Waukesha County Schools & Education
Waukesha County, Wisconsin
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
72/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Higher Signal
Graduation Rate
95.4%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
95.4%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 91.8%
Per-Pupil Spending
$7,548
National avg $13,239
State avg $8,113
School Score
72/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 65/100
State Score Position
#19
of 72 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Waukesha County
Measured School Summary
Waukesha County has a higher measured school signal with a school score of 72/100 and a graduation rate of 95.4%, based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-score inputs.
Funding Context
At $7,548 per pupil, Waukesha County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 10% above the Wisconsin average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 3.6 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 7% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Waukesha County before comparing districts
County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.
Local context that changes the interpretation
112 public schools and 23 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.
Overall screen
72/100
Higher measured signal. Ranks #19 of 72 Wisconsin counties with school score data.
Completion
95.4%
3.6 pts above the state average
Funding context
$7,548
$565 below the state average
School coverage
112
23 districts represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
This county screens well on the combined school metrics available here. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
Waukesha County has 112 public schools across 23 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.
Verify local rules
Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.
What Waukesha County school data means before you move
County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.
Large multi-district county
Waukesha County has many school records across many districts. County averages are only the opening screen; neighborhood-level assignment and grade-band fit matter more here.
State position
#19
of 72 Wisconsin counties with school score data. The county score is 7 points above the state average.
Data confidence
Usable
3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.
K-12 continuity check
These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.
Waukesha School District
Elementary to high school visible
11,855 students
27 listed schools in this county slice.
Elmbrook School District
Elementary to high school visible
7,781 students
10 listed schools in this county slice.
Hamilton School District
Elementary to high school visible
5,106 students
8 listed schools in this county slice.
Mukwonago School District
Elementary to high school visible
5,009 students
9 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Waukesha School District is the largest listed district slice, with 27 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.
What the data cannot tell you
NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.
Questions to ask before choosing an address
Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Waukesha County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Waukesha County district systems?
What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?
Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?
Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?
Education Overview
About Schools in Waukesha County, Wisconsin
This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.
A massive and diverse educational powerhouse
Waukesha County manages an expansive system of 112 public schools across 23 districts, educating over 61,000 students. The infrastructure is comprehensive, featuring 61 elementary schools, 25 high schools, and specialized alternative and special education facilities. It is one of the most significant educational hubs in the state of Wisconsin.
Waukesha and Elmbrook lead the way
The Waukesha School District is the largest entity, overseeing 27 schools and nearly 12,000 students. Elmbrook follows with over 7,700 students, while the Arrowhead UHS district hosts the county's largest single school with 2,086 students. Sixteen charter schools provide diverse learning options, representing about 14% of total schools.
Suburban variety and large-scale opportunities
Most students attend one of the 64 suburban or 27 city-based schools, where the average enrollment is 546 students. Campus sizes vary wildly, from intimate rural schools to massive high schools like Muskego and Oconomowoc, which both exceed 1,600 students. This variety ensures that families can find an environment that fits their child's specific needs.
School Overview
Total Schools
112
in Waukesha County
Reported Enrollment
61,152
112 schools reporting
School Districts
23
districts
Charter Schools
16
14% of total
School Level Breakdown
23 School Districts in Waukesha County
Waukesha School District
GuideElmbrook School District
GuideHamilton School District
GuideOconomowoc Area School District
GuideMukwonago School District
GuideMuskego-Norway School District
GuideNew Berlin School District
GuideMenomonee Falls School District
GuideKettle Moraine School District
GuidePewaukee School District
112 Public Schools in Waukesha County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 12 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 20 of 112 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arrowhead High | Profile | Arrowhead UHS School District | Hartland, 53029Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 2,086 |
| Muskego High | Profile | Muskego-Norway School District | Muskego, 53150Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 1,686 |
| Oconomowoc High | Profile | Oconomowoc Area School District | Oconomowoc, 53066Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 1,662 |
| Mukwonago High | Profile | Mukwonago School District | Mukwonago, 53149Town: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 1,620 |
| Hamilton High | Profile | Hamilton School District | Sussex, 53089Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 1,562 |
| Brookfield East High | Profile | Elmbrook School District | Brookfield, 53005Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 1,362 |
| Menomonee Falls High | Profile | Menomonee Falls School District | Menomonee Falls, 53051Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 1,285 |
| West High | Profile | Waukesha School District | Waukesha, 53189City: Small | 9–12 | High | 1,194 |
| Brookfield Central High | Profile | Elmbrook School District | Brookfield, 53005Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 1,192 |
| New Berlin West Middle/High | Profile | New Berlin School District | New Berlin, 53146Rural: Fringe | 7–12 | High | 1,047 |
| Eisenhower Middle/High | Profile | New Berlin School District | New Berlin, 53151Suburb: Large | 7–12 | High | 1,029 |
| North High | Profile | Waukesha School District | Waukesha, 53188City: Small | 9–12 | High | 1,016 |
| Bay Lane Elementary | Record | Muskego-Norway School District | Muskego, 53150Suburb: Large | PK–4 | Primary | 919 |
| South High | Record | Waukesha School District | Waukesha, 53186City: Small | 9–12 | High | 890 |
| Pewaukee High | Record | Pewaukee School District | Pewaukee, 53072Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 882 |
| Burleigh Elementary | Record | Elmbrook School District | Brookfield, 53005Suburb: Large | PK–5 | Primary | 879 |
| Kettle Moraine High | Record | Kettle Moraine School District | Wales, 53183Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 878 |
| Pilgrim Park Middle | Record | Elmbrook School District | Elm Grove, 53122Suburb: Large | 6–8 | Middle | 860 |
| North Middle | Record | Menomonee Falls School District | Menomonee Falls, 53051Suburb: Large | 6–8 | Middle | 842 |
| Swanson Elementary | Record | Elmbrook School District | Brookfield, 53005Suburb: Large | PK–5 | Primary | 823 |
Arrowhead High
Arrowhead UHS School District
Hartland, 53029 / Suburb: Large
Muskego High
Muskego-Norway School District
Muskego, 53150 / Rural: Fringe
Oconomowoc High
Oconomowoc Area School District
Oconomowoc, 53066 / Suburb: Large
Mukwonago High
Mukwonago School District
Mukwonago, 53149 / Town: Fringe
Hamilton High
Hamilton School District
Sussex, 53089 / Suburb: Large
Brookfield East High
Elmbrook School District
Brookfield, 53005 / Suburb: Large
Menomonee Falls High
Menomonee Falls School District
Menomonee Falls, 53051 / Suburb: Large
West High
Waukesha School District
Waukesha, 53189 / City: Small
Brookfield Central High
Elmbrook School District
Brookfield, 53005 / Suburb: Large
New Berlin West Middle/High
New Berlin School District
New Berlin, 53146 / Rural: Fringe
Eisenhower Middle/High
New Berlin School District
New Berlin, 53151 / Suburb: Large
North High
Waukesha School District
Waukesha, 53188 / City: Small
Bay Lane Elementary
Muskego-Norway School District
Muskego, 53150 / Suburb: Large
Burleigh Elementary
Elmbrook School District
Brookfield, 53005 / Suburb: Large
Kettle Moraine High
Kettle Moraine School District
Wales, 53183 / Suburb: Large
Pilgrim Park Middle
Elmbrook School District
Elm Grove, 53122 / Suburb: Large
North Middle
Menomonee Falls School District
Menomonee Falls, 53051 / Suburb: Large
Swanson Elementary
Elmbrook School District
Brookfield, 53005 / Suburb: Large
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$7,548
State avg $8,113
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Waukesha County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
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See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.
View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which Wisconsin counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in Wisconsin?
How should I read the school score in Waukesha County?
What is the graduation rate in Waukesha County?
How much does Waukesha County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Waukesha County, Wisconsin — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Waukesha County, Wisconsin?
Waukesha County manages an expansive system of 112 public schools across 23 districts, educating over 61,000 students. The infrastructure is comprehensive, featuring 61 elementary schools, 25 high schools, and specialized alternative and special education facilities. It is one of the most significant educational hubs in the state of Wisconsin.
What are the major school districts in Waukesha County, Wisconsin?
The Waukesha School District is the largest entity, overseeing 27 schools and nearly 12,000 students. Elmbrook follows with over 7,700 students, while the Arrowhead UHS district hosts the county's largest single school with 2,086 students. Sixteen charter schools provide diverse learning options, representing about 14% of total schools.
What is the school experience like in Waukesha County?
Most students attend one of the 64 suburban or 27 city-based schools, where the average enrollment is 546 students. Campus sizes vary wildly, from intimate rural schools to massive high schools like Muskego and Oconomowoc, which both exceed 1,600 students. This variety ensures that families can find an environment that fits their child's specific needs.
Counties with Similar School Profile
Data Sources
Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.
Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.