📊 What this ranking measures
Rankings are based on academic achievement — the share of students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (Forward Exam 2024–25), ranked against other districts in the same state — not on spending, district size, or staffing. See full methodology →
Top 25 Districts Wisconsin
Sorted by rating — highest first
| # | District | City | Rating | State Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Cedarburg School District | Cedarburg | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #2 | Washington Island School District | Washington Island | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #3 | Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah School District | Elkhart Lake | 10/10 Excellent | 98th |
| #4 | Elmbrook School District | Brookfield | 10/10 Excellent | 98th |
| #5 | Kohler School District | Kohler | 10/10 Excellent | 98th |
| #6 | Sevastopol School District | Egg Harbor | 10/10 Excellent | 98th |
| #7 | Hamilton School District | Butler | 10/10 Excellent | 97th |
| #8 | Muskego-Norway School District | Muskego | 10/10 Excellent | 97th |
| #9 | Oostburg School District | Hingham | 10/10 Excellent | 97th |
| #10 | Slinger School District | Slinger | 10/10 Excellent | 97th |
| #11 | Grafton School District | Grafton | 10/10 Excellent | 96th |
| #12 | Winneconne Community School District | Butte Des Morts | 10/10 Excellent | 96th |
| #13 | Arrowhead Union High School District | Hartland | 10/10 Excellent | 95th |
| #14 | De Pere Unified School District | De Pere | 10/10 Excellent | 95th |
| #15 | Gibraltar Area School District | Baileys Harbor | 10/10 Excellent | 95th |
| #16 | Luxemburg-Casco School District | Casco | 10/10 Excellent | 94th |
| #17 | Mukwonago School District | Big Bend | 10/10 Excellent | 94th |
| #18 | Kimberly Area School District | Combined Locks | 10/10 Excellent | 93th |
| #19 | Mequon-Thiensville School District | Mequon | 10/10 Excellent | 93th |
| #20 | New Berlin School District | New Berlin | 10/10 Excellent | 93th |
| #21 | Oakfield School District | Oakfield | 10/10 Excellent | 93th |
| #22 | Cedar Grove-Belgium Area School District | Cedar Grove | 10/10 Excellent | 92th |
| #23 | Pewaukee School District | Pewaukee | 10/10 Excellent | 92th |
| #24 | Prescott School District | Prescott | 10/10 Excellent | 92th |
| #25 | Waunakee Community School District | Waunakee | 10/10 Excellent | 92th |
Best School Districts in Wisconsin (2026)
This ranking covers 366 rated public school districts in Wisconsin, scored using Forward Exam 2024–25 state assessment data. Each district's reading and math proficiency rates are averaged, then ranked against other districts in the same state to produce a 1–10 score.
A district's score reflects how its students perform on state assessments relative to same-state peers — it is not a direct measure of teaching quality, school culture, or individual student outcomes. Always visit schools, talk to local families, and contact districts directly before making decisions. Learn how ratings are calculated →
Wisconsin School Districts at a Glance
- 419 of the 420 regular school districts operating in Wisconsin have a published rating on this site.
- 133 districts score 8/10 or higher, the top three rating bands.
- Ratings come from Forward Exam 2024–25, and every district is ranked against other districts in Wisconsin only — never against districts in another state, because the tests differ.
- The highest-rated district is Cedarburg School District in Cedarburg, rated 10/10.
- Wisconsin has 10 high-school-only districts, so an address here can sit in an elementary district and a separate high school district at the same time. How split districts work →
How to Use This List
Click any district name to see its zip code page and confirm your exact assignment with the district office. Boundaries don't always follow city or neighborhood lines — the zip code search gives you the most accurate result.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best school district in Wisconsin? ▼
Based on state reading and math assessment proficiency (Forward Exam 2024–25), the top-rated district is Cedarburg School District in Cedarburg, rated 10/10 (Excellent).
How are these rankings calculated? ▼
Rankings use the share of students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (Forward Exam 2024–25), ranked against other districts in the same state, then converted to a 1–10 scale. Full methodology here.
Are ratings based on test scores? ▼
Yes. Ratings are based directly on state reading and math assessment proficiency rates, not on enrollment, spending, or school count. They are a starting point for research, not a final verdict on school quality.
How many school districts are in Wisconsin? ▼
Wisconsin has 420 regular school districts operating in the 2024–25 school year, according to the NCES Common Core of Data. 419 of them have enough state assessment data to carry a rating on this site.
What test are Wisconsin school district ratings based on? ▼
Forward Exam 2024–25. The rating is the share of students scoring proficient or above in reading and math, converted to a percentile against other districts in Wisconsin and then to a 1–10 scale. Spending, staffing and district size are not part of it.
How many districts in Wisconsin are rated 8 out of 10 or higher? ▼
133 of the 419 rated districts in Wisconsin score 8/10 or above. Because the scale is a within-state percentile, a high rating means the district outperforms most other districts in Wisconsin, not the country.
Can one address in Wisconsin be in two school districts? ▼
Yes. Wisconsin has 10 districts that serve only high school grades, so a home can be in an elementary district for the lower grades and a separate high school district for grades 9–12. Search your street address to see every district that serves it.