Watertown Unified School District

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

Watertown, Wisconsin - 10 schools

An equity score of 50/100 ranks Watertown Unified School District #201 of 403 districts in Wisconsin (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $14,383 per pupil, Watertown Unified School District ranks #201 of 422 Wisconsin districts by per-pupil spending (Wisconsin districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

3,202
Total Enrollment
10
Schools
$14,383
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Watertown Unified School District operates 10 public schools serving 3,202 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Wisconsin. The school portfolio breaks down into 6 combined, 2 high, 1 middle, 1 elementary schools, a compact enough portfolio that families can compare every campus directly before they move, rent, or enrol. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Jefferson County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $14,383 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the upper half of 422 Wisconsin districts by per-pupil spending. See how Wisconsin compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 39.7% local, 49.2% state, and 11.0% federal, a balanced mix across local, state, and federal sources, spreading budget risk across funding cycles rather than concentrating it in one. The district's equity score is 50/100, ranked #201 of 403 in Wisconsin against a state average of 50, in line with the typical spread seen across the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 2 of 10 schools offering Advanced Placement (20 AP courses district-wide), a 260.4:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 21.4% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 68.5% White, 21.6% Hispanic or Latino, 2.1% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Watertown 4 Kids, with a diversity index of 53.7/100.

Its largest campus is Watertown High, enrolling 1,012 students (33% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is Endeavor Charter School, at 46 students, a 22x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

Watertown High accounts for 31.6% of all Watertown Unified School District student enrollment

That dominant concentration means Watertown Unified School District-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: high. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Watertown Unified School District school enrollment varies 22× across entities

Watertown Unified School District school enrollment ranges from 46 students (lowest) to 1,012 students (highest), a spread of 966 students. That spread is wider than typical and predicts noticeable gaps in service quality between the highest and lowest areas. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Watertown Unified School District student-counselor ratio is 260:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Variation between sub-units within Watertown Unified School District is typically wider than the Watertown Unified School District-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Watertown Unified School District chronic absenteeism rate is 21.4% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within Watertown Unified School District is typically wider than the Watertown Unified School District-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

11.0%
Federal
49.2%
State
39.7%
Local

Funding Equity

50
Equity Score
201 / 403
State Rank
50
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 10 schools in Watertown Unified School District.

White 68.5%
Hispanic or Latino 21.6%
African American 2.1%
Asian 1.2%
Multiracial 6.1%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 42.5/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Watertown Unified School District's schools, above the Wisconsin average of 35.7.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Watertown 4 Kids 53.7
  2. 2 Douglas Elementary 53.0
  3. 3 Riverside Middle 47.9
  4. 4 Schurz Elementary 46.7
  5. 5 Watertown High 45.4

Programs & Resources

2 / 10
Schools with AP
20 AP courses total
260.4:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
21.4%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Watertown Unified School District

School Enrollment
Watertown High
1,012
Riverside Middle
616
Webster Elementary
381
Douglas Elementary
311
Schurz Elementary
223
Watertown 4 Kids
155
Lincoln Elementary
140
Ecampus Academy Charter School
Charter
132
Leap Elementary
60
Endeavor Charter School
Charter
46

How Watertown Unified School District Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Wisconsin districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Ashwaubenon School District Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Beaver Dam Unified School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Menasha Joint School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Medford Area Public School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Menomonie Area School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Watertown Unified School District's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in Wisconsin

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Compare Watertown Unified School District

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Milwaukee School District →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Watertown Unified School District?

Watertown Unified School District has 10 schools, including 2 high, 1 middle, 6 combined, 1 elementary. Total enrollment is 3,202 students.

How much does Watertown Unified School District spend per student?

Watertown Unified School District spends $14,383 per student. The district has an equity score of 50/100, ranking #201 in Wisconsin.

What is the demographic composition of Watertown Unified School District?

Watertown Unified School District students are 68.5% White, 21.6% Hispanic or Latino, 2.1% African American, 1.2% Asian, averaged across 10 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Watertown Unified School District?

Watertown Unified School District has an equity score of 50/100, ranking #201 out of 403 districts in Wisconsin.