Waukesha 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.

Waukesha, Wisconsin - 27 schools

An equity score of 22/100 ranks Waukesha School District #359 of 403 districts in Wisconsin (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $12,813 per pupil, Waukesha School District ranks #341 of 422 Wisconsin districts by per-pupil spending (Wisconsin districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

11,855
Total Enrollment
27
Schools
$12,813
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Waukesha School District operates 27 public schools serving 11,855 students, placing it in the mid-size range in Wisconsin. The school portfolio breaks down into 18 combined, 6 high, 3 middle schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage 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 Waukesha County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $12,813 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half of 422 Wisconsin districts by per-pupil spending. See how Wisconsin compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 54.8% local, 36.8% state, and 8.4% federal, a local-revenue-heavy mix that leaves the district more exposed to property-tax swings and local ballot measures than state-funded peers. The district's equity score is 22/100, ranked #359 of 403 in Wisconsin against a state average of 50, notably less even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 6 of 27 schools offering Advanced Placement (120 AP courses district-wide), a 438.5:1 student-counselor ratio, above both the ASCA benchmark and the roughly 408:1 national average, and 23.3% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 58.6% White, 25.0% Hispanic or Latino, 7.1% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Banting Elementary, with a diversity index of 67.7/100.

Its largest campus is West High, enrolling 1,167 students (11% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is Riverview School, at 5 students, a 233x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

Waukesha School District school enrollment varies 233× across entities

Waukesha School District school enrollment ranges from 5 students (lowest) to 1,167 students (highest), a spread of 1,162 students. That ratio is an extreme outlier spread — among the widest gaps observed anywhere in this dataset. 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

Waukesha School District student-counselor ratio is 439:1 — high (typically associated with staffing constraints that limit per-student counselor time; CRDC data shows higher ratios cluster in larger urban systems)

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 Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

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

Waukesha School District chronic absenteeism rate is 23.3% — 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 Waukesha School District is typically wider than the Waukesha 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?

8.4%
Federal
36.8%
State
54.8%
Local

Funding Equity

22
Equity Score
359 / 403
State Rank
50
State Average

This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 27 schools in Waukesha School District.

White 58.6%
Hispanic or Latino 25.0%
African American 7.1%
Asian 3.2%
Multiracial 5.8%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 53.3/100

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

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Banting Elementary 67.7
  2. 2 Hadfield Elementary 66.6
  3. 3 Horning Middle 66.4
  4. 4 South High 65.3
  5. 5 Waukesha East Alternative School 63.6

Programs & Resources

6 / 27
Schools with AP
120 AP courses total
438.5:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
23.3%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Waukesha School District

School Enrollment
West High
1,167
North High
911
South High
833
Butler Middle
786
Eachieve Academy - Wisconsin
Charter
639
Waukesha Stem Academy
Charter
580
Les Paul Middle
547
Horning Middle
534
Rose Glen Elementary
490
Banting Elementary
486
Summit View Elementary
449
Bethesda Elementary
401
Prairie Elementary
348
Lowell Elementary
347
Hadfield Elementary
338
Heyer Elementary
328
Hawthorne Elementary
321
White Rock School
286
Meadowbrook Elementary
243
Hillcrest Elementary
239
White Rock Campus
167
Waukesha Engineering Preparatory Academy
Charter
144
Waukesha Academy of Health Professions
Charter
112
Eachieve Elementary
Charter
111
Waukesha East Alternative School
Charter
74
Waukesha Transition Academy
36
Riverview School
5

How Waukesha School District Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Wisconsin districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Eau Claire Area School District Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Janesville School District Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Sheboygan Area School District Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Oshkosh Area School District Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Appleton Area School District Larger Similar spending Less locally funded

Comparisons are relative to Waukesha 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.

Milwaukee School District
67,500 students · 156 schools · $17,847/pupil
Compare vs Waukesha School District →
Madison Metropolitan School District
25,237 students · 54 schools · $17,181/pupil
Compare vs Waukesha School District →
Kenosha School District
19,069 students · 43 schools · $14,309/pupil
Compare vs Waukesha School District →
Racine Unified School District
16,182 students · 26 schools · $15,577/pupil
Compare vs Waukesha School District →

Compare Waukesha 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 Waukesha School District?

Waukesha School District has 27 schools, including 6 high, 3 middle, 18 combined. Total enrollment is 11,855 students.

How much does Waukesha School District spend per student?

Waukesha School District spends $12,813 per student. The district has an equity score of 22/100, ranking #359 in Wisconsin.

What is the demographic composition of Waukesha School District?

Waukesha School District students are 58.6% White, 25.0% Hispanic or Latino, 7.1% African American, 3.2% Asian, averaged across 27 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Waukesha School District?

Waukesha School District has an equity score of 22/100, ranking #359 out of 403 districts in Wisconsin.