SW Wisconsin News

Among the many ethnicities represented in Lafayette County schools, white was the most prevalent ethnicity among students in the 2023-24 school year, according to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

Of the 2,658 students attending Lafayette County schools, 82.1% were white. Hispanic students were the second largest ethnicity, making up 16% of Lafayette County students.

In the previous school year, white students were also the most common group in Lafayette County, representing 82.8% of the student body.

Countywide, Argyle Elementary School had the most even distribution of races, which included 89.8% white students, 6.1% multiracial students, 2.7% Hispanic students, and 1.4% American Indian students.

In the 2023-24 school year, the total number of students enrolled in public schools in the county dropped 1.7% compared to the previous year.

According to the NAEP's 2022 results, there was a significant achievement gap between ethnic groups in Wisconsin. On average, white students outperformed Black students by 40 to 50 points in mathematics and reading. Hispanic students also scored lower than their white peers in both subjects, with an average gap of about 20 points.

School Name	Most Represented Ethnicity	Percent of Total Student Body	Total Enrollment
Argyle Elementary School	White	89.8%	147
Argyle High School	White	93.5%	77
Argyle Middle School	White	91.7%	60
Belmont Elementary School	White	84.4%	224
Belmont High School	White	89.6%	163
Benton Elementary School	White	93.2%	132
Benton High School	White	91.5%	59
Benton Middle School	White	96.3%	27
Black Hawk Elementary School	White	94.1%	169
Black Hawk High School	White	97.3%	112
Black Hawk Middle School	White	95.8%	72
Darlington Elementary/Middle School	White	63%	633
Darlington High School	White	70.4%	257
Pecatonica High School	White	98.6%	214
Shullsburg Elementary School	White	79%	133
Shullsburg High School	White	85.3%	102
Shullsburg Junior High School	White	84.4%	77