Deprecated: Return type of Phpfastcache\Util\ArrayObject::offsetGet($offset) should either be compatible with ArrayAccess::offsetGet(mixed $offset): mixed, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home/devzheng/workspace/psr/vendor/phpfastcache/phpfastcache/lib/Phpfastcache/Util/ArrayObject.php on line 106

Deprecated: Return type of Phpfastcache\Util\ArrayObject::offsetSet($offset, $value) should either be compatible with ArrayAccess::offsetSet(mixed $offset, mixed $value): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home/devzheng/workspace/psr/vendor/phpfastcache/phpfastcache/lib/Phpfastcache/Util/ArrayObject.php on line 115

Deprecated: Return type of Phpfastcache\Util\ArrayObject::offsetUnset($offset) should either be compatible with ArrayAccess::offsetUnset(mixed $offset): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home/devzheng/workspace/psr/vendor/phpfastcache/phpfastcache/lib/Phpfastcache/Util/ArrayObject.php on line 130

Deprecated: Return type of Phpfastcache\Util\ArrayObject::current() should either be compatible with Iterator::current(): mixed, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home/devzheng/workspace/psr/vendor/phpfastcache/phpfastcache/lib/Phpfastcache/Util/ArrayObject.php on line 48

Deprecated: Return type of Phpfastcache\Util\ArrayObject::next() should either be compatible with Iterator::next(): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home/devzheng/workspace/psr/vendor/phpfastcache/phpfastcache/lib/Phpfastcache/Util/ArrayObject.php on line 56

Deprecated: Return type of Phpfastcache\Util\ArrayObject::rewind() should either be compatible with Iterator::rewind(): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home/devzheng/workspace/psr/vendor/phpfastcache/phpfastcache/lib/Phpfastcache/Util/ArrayObject.php on line 80

Deprecated: Return type of Phpfastcache\Drivers\Memcached\Item::jsonSerialize() should either be compatible with JsonSerializable::jsonSerialize(): mixed, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home/devzheng/workspace/psr/vendor/phpfastcache/phpfastcache/lib/Phpfastcache/Core/Item/ItemExtendedTrait.php on line 438
Best Public Schools in Wisconsin (2026)

Best Wisconsin Public Schools (2026)

Wisconsin is the #16 largest school system in the United States, serving 806,874 students across the 2,191 public schools for the 2026 school year (there are 928 private schools, serving 140,985 students). 85% of all K-12 students in Wisconsin attend public schools, compared to the national average of 90%.
The percentage of students achieving math proficiency in Wisconsin is 40%. The percentage of students achieving reading proficiency is 39%.
Minority enrollment is 34%, with the majority being Hispanic and the student-teacher ratio is 14:1.

Top-Ranked Public Schools in Wisconsin (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Student Proficiency
Grades
Location
Rank: #11.
Leonardo Da Vinci School For Gifted Learners
(Math: 93% | Reading: 92%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: 93% (Top 1%)
Reading: 92% (Top 1%)
Grades: K-8
139 S Monroe Ave
Green Bay, WI 54301
(920) 448-2135
Rank: #22.
Odyssey-magellan
Magnet School
(Math: 90-94% | Reading: 90-94%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: 90-94% (Top 1%)
Reading: 90-94% (Top 1%)
Grades: 2-8
2037 N Elinor St
Appleton, WI 54914
(920) 832-6250
Rank: #33.
Parkview Elementary School
(Math: 87% | Reading: 77%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: 87% (Top 1%)
Reading: 77% (Top 1%)
Grades: PK-5
W72n853 Harrison Ave
Cedarburg, WI 53012
(262) 376-6800
Rank: #4 - 64. - 6.
Tonawanda Elementary School
(Math: 86% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: 86% (Top 1%)
Reading: 75-79% (Top 1%)
Grades: PK-5
13605 Underwood River Pkwy
Elm Grove, WI 53122
(262) 785-3950
Rank: #4 - 64. - 6.
Wauwatosa Stem
Charter School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: 80-84% (Top 1%)
Reading: 80-84% (Top 1%)
Grades: K-5
1060 N Glenview Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53213
(414) 773-1900
Rank: #4 - 64. - 6.
Woodland Intermediate
(Math: 86% | Reading: 77%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: 86% (Top 1%)
Reading: 77% (Top 1%)
Grades: 5-6
N9085 N Coop Rd
Appleton, WI 54915
(920) 730-0924
Rank: #77.
Mill Valley Elementary School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 76%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: 85-89% (Top 1%)
Reading: 76% (Top 1%)
Grades: K-4
W191s6445 Hillendale Dr
Muskego, WI 53150
(262) 971-1830
Rank: #8 - 98. - 9.
Lincoln Elementary School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: 80-84% (Top 1%)
Reading: 75-79% (Top 1%)
Grades: PK-5
1741 N Wauwatosa Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53213
(414) 773-1300
Rank: #8 - 98. - 9.
Shorewood Hills Elementary School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: 80-84% (Top 1%)
Reading: 75-79% (Top 1%)
Grades: PK-5
1105 Shorewood Blvd
Madison, WI 53705
(608) 204-1200
Rank: #1010.
Lakeview Elementary School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: 85-89% (Top 1%)
Reading: 70-74% (Top 5%)
Grades: K-4
26335 Fries Ln
Waterford, WI 53185
(262) 971-1850

Overview

This State (WI)
US
# Schools
2,191 Schools
100,525 Schools
# Students
806,874 Students
49,339,277 Students
Gender %
# Teachers
58,846 Teachers
3,180,552 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
14:1
15:1

Student By Grade

State Acdeamy

State Average (WI)
National Average
40%
41%
40%
47%
44%
43%
90%
87%
Eligible for Free Lunch
36%
50%
Eligible for Reduced Lunch
4%
5%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.54
0.71
# American Indian Students
8,972 Students
466,525 Students
% American Indian Students
1%
1%
# Asian Students
35,048 Students
2,807,520 Students
% Asian Students
4%
6%
# Hispanic Students
116,780 Students
14,955,622 Students
% Hispanic Students
14%
30%
# Black Students
70,595 Students
7,274,090 Students
% Black Students
9%
15%
# White Students
529,424 Students
21,014,271 Students
% White Students
66%
43%
# Hawaiian Students
638 Students
196,971 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
44,939 Students
2,588,398 Students
% of Two or more races Students
6%
5%
All Ethnic Groups

State Revenue and Spending

This State (WI)
Total Revenue (24-25)
$13,869 MM
Spending (24-25)
$13,846 MM
Revenue / Student (24-25)
$17,189
Spending / Student (24-25)
$17,161

Best Wisconsin Public Schools by County (2026)

County
# Schools
# Students
% Minority
3
1,286
17%
10
2,358
28%
30
6,892
15%
12
1,604
35%
87
42,377
38%
11
1,883
8%
10
2,741
23%
15
3,663
17%
31
8,677
8%
21
4,594
26%
34
9,622
16%
14
1,871
8%
171
79,437
39%
40
10,916
21%
16
3,236
17%
16
5,385
15%
17
5,913
16%
35
14,175
24%
3
381
9%
42
12,536
28%
7
1,466
41%
34
7,575
12%
20
5,374
14%
10
2,650
19%
13
2,742
9%
3
665
10%
10
2,896
23%
30
9,118
25%
24
3,563
11%
44
22,175
44%
10
3,535
11%
37
15,113
24%
17
2,658
18%
11
2,284
16%
12
4,024
12%
30
10,377
27%
50
18,824
26%
22
5,664
12%
9
1,550
13%
5
1,127
100%
278
123,755
72%
20
6,379
21%
18
4,505
10%
17
4,549
16%
76
34,239
25%
26
12,445
18%
4
1,234
9%
26
7,519
10%
26
6,298
10%
29
8,988
21%
9
1,481
12%
57
26,638
48%
13
2,037
13%
62
25,748
34%
10
1,605
9%
26
9,275
18%
11
2,552
41%
18
5,007
31%
51
17,580
36%
31
14,411
12%
11
5,024
11%
21
5,837
30%
23
3,812
10%
12
2,092
31%
44
14,598
30%
15
2,194
11%
35
18,247
16%
112
59,867
24%
27
7,564
14%
11
2,555
23%
52
21,364
27%
33
11,350
16%

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked public schools in Wisconsin?
The top-ranked public schools in Wisconsin include Leonardo Da Vinci School For Gifted Learners, Odyssey-magellan, and Parkview Elementary School.
How many public schools are located in Wisconsin?
2,191 public schools are located in Wisconsin.
What percentage of students in Wisconsin go to public school?
85% of all K-12 students in Wisconsin attend public schools (compared to the national average of 90%).
What is the racial composition of students in Wisconsin?
Minority enrollment in Wisconsin is 34%, with the majority being Hispanic.
Which public schools in Wisconsin are often viewed compared to one another?

Recent Articles

Media Literacy as a Core Skill: How to Tell if a School Teaches It Well
Media Literacy as a Core Skill: How to Tell if a School Teaches It Well
Learn how to evaluate whether a public school teaches media literacy effectively, from fact-checking and source evaluation to digital citizenship and critical thinking.
Screen Time, Paper Learning, and the New Back-to-Basics Debate
Screen Time, Paper Learning, and the New Back-to-Basics Debate
Explore why some public schools are reducing screen time, bringing back paper learning, and rethinking the balance between technology and traditional instruction.
Student Data, AI Tools, and Privacy: Questions to Ask Your District
Student Data, AI Tools, and Privacy: Questions to Ask Your District
Learn how public schools use AI, protect student data, and the key privacy questions every parent should ask their school district in 2026.