SW Wisconsin News

Among the many ethnicities represented in Lafayette County schools, white was the most prevalent ethnicity among Lafayette County students in the 2022-23 school year, according to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

Of the 2,703 students attending Lafayette County schools, 82.8% were white. Hispanic students were the second largest ethnicity, making up 15.1% of Lafayette County students.

In the previous school year, white students were also the most common group in Lafayette County, representing 83.9% of the student body.

Argyle Elementary School had the most even distribution of races among the county schools which included 88.9% white students, 7.2% multiracial students, 2.6% Hispanic students, and 1.3% American Indian students.

In the 2022-23 school year, the total number of students enrolled in public schools in the county increased 2% compared to the previous year.

White students were more likely to graduate from high school than any other ethnic group in Wisconsin. According to recent US Census data, nearly 95% of white students in the state successfully graduated in 2021.

Graduation rates for Black and multiracial students lagged behind white students by 10%.

Even further behind, only 71.6% of Hispanic students completed their high school education during the same period, one of the lowest graduation rates in the state.

School name	Most Represented ethnicity	Percent of Total Student Body	Total Enrollment
Argyle Elementary School	White	88.9%	153
Argyle High School	White	96%	75
Argyle Middle School	White	95.4%	65
Belmont Elementary School	White	83.3%	228
Belmont High School	White	89.8%	177
Benton Elementary School	White	90.8%	130
Benton High School	White	90.8%	65
Benton Middle School	White	96.6%	29
Black Hawk Elementary School	White	94.6%	165
Black Hawk High School	White	95.4%	109
Black Hawk Middle School	White	98.8%	85
Darlington Elementary/Middle School	White	64%	620
Darlington High School	White	70.7%	280
Pecatonica High School	White	99%	207
Shullsburg Elementary School	White	85%	133
Shullsburg High School	White	85.4%	103
Shullsburg Junior High School	White	87.3%	79