The state of Wisconsin is known for many great things, including its delicious cheeses, sports teams, and its rich Native American culture. Wisconsin is also known for its bright, young minds and the schools that teach them the important lessons of life. Today, we’re going to talk about the largest school districts in Wisconsin. We’ll tell you how many schools they contain, the value they bring to the children, which are best, and a little about the towns where they’re located. Without further ado, here are the massive school districts of Wisconsin.
Milwaukee Public Schools
The first of the largest school districts in Wisconsin is the Milwaukee public school system. This is the biggest in the state, and it has 156 schools in the system. While it’s the largest district, it still has some work to do as far as shaping young minds. Currently, reviewers give it a C- grade in the areas of academics, teachers, administration, and college prep. With just over 69,000 students, it can be hard to put a focus on every student. As it is, there’s a student-to-teacher ratio of 17 to 1, which isn’t the worst, but could be better.
As it is, 18% of the students come out with proficiency in reading and a 10% proficiency in math. Currently, there’s a 67% graduation rate. Within the state, the district is rated #13 for diversity and #30 for athletics.
The district is located in Milwaukee and Wick Field, both of which achieve good scores for cost of living, housing, and for being family-friendly, so it’s a nice place to live. If you do choose this district, then consider these highest-rated schools:
- Meir School
- Whittier Elementary School
- Reagan College Preparatory High School
- Milwaukee School of Languages
- King International
Madison Metropolitan School District
The second most massive of the largest school districts in Wisconsin is the Madison Metropolitan School District, which has 54 schools. This district has a better reputation than some of the other districts in the area. Currently, reviewers give it a B+ when they consider the teachers, diversity, and the college prep. One of the reasons for the success is that in an average class, there’s a student-to-teacher ratio of 12 to 1.
There are 25,500 students in this massive district that are in grades pre-kindergarten to grade 12. As the name suggests, this district is located in the city of Madison, WI. The district boasts a 40% proficiency for reading and a 35% proficiency for math. There’s a graduation rate of 84%, so many students move on to bigger and better things. The school is rated as #41 for athletics and as the 81st best school district in the state. The district’s claim to fame is that it’s the most diverse district in the state, so everyone gets a chance to learn.
The city of Madison is highly regarded as a great place to live. It has received a score of A+ due to being family-friendly and for being a great place for families. It also has a good housing market, so you can’t lose with this district. Some of the highest-rated schools in the Madison Metropolitan include:
- Shorewood Hills Elementary School
- Lowell Elementary School
- Hamilton Middle School
- West High School (A+ Rating!)
- Memorial High School (A+ Rating!)
Kenosha School District
The next largest Wisconsin school district is the one found in Kenosha, and it has 43 schools with 19,381 students in grades PK-12. The district receives good grades for academics, clubs & activities, diversity, and college prep. On average, the classes provide a good experience for the pupils with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14 to 1. The results of those intimate class sizes have created a 31% proficiency in reading and a 26% proficiency in math. There’s currently a 91% graduation rate.
This large district is rated #8 for diversity, and it’s fairly good with athletics, but overall, it’s #152 out of 371 Wisconsin districts. The city of Kenocia receives fairly good marks as far as being a nice place to live with a good housing market. The current median home value is $168,000, so it’s an affordable and pleasant town. The highest-rated schools in the district include:
- Brompton School
- Dimensions of Learning Academy
- Prairie Lane Elementary School
- Lakeview Technology Academy
- Indian Trail High School & Academy
Green Bay Area Public School District
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Fans of NFL football and the Green Bay Packers will love this large district, which has 43 schools. The Green Bay Area Public school district gets a B score from reviews from teachers and parents. While it does well with diversity and extracurricular activities, academics and teacher scores could use a little help. There are close to 19,000 students in these schools within grades pre-kindergarten to 12th grade.
There’s currently a student-to-teacher ratio of 13 to 1. The teaching and administration has led to a 20% reading proficiency and a 18% proficiency level among the students. This district’s real claim to fame is that it gets an A+ score for diversity, so the schools provide an equal learning opportunity for everyone.
The town of Green Bay gets high marks for cost of living and housing. Plus, it’s an amazing place for sports lovers. So, it could be a nice place to send your kids to school. Some of the highly-rated schools in this district include:
- Leonardo Da Vinci School for Gifted Learners
- Wequiock Elementary School
- Aldo Leopold Community School
- Southwest High School
- Preble High School
Appleton Area School District
The next of the largest school districts in Wisconsin is the Appleton Area school system, which comprises 38 schools. In addition to being a massive district, it also gets good grades for academics, teachers, clubs, diversity, and college prep. This district is located in Appleton, WI, and there are just over 15,000 students in grades PK-12. The schools have a student-to-teacher ratio of 15 to 1, which is about average. The result is that the schools have a 36% reading proficiency and a 33% math proficiency.
When compared to the other districts in the state, the Appleton Area district is #22 for diversity, #35 for athletics, and #121 overall. Some of the highly-rated schools in this system include:
- Odyssey-Magellan Magnet School
- Fox River Academy
- Classical School
- Wisconsin Connections Academy
- Appleton North High School
- Tesla Engineering Charter School
School District of Waukesha
The Waukesha area school district is also large, with 28 schools in its purview. This district also gets high marks for academics, diversity, college prep, administration, and the high-caliber teachers. The 12,080 students who attend the school are in grades pre-kindergarten to 12th grade. Out of the district, there are three middle schools, 14 elementary schools, and several high schools.
This district has recently been ranked as #37 in the state for diversity, #77 for athletics, and #85 for the best in the state overall. The students in the schools enjoy a student-to-teacher ratio of 15 to 1, so the district has a 38% reading and math proficiency and an 89% graduation rate. The town of Waukesha is a great place to call home because of the cost of living, housing, and family-friendliness. The median income is $72,000, and the median home value is $232,700.
The top-rated schools in the Waukesha school district include:
- Rose Glen Elementary School
- Waukesha STEM Academy
- Butler Middle School
- West High School
- Waukesha Engineering Preparatory Academy
- North High School
- South High School
Conclusion
These are the largest school districts in Wisconsin, and many of them have their perks. They can be a great fit for a young mind, and many of them are very diverse, so they’re accepting for everyone. Remember to research districts before choosing a school and give your child the best chance for success.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©iStock.com/marchello74.