Brookfield East High

Brookfield East High is a grades 9–12 public high school in Brookfield, Wisconsin, serving about 1,374 students as part of the Elmbrook School District, and it ranks 12th of 533 Wisconsin high schools in 2025–26 (98th percentile, 5 stars). That top-2% standing is not a one-year fluke: it has ranked in the top 2% of the state in most recent years and has never fallen below the 95th percentile in the history reviewed. Its district also ranks 9th of 432 districts statewide.

In 2025–26, 10th graders scored far above state averages in every tested subject: 74.5% proficient in English language arts (ACT), 76.55% in math (ACT), 72.8% in science (ACT) and 71.48% in social studies (Forward), compared with state figures around 43% in math and science and about 48% in ELA and social studies. Math and science are standout strengths — Brookfield East leads same-district Brookfield Central High by 1.64 points in math and 7.08 points in science, while Central leads slightly in ELA and social studies. Against nearby schools the gaps are larger: 13.47 points in math and 10.54 in science over Wauwatosa East High, and 48.57 points in math and 42.35 in science over Nathan Hale High.

Completion metrics are near-perfect: a 97.8% graduation rate, a 0.0% dropout rate and 6.6% chronic absenteeism, against state averages of 92.0%, 1.1% and 17.3%. Chronic absenteeism is the one relative watchpoint — more than double the Elmbrook district average of 3.1% and above Brookfield Central's 3.3%, though far below most nearby schools, such as Milwaukee School of Languages at 37.6% and Marshall High at 85.0%. Subgroup performance is broadly strong, with most groups ranked in the 94th–98th percentile; low-income students sit lower relative to the school's overall profile, at the 89th percentile with 4 stars, still well above average. Brookfield East spends $15,752 per student — less than Brookfield Central — with a student–teacher ratio of 17.8, useful context rather than a simple explanation of results.