Public schools in Waukesha, WI
29 open public schools with an address in Waukesha, operated by 3 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
29
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
11,556
29 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
13.3:1
Wisconsin median 13.2:1
Charter schools
7
1 magnet · 2 virtual
An overview of Waukesha public schools
The federal directory lists 29 public schools in Waukesha, WI: 16 elementary, 3 middle, 9 high, 1 combined or other. The 29 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 11,556 students, an average of 398 per school. The largest campus is West High (1,167 students), and the largest elementary school is Waukesha STEM Academy (580).
Waukesha School District operates the most schools here (27), plus 2 charter, service, or other agencies. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 13.3:1, similar to the statewide school median of 13.2:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 7 charter schools, 1 magnet school, 2 virtual schools. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 8 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 6 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 5 of 9 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 39% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Waukesha
Elementary schools in Waukesha
16| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Banting Elementary Waukesha School District | PK–05 | 486 | 11.5:1 | |
| Bethesda Elementary Waukesha School District | PK–05 | 401 | 13.2:1 | |
| eAchieve Elementary Waukesha School District · Charter · Virtual | KG–05 | 111 | 18.4:1 | |
| Hadfield Elementary Waukesha School District | PK–05 | 338 | 9.1:1 | |
| Hawthorne Elementary Waukesha School District | PK–05 | 321 | 9.7:1 | |
| Heyer Elementary Waukesha School District | PK–05 | 328 | 10.8:1 | |
| Hillcrest Elementary Waukesha School District | PK–05 | 239 | 12.3:1 | |
| La Casa de Esperanza Charter School La Casa De Esperanza Inc · Charter | PK–08 | 310 | 15.8:1 | |
| Lowell Elementary Waukesha School District | PK–05 | 347 | 11.1:1 | |
| Meadowbrook Elementary Waukesha School District | PK–05 | 243 | 12.5:1 | |
| Mill Creek Academy Mill Creek Academy Inc · Charter | PK–07 | 324 | 13.8:1 | |
| Prairie Elementary Waukesha School District | PK–05 | 348 | 13.3:1 | |
| Rose Glen Elementary Waukesha School District | PK–05 | 490 | 16.3:1 | |
| Summit View Elementary Waukesha School District · Magnet | PK–05 | 449 | 14.3:1 | |
| Waukesha STEM Academy Waukesha School District · Charter | PK–08 | 580 | 13.7:1 | |
| White Rock School Waukesha School District | PK–08 | 286 | 381.3:1 |
Middle schools in Waukesha
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Butler Middle Waukesha School District | 06–08 | 786 | 14.2:1 | |
| Horning Middle Waukesha School District | 06–08 | 534 | 11.2:1 | |
| Les Paul Middle Waukesha School District | 06–08 | 547 | 12.3:1 |
High schools in Waukesha
9| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| eAchieve Academy Waukesha School District · Charter · Virtual | 06–12 | 639 | 23.5:1 | |
| North High Waukesha School District | 09–12 | 911 | 15.6:1 | |
| Riverview School Waukesha School District · Alternative School | 06–12 | 5 | 5:1 | |
| South High Waukesha School District | 09–12 | 833 | 11.6:1 | |
| Waukesha Academy of Health Professions Waukesha School District · Charter | 09–12 | 112 | 112:1 | |
| Waukesha East Alternative School Waukesha School District · Alternative School | 06–12 | 74 | 8.2:1 | |
| Waukesha Engineering Preparatory Academy Waukesha School District · Charter | 09–12 | 144 | 48:1 | |
| Waukesha Transition Academy Waukesha School District · Special Education School | 12–12 | 36 | 6:1 | |
| West High Waukesha School District | 09–12 | 1,167 | 17.4:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Waukesha
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White Rock Campus Waukesha School District | PK–PK | 167 | 22.3:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White58.3%
- Hispanic26.1%
- Black6.2%
- Asian3.1%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.3%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial6%
Enrollment-weighted across 29 Waukesha schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (11,556 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Waukesha
How many public schools are in Waukesha, WI?
The current NCES directory lists 29 open public schools with a location address in Waukesha: 16 elementary, 3 middle, 9 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 11,556 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Waukesha?
Schools with an address in Waukesha belong to 3 education agencies, led by Waukesha School District (27 schools), La Casa De Esperanza Inc (1 school), Mill Creek Academy Inc (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Waukesha?
West High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Waukesha, with 1,167 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Waukesha?
Yes. 7 of the 29 public schools in Waukesha are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including eAchieve Academy, eAchieve Elementary, La Casa de Esperanza Charter School. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Waukesha schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Waukesha public schools is 13.3:1, similar to the Wisconsin school median of 13.2:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Waukesha guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Wisconsin cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Wisconsin cities