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De Forest High

Q: Is De Forest High a good school?

De Forest High ranks 123 rd of 431 Wisconsin high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

123^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 431 Wisconsin High Schools

Better than 71% of Wisconsin high schools

Summary

De Forest High is a public high school serving 1,118 students in grades 9-12 in De Forest, Wisconsin, part of the De Forest Area School District. The school has a strong academic track record, consistently ranking among the top high schools in Wisconsin over the past decade and earning 4 out of 5 stars from SchoolDigger.

De Forest High outperforms the state average in academic proficiency across various subjects, including social studies, English language arts, mathematics, and science. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, 60.28% of 10th-grade students at De Forest High were proficient or better in social studies, compared to the state average of 47.67%. The school also maintains high four-year graduation rates, ranging from 90.4% to 98.8% in recent years, significantly higher than the state average. Additionally, De Forest High has very low dropout rates, ranging from 0.1% to 1.3%, indicating strong student engagement and support.

When compared to nearby high schools, such as Monona Grove High, Lodi High, and Poynette High, De Forest High generally outperforms these schools in academic proficiency, graduation rates, and other key metrics. However, the school's performance varies across different student subgroups, and it may need to focus on addressing achievement gaps for certain populations to ensure equitable outcomes for all students.

1,137

Students ?

14.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,537

Per pupil spending ?

16.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

815 Jefferson St
DeForest, WI 53532-1322

(608) 842-6600

District: De Forest Area School District

Feeder schools for De Forest High:

Elementary:	Eagle Point Elementary
	Windsor Elementary
	Yahara Elementary
Middle:	De Forest Middle

Racial breakdown:

White:

80.2%

Hispanic:

7.1%

Two or more races:

6.2%

See top rated Wisconsin high schools

Compare De Forest High to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 61st percentile in 2021 → 71st in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Wisconsin average (54% vs 46% meeting standards)

✓97% graduate in 4 years — above the Wisconsin average (92%)

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 71st (2025) from a 61st-percentile low (2021)

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school54%

District avg54%

Wisconsin avg46%

123^rd of 431

Wisconsin public high schools ?

Top 29%▼ down 15 pts since 2015

From top 14% (2015) to top 29% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Wisconsin High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	66.7	123 of 431	71.5%	★★★★☆
2024	70.4	98 of 431	77.3%	★★★★☆
2023	64.6	124 of 415	70.1%	★★★★☆
2022	59.4	140 of 391	64.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	56.7	154 of 390	60.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	65.8	112 of 400	72.0%	★★★★☆
2018	76.2	67 of 410	83.7%	★★★★☆
2017	74.3	78 of 410	81.0%	★★★★☆
2016	61.6	134 of 408	67.2%	★★★☆☆
2015	75.0	65 of 466	86.1%	★★★★☆
2014	63.6	164 of 462	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2013	70.0	108 of 457	76.4%	★★★★☆
2012	68.7	128 of 452	71.7%	★★★★☆
2011	68.2	136 of 445	69.4%	★★★☆☆
2010	64.5	187 of 450	58.4%	★★★☆☆
2009	62.1	185 of 438	57.8%	★★★☆☆
2008	62.4	186 of 437	57.4%	★★★☆☆
2007	81.6	23 of 281	91.8%	★★★★★
2006	76.3	46 of 292	84.2%	★★★★☆
2005	48.4	213 of 287	25.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	62.7	124 of 275	54.9%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2024	63.8	10 of 26	61.5%	★★★☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	12.5	52 of 57	8.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2021	62.0	7 of 23	69.6%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	71.4	83 of 358	76.8%	★★★★☆
2024	77.9	48 of 353	86.4%	★★★★☆
2023	65.7	97 of 329	70.5%	★★★★☆
2022	63.1	122 of 343	64.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	48.6	170 of 332	48.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	59.9	123 of 343	64.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	75.5	60 of 355	83.1%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	36.9	72 of 126	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	73.7	25 of 119	79.0%	★★★★☆
2023	86.1	11 of 97	88.7%	★★★★☆
2022	89.5	7 of 86	91.9%	★★★★★
2018	67.0	21 of 76	72.4%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	24.9	275 of 335	17.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	52.0	154 of 326	52.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	32.6	186 of 250	25.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	42.1	125 of 226	44.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	27.6	202 of 251	19.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	61.8	74 of 255	71.0%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	56.9	167 of 380	56.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	56.3	158 of 365	56.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	58.4	130 of 359	63.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	50.5	160 of 347	53.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	60.5	110 of 334	67.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	64.3	98 of 354	72.3%	★★★★☆
2018	71.3	83 of 373	77.7%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	34.7	57 of 81	29.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	27.3	55 of 71	22.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	38.4	27 of 41	34.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	46.3	20 of 37	45.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	7.1	36 of 37	2.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	42.0	22 of 35	37.1%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	59.2	34 of 93	63.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	49.9	43 of 95	54.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	51.9	23 of 55	58.2%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	72.1	65 of 285	77.2%	★★★★☆
2024	70.3	70 of 300	76.7%	★★★★☆
2023	59.9	94 of 271	65.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	51.2	115 of 269	57.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	53.6	109 of 266	59.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	64.5	74 of 266	72.2%	★★★★☆
2018	72.8	55 of 261	78.9%	★★★★☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

White (2025)77th percentile+6 vs school

Female (2025)77th percentile+5 vs school

Disabled (2021)70th percentile+9 vs school

Special Education (2025)63rd percentile-8 vs school

African American (2024)62nd percentile-16 vs school

Male (2025)56th percentile-15 vs school

Hispanic (2025)43rd percentile-29 vs school

Multi-racial (2025)30th percentile-42 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)18th percentile-54 vs school

Asian (2025)9th percentile-63 vs school

By subject vs Wisconsin (2024-2025) ?

Social Studies60%+13 vs state

English Language Arts53%+4 vs state

Science51%+7 vs state

Mathematics50%+7 vs state

★

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Schools Near De Forest High

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				ACT English Language Arts (2025)	ACT Mathematics (2025)	ACT Science (2025)	Forward Exam Social Studies (2025)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2021)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	ACT English Language Arts 10th Grade	ACT Mathematics 10th Grade	ACT Science 10th Grade	Forward Exam Social Studies 10th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
De Forest High	Public	9-12	815 Jefferson St	DeForest	53532	Dane County	De Forest Area School District	No	No	No	Yes	(608) 842-6600	1,137	80	14.1	16.2%	912 (80.2%)	41 (3.6%)	81 (7.1%)	33 (2.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	70 (6.2%)	66.7	123^rd of 431 public high schools	71.5%		70.4	98^th of 431 public high schools	77.3%	25	52.9	49.8	50.6	60.3	$12,537	$180	$12,358
Sun Prairie West High	Public	9-12	2850 Ironwood Dr	Sun Prairie	53590	Dane County	Sun Prairie Area School District	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(608) 834-6624	1,325	92	14.4	30.0%	705 (53.2%)	192 (14.5%)	161 (12.2%)	157 (11.8%)	4 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	100 (7.5%)	59.1	170^th of 431 public high schools	60.6%		59.5	167^th of 431 public high schools	61.3%	3	59.6	45.8	53.3	39.3
Prairie Phoenix Academy	Public	9-12	220 Kroncke Dr	Sun Prairie	53590	Dane County	Sun Prairie Area School District	No	No	No	No	(608) 834-6900	88	8	10.7	55.7%	31 (35.2%)	28 (31.8%)	12 (13.6%)	2 (2.3%)	1 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (14.8%)								(n/a)				42.9	$19,494	$448	$19,046
Sun Prairie East High	Public	9-12	888 Grove St	Sun Prairie	53590	Dane County	Sun Prairie Area School District	No	No	No	No	(608) 834-6700	1,340	94	14.3	27.2%	821 (61.3%)	136 (10.1%)	152 (11.3%)	95 (7.1%)	4 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	124 (9.3%)	49	231^st of 431 public high schools	46.4%		49.7	225^th of 431 public high schools	47.8%	6	53.7	39.9	47.0	41.8	$12,116	$317	$11,799
Waunakee High	Public	9-12	301 Community Dr	Waunakee	53597	Dane County	Waunakee Community School District	No	No	No	No	(608) 849-2100	1,335	103	12.9	9.1%	1,109 (83.1%)	20 (1.5%)	105 (7.9%)	44 (3.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	57 (4.3%)	84.6	42^nd of 431 public high schools	90.3%		92.9	17^th of 431 public high schools	96.1%	25	54.1	63.8	67.0	71.9	$12,104	$201	$11,903
Shabazz-City High	Public	9-12	1601 N Sherman Ave	Madison	53704	Dane County	Madison Metropolitan School District	No	No	No	No	(608) 204-2440	106	15	7.2	47.2%	57 (53.8%)	12 (11.3%)	16 (15.1%)	1 (0.9%)	2 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (9.4%)	49.1	227^th of 431 public high schools	47.3%		41.7	271^st of 431 public high schools	37.1%	44	55.6	27.8	44.4	56.3	$23,155	$399	$22,758
East High	Public	9-12	2222 E Washington Ave	Madison	53704	Dane County	Madison Metropolitan School District	No	No	No	No	(608) 204-1600	1,643	106	15.4	57.9%	562 (34.2%)	371 (22.6%)	415 (25.3%)	112 (6.8%)	6 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	160 (9.7%)	24.4	358^th of 431 public high schools	16.9%		26.5	348^th of 431 public high schools	19.3%	10	37.0	31.4	34.8	38.7	$13,938	$411	$13,528
Poynette High	Public	9-12	108 N Cleveland St	Poynette	53955	Columbia County	Poynette School District	No	No	No	No	(608) 635-4347	296	23	12.6	19.9%	271 (91.6%)	2 (0.7%)	11 (3.7%)	1 (0.3%)	4 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (2.0%)	81.9	52^nd of 431 public high schools	87.9%		79	64^th of 431 public high schools	85.2%	12	60.5	61.8	56.6	64.9	$12,871	$676	$12,195
Innovative High	Public	9-12	1045 E Dayton St	Madison	53703	Dane County	Madison Metropolitan School District	No	No	No	Yes	(608) 204-4220	138	18	7.8	72.5%	22 (15.9%)	64 (46.4%)	33 (23.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (12.3%)								(n/a)					$10,910	$1,245	$9,666
Monona Grove High	Public	9-12	4400 Monona Dr	Monona	53716	Dane County	Monona Grove School District	No	No	No	No	(608) 221-7666	1,170	86	13.5	19.3%	900 (76.9%)	53 (4.5%)	104 (8.9%)	39 (3.3%)	3 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	70 (6.0%)	64.5	138^th of 431 public high schools	68.0%		61.8	153^rd of 431 public high schools	64.5%	15	52.1	49.1	56.6	51.5

Frequently Asked Questions about De Forest High

What is the racial makeup of De Forest High?

Students at De Forest High are 80% White, 7% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races, 4% African American, 3% Asian.

Is De Forest High a good school?

De Forest High ranks 123^rd of 431 Wisconsin high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

How many students attend De Forest High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,137 students attended De Forest High.

What schools feed into De Forest High?

De Forest High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Eagle Point Elementary
Elementary : Windsor Elementary
Elementary : Yahara Elementary
Middle : De Forest Middle

What district is De Forest High in?

De Forest Area School District

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.