Wauwatosa 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.

Wauwatosa, Wisconsin - 17 schools

An equity score of 19/100 ranks Wauwatosa School District #370 of 403 districts in Wisconsin (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $12,702 per pupil, Wauwatosa School District ranks #356 of 422 Wisconsin districts by per-pupil spending (Wisconsin districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

6,935
Total Enrollment
17
Schools
$12,702
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Wauwatosa School District operates 17 public schools serving 6,935 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Wisconsin. The school portfolio breaks down into 12 combined, 2 high, 2 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 Milwaukee County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $12,702 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 65.6% local, 26.6% state, and 7.7% 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 19/100, ranked #370 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 3 of 17 schools offering Advanced Placement (57 AP courses district-wide), a 266.3:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 17.0% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 55.4% White, 21.4% African American, 10.0% Hispanic or Latino across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Madison Elementary, with a diversity index of 74.0/100.

Its largest campus is East High, enrolling 1,043 students (16% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is Wauwatosa Virtual Academy, at 91 students, a 11x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

East High accounts for 15.0% of all Wauwatosa School District student enrollment

That concentration means Wauwatosa 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

Wauwatosa School District school enrollment varies 11× across entities

Wauwatosa School District school enrollment ranges from 91 students (lowest) to 1,043 students (highest), a spread of 952 students. That spread reflects typical mixed-portfolio variation between specialty programs and large neighbourhood schools. 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

Wauwatosa School District student-counselor ratio is 266:1 — 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 Wauwatosa School District is typically wider than the Wauwatosa School District-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Wauwatosa School District chronic absenteeism rate is 17.0% — 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 Wauwatosa School District is typically wider than the Wauwatosa 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?

7.7%
Federal
26.6%
State
65.6%
Local

Funding Equity

19
Equity Score
370 / 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 17 schools in Wauwatosa School District.

White 55.4%
Hispanic or Latino 10.0%
African American 21.4%
Asian 4.0%
Multiracial 8.9%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 55.4/100

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

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Madison Elementary 74.0
  2. 2 Underwood Elementary 73.9
  3. 3 Wauwatosa Virtual Academy 71.2
  4. 4 Eisenhower Elementary 70.7
  5. 5 Whitman Middle 69.4

Programs & Resources

3 / 17
Schools with AP
57 AP courses total
266.3:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
17.0%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Wauwatosa School District

School Enrollment
East High
1,043
West High
986
Longfellow Middle
782
Whitman Middle
570
Roosevelt Elementary
396
Mckinley Elementary
388
Eisenhower Elementary
373
Lincoln Elementary
336
Underwood Elementary
315
Washington Elementary
285
Madison Elementary
257
Jefferson Elementary
222
Wilson Elementary
218
Wauwatosa Montessori School
176
Vel R Phillips School
139
Wauwatosa Stem
Charter
127
Wauwatosa Virtual Academy
Charter
91

How Wauwatosa School District Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Wisconsin districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Stevens Point Area Public School District Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
West Allis-West Milwaukee School District Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Fond Du Lac School District Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Neenah Joint School District Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded

Comparisons are relative to Wauwatosa 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 Wauwatosa School District →
Kenosha School District
19,069 students · 43 schools · $14,309/pupil
Compare vs Wauwatosa School District →
Racine Unified School District
16,182 students · 26 schools · $15,577/pupil
Compare vs Wauwatosa School District →

Compare Wauwatosa 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 Wauwatosa School District?

Wauwatosa School District has 17 schools, including 2 high, 2 middle, 12 combined, 1 elementary. Total enrollment is 6,935 students.

How much does Wauwatosa School District spend per student?

Wauwatosa School District spends $12,702 per student. The district has an equity score of 19/100, ranking #370 in Wisconsin.

What is the demographic composition of Wauwatosa School District?

Wauwatosa School District students are 55.4% White, 21.4% African American, 10.0% Hispanic or Latino, 4.0% Asian, averaged across 17 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Wauwatosa School District?

Wauwatosa School District has an equity score of 19/100, ranking #370 out of 403 districts in Wisconsin.