📊 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 →
All 8 Rated Districts in Jefferson County, WI
Sorted by rating, then state percentile
| County Rank | District | District Office | Rating | State Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Fort Atkinson School District | Fort Atkinson | 8/10 Good | 78th |
| #2 | Lake Mills Area School District | Lake Mills | 7/10 Good | 69th |
| #3 | Cambridge School District | Cambridge | 6/10 Average | 57th |
| #4 | Jefferson School District | Jefferson | 6/10 Average | 54th |
| #5 | Palmyra-Eagle Area School District | Palmyra | 4/10 Below Average | 38th |
| #6 | Johnson Creek School District | Johnson Creek | 4/10 Below Average | 35th |
| #7 | Watertown School District | Watertown | 4/10 Below Average | 31st |
| #8 | Waterloo School District | Waterloo | 2/10 Poor | 17th |
Best School Districts in Jefferson County, Wisconsin (2026)
This page lists the 8 public school districts headquartered in Jefferson County, Wisconsin that have a SchoolDistrictFinder rating, scored using Forward Exam 2024–25 state assessment data. The county rank is simply their order here; the state percentile compares each district with every rated district in Wisconsin, which is how the 1–10 rating is set. Ratings are not comparable with districts in other states.
Districts are placed in the county of their NCES directory listing. A district's boundaries can cross county lines, and a home in Jefferson County may be served by a district headquartered next door — search your address or zip code to confirm.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best-rated school district in Jefferson County, Wisconsin? ▼
Among the 8 rated districts in Jefferson County, Wisconsin, the highest-rated is Fort Atkinson School District (Fort Atkinson), rated 8/10 (Good) and in the 78th percentile of Wisconsin districts on Forward Exam 2024–25 reading and math proficiency.
How are these rankings calculated? ▼
Each district's rating comes from the share of its students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (Forward Exam 2024–25), percentile-ranked against all rated districts in Wisconsin and converted to a 1–10 scale. Full methodology here.