Best public 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, public education is key: 49.4 million students enrolled in public pre-K-12 schools in fall 2021, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Of those, about a third were in high school, enrolled across about 23,500 public secondary schools nationwide.
For many anxious parents, getting their kids into the best of these public high schools is of the utmost importance. Some families even move homes to get into better school districts. 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 30 best public high schools in Wisconsin using 2023 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. School districts are provided when available; otherwise, the city is listed instead.
#30. West High School
- Enrollment: 1,069 (15:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A
#29. Kohler High School
- Enrollment: 217 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A
#28. Slinger High School
- Enrollment: 1,069 (17:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A
#27. Verona Area High School
- Enrollment: 1,737 (16:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A
#26. West De Pere High School
- Enrollment: 1,028 (16:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A
#25. Marshfield High School
- Enrollment: 1,232 (16:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A
#24. Muskego High School
- Enrollment: 1,676 (18:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A
#23. Franklin High School
- Enrollment: 1,573 (17:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A
#22. Sun Prairie East High School
- Enrollment: 1,779 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A
#21. Greendale High School
- Enrollment: 948 (15:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A
#20. Menomonee Falls High School
- Enrollment: 1,319 (16:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A
#19. Waunakee Community High School
- Enrollment: 1,352 (13:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A
#18. East High School
- Enrollment: 1,079 (16:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A
#17. Lakeview Technology Academy
- Enrollment: 394 (22:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A
#16. Hamilton High School
- Enrollment: 1,532 (5:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A
#15. Eisenhower Middle/High School
- Enrollment: 1,044 (16:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A
#14. West High School
- Enrollment: 2,175 (16:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A
#13. Arrowhead High School
- Enrollment: 2,082 (18:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A
#12. Pewaukee High School
- Enrollment: 846 (15:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A
#11. Cedarburg High School
- Enrollment: 1,110 (16:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A
#10. Nicolet Union High School
- Enrollment: 1,090 (13:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A
#9. Memorial High School
- Enrollment: 2,078 (17:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A
#8. Homestead High School
- Enrollment: 1,266 (17:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A
#7. High School of Health Sciences
- Enrollment: 190 (21:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+
#6. Reagan College Preparatory High School
- Enrollment: 1,344 (21:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+
#5. Middleton High School
- Enrollment: 2,271 (15:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+
#4. Brookfield Central High School
- Enrollment: 1,200 (16:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+
#3. Whitefish Bay High School
- Enrollment: 951 (16:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+
#2. Shorewood High School
- Enrollment: 635 (13:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+
#1. Brookfield East High School
- Enrollment: 1,337 (17:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+
This story features data reporting and writing by Emma Rubin and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.