | |
| Northside Elementary La Crosse School District | PK–05 | 237 | 7.3:1 | |
| School of Technology and Arts I La Crosse School District · Charter | KG–05 | 104 | 15.7:1 | |
| Southern Bluffs Elementary La Crosse School District | PK–05 | 333 | 12.8:1 | |
| Spence Elementary La Crosse School District | PK–05 | 329 | 11.6:1 | |
| State Road Elementary La Crosse School District | PK–05 | 284 | 12.2:1 | |
| Summit Environmental School La Crosse School District | PK–05 | 295 | 11.3:1 |
Middle schools in La Crosse
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Logan Middle La Crosse School District | 06–08 | 424 | 9:1 | |
| Longfellow Middle La Crosse School District | 06–08 | 631 | 10.3:1 | |
| School of Technology and Arts II La Crosse School District · Charter | 06–08 | 39 | — |
High schools in La Crosse
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central High La Crosse School District | 09–12 | 969 | 13:1 | |
| La Crosse Polytechnic School La Crosse School District · Charter | 06–12 | 86 | 17.2:1 | |
| Logan High La Crosse School District | 09–12 | 729 | 11.4:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in La Crosse
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coulee Region Virtual Academy La Crosse School District · Charter · Virtual | KG–12 | 102 | 16.9:1 | |
| La Crosse Offsite Preschool La Crosse School District | PK–PK | 104 | — |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White66.2%
- Hispanic6.1%
- Black5.8%
- Asian9.4%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.5%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0%
- Multiracial11.6%
Enrollment-weighted across 19 La Crosse schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (5,717 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in La Crosse
How many public schools are in La Crosse, WI?
The current NCES directory lists 19 open public schools with a location address in La Crosse: 11 elementary, 3 middle, 3 high, 2 combined or other. Together they reported 5,717 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve La Crosse?
All listed public schools with an address in La Crosse belong to La Crosse School District. Mailing cities do not always match district boundaries, so confirm the district for a specific home address.
What is the largest public high school in La Crosse?
Central High reported the largest high-school enrollment in La Crosse, with 969 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in La Crosse?
Yes. 5 of the 19 public schools in La Crosse are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Coulee Montessori Charter School, Coulee Region Virtual Academy, La Crosse Polytechnic School. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in La Crosse schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across La Crosse public schools is 11.6:1, lower than the Wisconsin school median of 13.2:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in La Crosse guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Wisconsin cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Wisconsin cities