📊 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 18 Rated Districts in Milwaukee County, WI
Sorted by rating, then state percentile
| County Rank | District | District Office | Rating | State Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Fox Point Joint No. 2 School District | Milwaukee | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #2 | Whitefish Bay School District | Whitefish Bay | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #3 | Maple Dale-Indian Hill School District | Fox Point | 10/10 Excellent | 95th |
| #4 | Shorewood School District | Shorewood | 10/10 Excellent | 90th |
| #5 | Greendale School District | Greendale | 9/10 Excellent | 89th |
| #6 | Franklin Public School District | Franklin | 9/10 Excellent | 86th |
| #7 | Whitnall School District | Greenfield | 9/10 Excellent | 84th |
| #8 | Nicolet Union High School District | Glendale | 9/10 Excellent | 80th |
| #9 | Wauwatosa School District | Wauwatosa | 8/10 Good | 72nd |
| #10 | Oak Creek-Franklin School District | Oak Creek | 7/10 Good | 68th |
| #11 | St. Francis School District | Saint Francis | 4/10 Below Average | 36th |
| #12 | Glendale-River Hills School District | Glendale | 3/10 Below Average | 29th |
| #13 | Brown Deer School District | Brown Deer | 3/10 Below Average | 26th |
| #14 | Greenfield School District | Greenfield | 3/10 Below Average | 26th |
| #15 | Cudahy School District | Cudahy | 2/10 Poor | 12th |
| #16 | South Milwaukee School District | South Milwaukee | 2/10 Poor | 10th |
| #17 | West Allis School District | West Allis | 1/10 Poor | 9th |
| #18 | Milwaukee School District | Milwaukee | 1/10 Poor | 2nd |
Best School Districts in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin (2026)
This page lists the 18 public school districts headquartered in Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee County, Wisconsin? ▼
Among the 18 rated districts in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, 2 share the top position at 10/10 (Excellent), 99th percentile of Wisconsin districts on Forward Exam 2024–25 reading and math proficiency: Fox Point Joint No. 2 School District (Milwaukee); Whitefish Bay School District (Whitefish Bay).
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.