2024 Best Elementary Schools in Wisconsin

The Complete Guide to Elementary Schools in Wisconsin

The state of Wisconsin is unique in that it has nearly 2,000 different elementary schools (1,953) spread across numerous cities and metropolitan areas, some of the largest being Milwaukee, Madison and Green Bay. That’s nearly 90% more than the typical state, and on a per capita basis, Wisconsin actually ranks #9 in the nation, averaging about 36% more elementary schools than most states. This large school selection however doesn’t mean the typical school is larger - the typical elementary school in Wisconsin has just 277 students on average, which puts it 27% smaller than the national average. On a positive note though, due to the smaller school size, there are typically fewer students per teacher than anywhere else in the nation (as evidenced by Wisconsin elementary schools having a 13:1 student to teacher ratio, 7% lower than the national average).

As a whole, the average elementary school in the state earns a B grade, which is equal to the national average. Furthermore, of the 1,953 total schools in the state, just 35% are rated above average. Still that leaves 681 options (681) for the parent to evaluate - which can be an overwhelming endeavor. Narrowing that total down further, if you include only schools that rank in the top 25%, that total slims to 1,953. In other words, there’s still nearly 2,000 school options in Wisconsin that rank in the nation’s top quartile.

Are public elementary schools in Wisconsin a good option?

Wisconsin has 1,237 total public elementary schools and of that total traditional public schools comprise 90% or about 1,118 of them. That’s a large number but for those with above average sights it should be noted that just 5 out of 10 (52%) score above the national average so nearly half wouldn’t qualify. It's worth noting that although slightly below average from a grading perspective (B vs B+), it's still possible to find excellent quality due to the fact that their typical public school size tends to be small when compared to the national average - clocking in at 341 students per school; 11% below the typical US elementary school.

What is the best public elementary school in Wisconsin?

Based out of Hartland (just outside of Milwaukee), comes Lake Country School District - ranked as the best public elementary school in Wisconsin. With 505 students and a student to teacher ratio of 13:1 (7% lower than national average) this can equate to greater focus per student and often lead to better student learning outcomes. Lake Country School District wins out amongst nearly 1,100 other traditional public schools in the state (1,118). About 52% of all such schools are rated above the national average.

Key statistics about charter elementary schools in Wisconsin

Are charter schools in Wisconsin a good option? This really depends on your preference but with nearly 100 different options (92) there are numerous potential fits for your youngster. Although far less prevalent than their traditional public school counterparts – because only 0.5% of all schools are charter –the typical charter elementary school in Wisconsin scores a B rating - just like all other public and private schools across the state. Interestingly though on a PC basis it ranks 21 with 65% more charter schools per capita than most states. In other words there’s still plenty of good quality charter options despite their lower prevalence overall throughout Wisconsin.

What is the best charter elementary school in Wisconsin?

The top ranked charter elementary school in Wisconsin is Eagleville Charter School located just outside Eagle - which is approximately 30 minutes northwest of Milwaukee near Lake Michigan. The school has 96 students and as you’d expect is graded A. The student to teacher ratio at Eagleville isn't quite as low as Lake Country School District mentioned above but at 12:1 it's still 14% below the national average - which can mean extra focus per student at times when compared to other larger public or charter options elsewhere throughout Wisconsin.

Everything you need to know about magnet elementary schools in Wisconsin

Despite being such a relatively small state, there are 27 magnet elementary schools in Wisconsin - although this still places 26th among all states for magnet schools per capita per state resident. The school quality isn't quite as impressive as other types either – with an overall C grade – although about 22% of them do score above the national average so there are 6 potential fits for those looking for an exception option for their child's education needs. It should also be noted that despite there seemingly few magnet options available throughout Wisconsin they tend to be larger than their public counterparts; averaging 470 students per school or 23 % above most other traditional public or private schools throughout Wisconsin..

What to know about all-boys and all-girls schools in Wisconsin

There are just 5 all-boys schools in the state of Wisconsin, which surprisingly is a whopping 120% above average state per capita. The highest rated being Nativity Jesuit Middle School, located right in Milwaukee. The school has about 160 students, and roughly just 10 full-time teachers - which equates to about a 17:1 student to teach ratio - so parents may want to dig deeper into understanding how the school manages to maintain such a high quality despite having 21% larger class sizes than the typical school in America. In terms of all-girls options, unfortunately the state has zero options - the same as nearly 20 other states.