For the 2026-27 school year, there are 9 public middle schools serving 3,153 students in Columbia County, WI.
The top-ranked public middle schools in Columbia County, WI are Poynette Middle School, Lodi Middle School and Fall River High School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Columbia County, WI public middle schools have an average math proficiency score of 38% (versus the Wisconsin public middle school average of 36%), and reading proficiency score of 36% (versus the 36% statewide average). Middle schools in Columbia County have an average ranking of 7/10, which is in the top 50% of Wisconsin public middle schools.
Minority enrollment is 16% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Wisconsin public middle school average of 40% (majority Hispanic and Black).
Best Public Middle Schools in Columbia County (2026-27)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Poynette Middle School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
108 N Cleveland St
Poynette, WI 53955
(608) 635-4347
Poynette, WI 53955
(608) 635-4347
Gr: 5-8 | 271 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 10%
Rank: #22.
Lodi Middle School
(Math: 53% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
900 Sauk St
Lodi, WI 53555
(608) 592-3854
Lodi, WI 53555
(608) 592-3854
Gr: 6-8 | 324 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 11%
Rank: #33.
Fall River High School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
150 Bradley St
Fall River, WI 53932
(920) 484-3333
Fall River, WI 53932
(920) 484-3333
Gr: 6-12 | 253 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 14%
Rank: #44.
Wisconsin Dells Middle School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
520 Race St
Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965
(608) 253-2467
Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965
(608) 253-2467
Gr: 6-8 | 374 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 33%
Rank: #55.
Pardeeville Middle School
(Math: 36% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
120 Oak St
Pardeeville, WI 53954
(608) 429-2153
Pardeeville, WI 53954
(608) 429-2153
Gr: 5-8 | 248 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 5%
Rank: #66.
Wayne Bartels Middle School
(Math: 36% | Reading: 30%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
2505 New Pinery Rd
Portage, WI 53901
(608) 742-2165
Portage, WI 53901
(608) 742-2165
Gr: 6-8 | 422 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 22%
Rank: #77.
Rio Middle/high
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
411 Church St
Rio, WI 53960
(920) 992-3141
Rio, WI 53960
(920) 992-3141
Gr: 6-12 | 183 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 9%
Rank: #88.
Columbus Middle School
(Math: 22% | Reading: 33%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
400 S Dickason Blvd
Columbus, WI 53925
(920) 623-5950
Columbus, WI 53925
(920) 623-5950
Gr: 6-8 | 241 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 20%
Rank: #99.
Cambria Friesland Middle/high
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
410 E Edgewater St
Cambria, WI 53923
(920) 348-5548
Cambria, WI 53923
(920) 348-5548
Gr: 6-12 | 163 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 22%
Columbia County Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Quick Facts
110 S Elm St
Pardeeville, WI 53954
(608) 429-9939
Pardeeville, WI 53954
(608) 429-9939
Gr: PK | 8 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1
N5194 State Rd 78
Portage, WI 53901
(608) 742-2601
Portage, WI 53901
(608) 742-2601
Gr: 1-6 | 44 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1
W8349 Dumke Rd
Portage, WI 53901
(608) 742-6016
Portage, WI 53901
(608) 742-6016
Gr: K-6 | 64 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1
Gibraltar Charter School (Closed 2015)
Charter School
1100 Sauk St
Lodi, WI 53555
(608) 592-3853
Lodi, WI 53555
(608) 592-3853
Gr: 9-10 | 5 students Student-teacher ratio: 5:1
520 Race St
Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965
(608) 253-1461
Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965
(608) 253-1461
Gr: 9-12 | 20 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
103 Pleasant St
Lodi, WI 53555
(608) 592-3855
Lodi, WI 53555
(608) 592-3855
Gr: PK | 85 students Student-teacher ratio: 28:1 Minority enrollment: 18%
W6180 School Rd
Pardeeville, WI 53954
(608) 429-3412
Pardeeville, WI 53954
(608) 429-3412
Gr: 5 | 67 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 10%
120 Oak St
Pardeeville, WI 53954
(608) 429-2153
Pardeeville, WI 53954
(608) 429-2153
Gr: 9-12 | 290 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 3%
Portage Academy Of Achievement (Closed 2026)
Alternative School
2505 New Pinery Rd
Portage, WI 53901
(608) 742-2165
Portage, WI 53901
(608) 742-2165
Gr: 9-12 | 24 students Student-teacher ratio: 24:1 Minority enrollment: 12%
301 E Collins St
Portage, WI 53901
(608) 742-4879
Portage, WI 53901
(608) 742-4879
Gr: 6-12 | 30 students Minority enrollment: 13%
River Crossing Charter School (Closed 2014)
Charter School
191 East Slifer St
Portage, WI 53901
(608) 742-3764
Portage, WI 53901
(608) 742-3764
Gr: 7-8 | 13 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 8%
222 W Pearl St
Lodi, WI 53555
(608) 583-2091
Lodi, WI 53555
(608) 583-2091
Gr: PK-5 | 70 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 11%
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top-ranked public middle schools in Columbia County, WI?
The top-ranked public middle schools in Columbia County, WI include Poynette Middle School, Lodi Middle School and Fall River High School.
How many public middle schools are located in Columbia County?
10 public middle schools are located in Columbia County.
What is the racial composition of students in Columbia County?
Columbia County public middle schools minority enrollment is 16% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Wisconsin public middle schools average of 40% (majority Hispanic and Black).
Which public middle schools in Columbia County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public middle schools in Columbia County include: Columbus Middle School vs. Rio Middle/high, Pardeeville Middle School vs. Rio Middle/high, Wayne Bartels Middle School vs. Poynette Middle School
Recent Articles
How Much Choice Do High School Students Have?
Learn how graduation requirements, prerequisites, electives, staffing, scheduling conflicts, AP courses, dual enrollment, and career pathways determine how much control high school students have over schedules each year.
Does Your Child Need More Recess?
Explore whether your child may benefit more from recess than another academic period, including research on attention, learning, physical activity, stress, social development, and school-day balance today.
Combined Grade Classrooms, What Parents Should Know
Learn how combined-grade classrooms work, why public schools use them, potential benefits and challenges, and the questions parents should ask before enrolling their child in one today.