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Best private high schools in Wisconsin

Written by:
April 10, 2024
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Best private high schools in Wisconsin

As filmmaker and writer Nora Ephron said during a '96 commencement address at Wellesley College, "Your education is a dress rehearsal for a life that is yours to lead." If that's the case, high school may be one of the greatest dress rehearsals of all.

It's a place where students explore their interests, dive into extracurricular activities, finally get the freedom to choose their own classes, and prepare for college or the workplace. For many of these students and their families, education is key: 1.4 million students enrolled in private high schools in fall 2021, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. There were about 3,600 private secondary schools nationwide as of 2020.

For many anxious parents, getting their kids into the best of these private high schools is of the utmost importance. Some families even move homes to send their kids to better schools. However, among all of these thousands of schools, a few stand out for their academic excellence, incredible track records, and the future success of their young students.

Stacker compiled a list of the best private high schools in Wisconsin using 2024 rankings from Niche. Niche uses seven weighted factors for its rankings. A majority of the score is based on academics, but other factors include culture and diversity; sports; clubs and activities; resources; and surveys of parents, teachers, and students.

A class of high schoolers as viewed from the rear.
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#30. St. Joan Antida High School

- Location: Milwaukee, WI
- Enrollment: 167 (10:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A-

A student filling out a scantron form for a multiple choice test.
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#29. Shoreland Lutheran High School

- Location: Kenosha, WI
- Enrollment: 370 (10:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A-

A student talking to a teacher in the hallway.
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#28. Lourdes Academy

- Location: Oshkosh, WI
- Enrollment: 629 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A-

A student standing next to their backpack as seen from the knee down.
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#27. Providence Academy

- Location: La Crosse, WI
- Enrollment: 95 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A-

Students walking down a hallway with their backs facing the camera.
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#26. Bethel Christian School

- Location: Eau Claire, WI
- Enrollment: 25 (10:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A-

A high school student doing a chemical experiment.
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#25. Youth Initiative High School

- Location: Viroqua, WI
- Enrollment: 64 (4:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A-

A high school student sitting at a desk writing on a piece of paper.
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#24. St. Thomas More High School

- Location: Milwaukee, WI
- Enrollment: 566 (13:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A-

A student raising their hand in class.
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#23. Newman Catholic Middle and High School

- Location: Wausau, WI
- Enrollment: 143 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A-

An empty school hallway lined with red lockers.
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#22. Pius XI Catholic High School

- Location: Milwaukee, WI
- Enrollment: 737 (13:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A-

A student solving a math equation on a whiteboard.
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#21. Notre Dame de la Baie Academy

- Location: Green Bay, WI
- Enrollment: 776 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A-

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#20. Abundant Life Christian School

- Location: Madison, WI
- Enrollment: 293 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A-

A hallway lined with green lockers.
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#19. St. Mary Catholic High School

- Location: Neenah, WI
- Enrollment: 273 (10:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A-

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#18. Martin Luther High School

- Location: Greendale, WI
- Enrollment: 653 (16:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

An empty classroom as viewed from the back.
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#17. Eagle School

- Location: Richland Center, WI
- Enrollment: 96 (10:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

A pencil case full of pens, pencils, and highlighters spilling on a table.
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#16. Catholic Memorial High School

- Location: Waukesha, WI
- Enrollment: 575 (10:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

A group of students walking down the hall with their backs facing the camera.
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#15. Xavier Catholic Schools

- Location: Appleton, WI
- Enrollment: 1,482 (15:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

An overhead view of high school pupils in group study sitting around circular tables.
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#14. Dominican High School

- Location: Whitefish Bay, WI
- Enrollment: 332 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

Students using microscopes in science class.
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#13. Wisconsin Lutheran High School

- Location: Milwaukee, WI
- Enrollment: 857 (12:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

High school students studying and reading together in their school library.
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#12. Divine Savior Holy Angels High School

- Location: Milwaukee, WI
- Enrollment: 686 (12:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

Students raising their hands for class participation.
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#11. Eastbrook Academy

- Location: Milwaukee, WI
- Enrollment: 395 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

A stack of textbooks with pens on top of them next to an open notebook.
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#10. Marquette University High School

- Location: Milwaukee, WI
- Enrollment: 894 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

Two students sharing a book.
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#9. St. Lawrence Seminary High School

- Location: Mount Calvary, WI
- Enrollment: 136 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

A high school student doing classwork on their laptop.
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#8. Edgewood High School of the Sacred Heart

- Location: Madison, WI
- Enrollment: 620 (12:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

A teacher writing an equation on a blackboard using chalk.
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#7. University Lake School

- Location: Hartland, WI
- Enrollment: 257 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

Students' backpacks sitting on a hallway floor.
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#6. St. John's Northwestern Academies

- Location: Delafield, WI
- Enrollment: 176 (5:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

Bookshelves at a high school's library.
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#5. University School of Milwaukee

- Location: Milwaukee, WI
- Enrollment: 1,142 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

A stack of spiral noteboooks in front of a wooden background.
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#4. The Prairie School

- Location: Wind Point, WI
- Enrollment: 638 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

Two rows of red lockers.
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#3. Wayland Academy

- Location: Beaver Dam, WI
- Enrollment: 165 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

Empty desks in a high school classroom.
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#2. Madison Country Day School

- Location: Waunakee, WI
- Enrollment: 451 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

A closeup of a student taking notes in class.
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#1. Brookfield Academy

- Location: Brookfield, WI
- Enrollment: 873 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Emma Rubin, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.

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