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Poplar Creek Elementary

Public Grades PK, KG-6

75^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,039 Wisconsin Elementary Schools

Better than 93% of Wisconsin elementary schools

Summary

Poplar Creek Elementary is a PK–6 school serving 514 students in New Berlin, Wisconsin, and is part of the New Berlin School District, which ranks 29th of 432 districts in the state. The school itself ranks 75th of 1,039 Wisconsin elementary schools in 2025–2026 — the 93rd percentile, with 5 stars — and has held a 5-star rating for two consecutive reported years. Its long-term trend is upward: it ranked in the 76th percentile in 2016–2017 and reached the 93rd percentile in 2024–2025 and again in 2025–2026.

Academically, Poplar Creek performs well above average. Averaged across the 10 reported 2025–2026 Forward Exam tests, proficiency is roughly 79.4%, compared with about 75.9% for the district and 54.7% statewide. Fourth grade is the standout: 92.59% proficient in ELA, 88.89% in math, 90.74% in science, and 92.59% in social studies. Among New Berlin elementary schools, Poplar Creek ranks second behind Elmwood Elementary, even though 22.37% of its students qualify for free/reduced lunch versus 9.7% at Elmwood. Its 4th-grade results also top Swanson Elementary (Elmbrook School District) and Hillcrest Elementary (Waukesha School District), which hold similar state ranks, and far exceed Banting Elementary, Heyer Elementary, and Hadfield Elementary in Waukesha and Walker Elementary and Hoover Elementary in West Allis-West Milwaukee School District. Support for English Language Learners is exceptional: Poplar Creek ranked 1st of 245 Wisconsin schools in 2025–2026, at the 100th percentile.

Two areas are worth watching. Chronic absenteeism was 3.9% in 2024–2025 — far below Wisconsin's 17.3%, but above the district's 3.2%, higher than Ronald Reagan Elementary, Orchard Lane Elementary, and Elmwood, and up from 1.8% in 2020–2021. Sixth grade is a relative weak spot: 70.00% proficient in ELA versus the district's 76.30%, and 71.25% in math versus 79.19%. Spending is moderate at $14,197 per student, and the student–teacher ratio improved from 16.4 in 2022–2023 to 14.4 in 2024–2025.

514

Students ?

14.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,197

Per pupil spending ?

22.4%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

≥ 95%

Kindergartners meeting all minimum immunization requirements (2025-26)

17401 W Cleveland Ave
New Berlin, WI 53146-2207

(262) 789-6520

District: New Berlin School District

Students who attend Poplar Creek Elementary usually attend:

High:

New Berlin West Middle/High

Racial breakdown:

White:

75.1%

Hispanic:

10.5%

Asian:

8.2%

See top rated Wisconsin elementary schools

Compare Poplar Creek Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 84th percentile in 2016 → 93rd in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Wisconsin average (78% vs 55% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 7% of Wisconsin elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 9 percentile points since 2016

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school78%

District avg76%

Wisconsin avg55%

75^th of 1,039

Wisconsin public elementary schools ?

Top 7%▲ up 9 pts since 2016

From top 16% (2016) to top 7% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Wisconsin Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 4Elementary Schools in the New Berlin School District

29^th of 432New Berlin School District among Wisconsin districts

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
2026	86.5	75 of 1039	92.8%	★★★★★
2025	86.0	73 of 1044	93.0%	★★★★★
2024	82.0	133 of 1061	87.5%	★★★★☆
2023	78.9	175 of 1067	83.6%	★★★★☆
2022	85.7	94 of 1067	91.2%	★★★★★
2021	80.2	148 of 1050	85.9%	★★★★☆
2019	83.0	104 of 1037	90.0%	★★★★★
2018	74.5	218 of 1025	78.7%	★★★★☆
2017	71.6	262 of 1071	75.5%	★★★★☆
2016	78.1	176 of 1075	83.6%	★★★★☆
2015	72.5	244 of 1076	77.3%	★★★★☆
2014	70.0	261 of 1061	75.4%	★★★★☆
2013	66.5	313 of 1053	70.3%	★★★★☆
2012	58.3	525 of 1045	49.8%	★★★☆☆
2011	69.0	284 of 1046	72.8%	★★★★☆
2010	68.8	299 of 1045	71.4%	★★★★☆
2009	72.7	226 of 1030	78.1%	★★★★☆
2008	70.0	281 of 1021	72.5%	★★★★☆
2007	73.8	168 of 689	75.6%	★★★★☆
2006	81.6	73 of 712	89.7%	★★★★☆
2005	75.8	130 of 632	79.4%	★★★★☆
2004	73.5	151 of 633	76.1%	★★★★☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	78.6	26 of 116	77.6%	★★★★☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	100.0	1 of 245	99.6%	★★★★★
2025	90.2	15 of 255	94.1%	★★★★★
2024	94.6	7 of 269	97.4%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	82.5	107 of 986	89.1%	★★★★☆
2025	78.8	150 of 1001	85.0%	★★★★☆
2024	81.1	119 of 1011	88.2%	★★★★☆
2023	77.6	177 of 1010	82.5%	★★★★☆
2022	87.5	61 of 1017	94.0%	★★★★★
2021	85.1	88 of 1004	91.2%	★★★★★
2019	84.4	74 of 1002	92.6%	★★★★★
2018	74.3	212 of 997	78.7%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	78.0	55 of 347	84.1%	★★★★☆
2024	85.9	29 of 331	91.2%	★★★★★
2022	81.8	36 of 296	87.8%	★★★★☆
2021	96.8	4 of 274	98.5%	★★★★★
2019	98.1	4 of 266	98.5%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	71.0	157 of 848	81.5%	★★★★☆
2025	80.3	84 of 870	90.3%	★★★★★
2024	72.6	152 of 866	82.4%	★★★★☆
2023	69.0	188 of 871	78.4%	★★★★☆
2022	83.3	53 of 859	93.8%	★★★★★
2021	73.1	138 of 847	83.7%	★★★★☆
2019	82.4	59 of 874	93.2%	★★★★★
2018	53.4	362 of 854	57.6%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	87.8	54 of 989	94.5%	★★★★★
2025	89.1	36 of 1000	96.4%	★★★★★
2024	79.7	150 of 1012	85.2%	★★★★☆
2023	77.3	187 of 1011	81.5%	★★★★☆
2022	77.0	181 of 1017	82.2%	★★★★☆
2021	70.2	250 of 1003	75.1%	★★★★☆
2019	75.9	177 of 1002	82.3%	★★★★☆
2018	71.4	251 of 997	74.8%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	77.6	104 of 791	86.9%	★★★★☆
2025	68.5	178 of 802	77.8%	★★★★☆
2024	64.5	222 of 790	71.9%	★★★★☆
2023	27.0	596 of 770	22.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	36.0	485 of 748	35.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	47.1	372 of 746	50.1%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	79.6	107 of 697	84.6%	★★★★☆
2025	80.8	96 of 718	86.6%	★★★★☆
2024	75.2	140 of 727	80.7%	★★★★☆
2023	69.5	188 of 715	73.7%	★★★★☆
2022	80.1	97 of 704	86.2%	★★★★☆
2021	75.1	127 of 699	81.8%	★★★★☆
2019	78.5	109 of 718	84.8%	★★★★☆
2018	71.1	156 of 686	77.3%	★★★★☆

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)

English Language Learner (2026)100th percentile+7 vs school

Male (2026)95th percentile~ school

Female (2026)89th percentile-4 vs school

Special Education (2026)87th percentile-6 vs school

White (2026)85th percentile-8 vs school

Hispanic (2026)84th percentile-9 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)81st percentile-11 vs school

Asian (2025)78th percentile-15 vs school

By subject vs Wisconsin (2025-2026) ?

Social Studies93%+27 vs state

Science91%+37 vs state

English Language Arts77%+23 vs state

Mathematics74%+21 vs state

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Schools Near Poplar Creek Elementary

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				Forward Exam English Language Arts (2026)				Forward Exam Mathematics (2026)				Forward Exam Social Studies (2026)	Forward Exam Science (2026)	Vaccination (2025-26)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	Forward Exam English Language Arts 3rd Grade	Forward Exam English Language Arts 4th Grade	Forward Exam English Language Arts 5th Grade	Forward Exam English Language Arts 6th Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 3rd Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 4th Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 5th Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 6th Grade	Forward Exam Social Studies 4th Grade	Forward Exam Science 4th Grade	Vaccination: Kindergartners meeting all minimum immunization requirements	Vaccination: Exemption rate	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Poplar Creek Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	17401 W Cleveland Ave	New Berlin	53146	Waukesha County	New Berlin School District	No	No	No	Yes	(262) 789-6520	514	35	14.4	22.4%	386 (75.1%)	5 (1.0%)	54 (10.5%)	42 (8.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (5.3%)	86.5	75^th of 1039 public elementary schools	92.8%		86	73^rd of 1044 public elementary schools	93.0%	2	72.9	92.6	76.0	70.0	70.0	88.9	69.2	71.3	92.6	90.7	≥ 95%		$14,197	$464	$13,733
Ronald Reagan Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	4225 S Calhoun Rd	New Berlin	53151	Waukesha County	New Berlin School District	No	No	No	No	(262) 789-6550	669	41	16.4	9.6%	550 (82.2%)	5 (0.7%)	59 (8.8%)	31 (4.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	23 (3.4%)	83.1	116^th of 1039 public elementary schools	88.8%		91.5	23^rd of 1044 public elementary schools	97.8%	93	71.8	68.4	71.1	75.4	78.8	72.8	63.9	73.7	85.1	73.7	93%		$13,980	$212	$13,768
Orchard Lane Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	2015 S Sunnyslope Rd	New Berlin	53151	Waukesha County	New Berlin School District	No	No	No	Yes	(262) 789-6500	453	31	14.4	18.8%	322 (71.1%)	7 (1.5%)	44 (9.7%)	43 (9.5%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (7.7%)	80.8	141^st of 1039 public elementary schools	86.4%		77.9	192^nd of 1044 public elementary schools	81.6%	51	76.7	64.1	81.3	73.2	80.0	64.6	73.4	85.7	69.2	66.2	≥ 95%		$14,255	$448	$13,807
Swanson Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	305 N Calhoun Rd	Brookfield	53005	Waukesha County	Elmbrook School District	No	No	No	Yes	(262) 789-2540	778	50	15.4	13.1%	452 (58.1%)	40 (5.1%)	82 (10.5%)	143 (18.4%)	6 (0.8%)	2 (0.3%)	53 (6.8%)	89.8	39^th of 1039 public elementary schools	96.2%		88	55^th of 1044 public elementary schools	94.7%	16	83.3	79.0	80.0		82.5	80.0	75.7		85.0	80.0	≥ 95%		$14,814	$557	$14,257
Hoover Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	12705 W Euclid Ave	New Berlin	53151	Waukesha County	West Allis-West Milwaukee School District	No	No	No	Yes	(414) 604-3810	335	25	13.2	56.1%	148 (44.2%)	69 (20.6%)	73 (21.8%)	15 (4.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (9.0%)	44.2	667^th of 1039 public elementary schools	35.8%		34.8	771^st of 1044 public elementary schools	26.1%	104	38.5	64.1	36.6		28.2	66.7	26.8		69.2	61.5			$15,777	$683	$15,094
Hillcrest Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2200 Davidson Rd	Waukesha	53186	Waukesha County	Waukesha School District	No	No	No	No	(262) 970-1805	239	19	12.3	29.3%	165 (69.0%)	4 (1.7%)	25 (10.5%)	25 (10.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (8.4%)	86.8	72^nd of 1039 public elementary schools	93.1%		86.3	69^th of 1044 public elementary schools	93.4%	3	57.6	79.4	71.4		78.8	85.3	77.1		94.1	85.3	89%		$16,553	$398	$16,155
Heyer Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1209 Heyer Dr	Waukesha	53186	Waukesha County	Waukesha School District	No	No	No	Yes	(262) 970-1705	328	31	10.7	54.0%	126 (38.4%)	8 (2.4%)	174 (53.0%)	8 (2.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (3.7%)	35.1	762^nd of 1039 public elementary schools	26.7%		55.5	524^th of 1044 public elementary schools	49.8%	238	26.5	37.7	59.2		49.0	52.8	44.9		49.1	30.2	92%		$16,411	$857	$15,554
Walker Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	900 S 119th St	West Allis	53214	Milwaukee County	West Allis-West Milwaukee School District	No	No	No	Yes	(414) 604-4710	371	25	14.6	56.1%	208 (56.1%)	23 (6.2%)	83 (22.4%)	16 (4.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	41 (11.1%)	42.2	694^th of 1039 public elementary schools	33.2%		43.9	668^th of 1044 public elementary schools	36.0%	26	49.1	46.0	61.5		37.7	46.0	59.6		50.0	34.0	84%		$15,090	$753	$14,337
Elmwood Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	5900 S Sunnyslope Rd	New Berlin	53151	Waukesha County	New Berlin School District	No	No	No	No	(262) 789-6581	567	34	16.8	9.7%	431 (76.0%)	7 (1.2%)	46 (8.1%)	61 (10.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (3.9%)	87.9	62^nd of 1039 public elementary schools	94.0%		81.9	131^st of 1044 public elementary schools	87.5%	69	68.2	74.2	71.3	84.8	69.7	82.0	69.0	89.1	92.1	87.6	≥ 95%		$14,014	$209	$13,805
Hadfield Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	733 Linden St	Waukesha	53186	Waukesha County	Waukesha School District	No	No	No	Yes	(262) 970-1505	338	37	9.0	73.7%	169 (50.0%)	44 (13.0%)	80 (23.7%)	11 (3.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (9.8%)	39.2	730^th of 1039 public elementary schools	29.7%		35.4	765^th of 1044 public elementary schools	26.7%	35	41.2	51.3	40.7		44.0	53.9	27.8		69.2	51.3	90%		$18,522	$2,442	$16,080

Frequently Asked Questions about Poplar Creek Elementary

How many students attend Poplar Creek Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 514 students attended Poplar Creek Elementary.

What district is Poplar Creek Elementary in?

New Berlin School District

What schools do graduates of Poplar Creek Elementary attend?

Students who attend Poplar Creek Elementary usually go on to attend:

High : New Berlin West Middle/High

What is the racial makeup of Poplar Creek Elementary?

Students at Poplar Creek Elementary are 75% White, 11% Hispanic, 8% Asian, 5% Two or more races.

Is Poplar Creek Elementary a good school?

Yes. Poplar Creek Elementary ranks in the top 7.2% of Wisconsin elementary schools.

Rate Poplar Creek Elementary!

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Latest Wisconsin data All new data »

2018–19 through 2025–26 immunization rates (updated)Oct 20, 2026

2016–17 through 2017–18 immunization rates (updated)Oct 19, 2026

2025–26 ACT & Forward Exam scoresOct 1, 2026

2021–22 through 2024–25 school spending dataJul 16, 2026

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.