Waunakee Community School District

Waunakee, Wisconsin — 7 schools

4,408
Total Enrollment
7
Schools
$14,942
Per-Pupil Spending
Other, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Waunakee Community School District operates 7 public schools serving 4,408 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Wisconsin. The school portfolio breaks down into 4 other, 1 high, 1 middle, 1 elementary schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 4,415 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Dane County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $14,942 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, which aggregates every revenue and spending line reported under federal accounting standards. The funding mix is 58.9% local, 37.5% state, and 3.6% federal — a breakdown that matters because districts leaning heavily on local revenue are more exposed to property-tax swings, while higher federal shares typically track Title I concentration. Average teacher compensation clocks in at $77,991 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 15/100, ranked #381 of 403 in Wisconsin against a state average of 50 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 7 schools offering Advanced Placement (14 AP courses district-wide), a 471.9:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 17.1% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 81.5% White, 8.1% Hispanic or Latino, 3.5% Asian across the district's schools.

Waunakee High accounts for 30.2% of all Waunakee Community School District student enrollment

That concentration — well above the 8.4% national median for largest-entity share — means Waunakee Community 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

Waunakee Community School District school enrollment varies 5.4× across entities

Waunakee Community School District school enrollment ranges from 249 students (lowest) to 1,335 students (highest), a spread of 1,086 students. That relatively narrow ratio reflects an unusually homogeneous campus portfolio — most districts have a wider mix of school sizes. 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

Waunakee Community School District student-counselor ratio is 472:1 — 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

Waunakee Community School District chronic absenteeism rate is 17.1% — 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 Waunakee Community School District is typically wider than the Waunakee Community 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?

3.6%
Federal
37.5%
State
58.9%
Local

Funding Equity

15
Equity Score
381 / 403
State Rank
50
State Average

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

Local Rent Costs

Fair Market Rents in Dane County county, where this district is located.

$1,268
Studio/mo
$1,482
1 BR/mo
$1,694
2 BR/mo
$2,236
3 BR/mo
$2,509
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$77,991
Average annual teacher salary

Source: NCES CCD F-33 (Finance Survey).

Teacher salary data from NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 7 schools in Waunakee Community School District.

White 81.5%
Hispanic or Latino 8.1%
African American 1.6%
Asian 3.5%
Multiracial 5.2%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

1 / 7
Schools with AP
14 AP courses total
471.9:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
17.1%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Waunakee Community School District

School Enrollment
Waunakee High
1,335
Waunakee Middle
667
Waunakee Intermediate
661
Waunakee Heritage Elementary
537
Waunakee Prairie Elementary
531
Arboretum Elementary
435
Waunakee Community 4k School
249

Nearby Districts in Wisconsin

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Waunakee Community School District?

Waunakee Community School District has 7 schools, including 1 high, 1 middle, 1 elementary, 4 other. Total enrollment is 4,408 students.

How much does Waunakee Community School District spend per student?

Waunakee Community School District spends $14,942 per student. The district has an equity score of 15/100, ranking #381 in Wisconsin.

What is the average teacher salary in Waunakee Community School District?

The average teacher salary in Waunakee Community School District is $77,991 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near Waunakee Community School District?

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Dane County County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.

What is the demographic composition of Waunakee Community School District?

Waunakee Community School District students are 81.5% White, 8.1% Hispanic or Latino, 3.5% Asian, 1.6% African American, averaged across 7 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Waunakee Community School District?

Waunakee Community School District has an equity score of 15/100, ranking #381 out of 403 districts in Wisconsin. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

Federal data Last updated 2026 Free public data

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Refreshed within 30 days of upstream release

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Federal

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