📊 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 Waukesha County, WI
Sorted by rating, then state percentile
| County Rank | District | District Office | Rating | State Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Lake Country School District | Hartland | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #2 | Merton Community School District | Merton | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #3 | Swallow School District | Hartland | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #4 | Elmbrook School District | Brookfield | 10/10 Excellent | 98th |
| #5 | Richmond School District | Sussex | 10/10 Excellent | 98th |
| #6 | Hamilton School District | Sussex | 10/10 Excellent | 97th |
| #7 | Muskego-Norway School District | Muskego | 10/10 Excellent | 97th |
| #8 | Hartland-Lakeside Joint No. 3 School District | Hartland | 10/10 Excellent | 96th |
| #9 | Arrowhead Union High School District | Hartland | 10/10 Excellent | 95th |
| #10 | North Lake School District | North Lake | 10/10 Excellent | 95th |
| #11 | Mukwonago School District | Mukwonago | 10/10 Excellent | 94th |
| #12 | Stone Bank School District | Oconomowoc | 10/10 Excellent | 94th |
| #13 | New Berlin School District | New Berlin | 10/10 Excellent | 93rd |
| #14 | Pewaukee School District | Pewaukee | 10/10 Excellent | 92nd |
| #15 | Kettle Moraine School District | Wales | 10/10 Excellent | 91st |
| #16 | Oconomowoc Area School District | Oconomowoc | 10/10 Excellent | 91st |
| #17 | Menomonee Falls School District | Menomonee Falls | 8/10 Good | 77th |
| #18 | Waukesha School District | Waukesha | 7/10 Good | 64th |
Best School Districts in Waukesha County, Wisconsin (2026)
This page lists the 18 public school districts headquartered in Waukesha 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 Waukesha 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 Waukesha County, Wisconsin? ▼
Among the 18 rated districts in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, 3 share the top position at 10/10 (Excellent), 99th percentile of Wisconsin districts on Forward Exam 2024–25 reading and math proficiency: Lake Country School District (Hartland); Merton Community School District (Merton); Swallow School District (Hartland).
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.