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Waterford High

Q: Is Waterford High a good school?

Waterford High ranks 76 th of 533 Wisconsin high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

76^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 533 Wisconsin High Schools

Better than 86% of Wisconsin high schools

Summary

Waterford High is a public high school serving grades 9–12 in Waterford, WI, a small community in southeastern Wisconsin, with 889 students. It is the high school of the Waterford Union High School School District, which ranks 45th of 432 Wisconsin districts (90th percentile, 4 stars). The school itself has been consistently strong for a decade: it ranked 76th of 533 high schools in 2025–26 (86th percentile, 4 stars), after 58th of 431 in 2024–25 and a peak of 45th of 431 in 2023–24. It earned 5 stars in 2017–18 and 2015–16, so the pattern is stable high performance with a slight cooling from its 2023–24 high point.

Test scores beat the Wisconsin average in every tested subject: 59.51% proficient in Social Studies vs. 48.25% statewide, 60.38% in ELA vs. 48.47%, 58.02% in Math vs. 42.93%, and 53.30% in Science vs. 43.20% — roughly a 10–15 point advantage in each. Outcomes are similarly solid: a 96.8% graduation rate, 0.3% dropout rate, and 9.0% chronic absenteeism, all better than the state. Against nearby schools the picture is more mixed. Muskego High and Mukwonago High generally post higher proficiency, while East Troy High and West High are close peers in several subjects. Waterford is clearly ahead of Union Grove High, Burlington High School, and Central High in most comparisons. Math and Social Studies are relative strengths; Science is the weaker subject locally, and the graduation rate trails Franklin High and a few others slightly.

Resources are distinctive: $24,066 per student in 2024–25 and $24,013 in 2023–24, far above nearby schools (mostly $13,847–$17,052), with a 13.0 student-teacher ratio and 13.5% free/reduced lunch. The 2022–23 figure of $3,989 looks like a reporting anomaly and shouldn't be read as a real drop. Subgroup results are the most nuanced area: low-income students improved from 49th percentile/2 stars in 2023–24 to 72nd percentile/4 stars in 2025–26, while Special Education students slipped to 66th percentile/3 stars. The clearest opportunities are Science and ELA proficiency and Special Education effectiveness.

889

Students ?

13.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$24,066

Per pupil spending ?

13.5%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

611 W Main Street
Waterford, WI 53185

(262) 534-3189

District: Waterford Union High School School District

Feeder schools for Waterford High:

Elementary:	Drought Elementary
	Evergreen Elementary
	North Cape Elementary
	Trailside Elementary
	More...
	Washington Elementary
	Woodfield Elementary
Middle:	Fox River Middle

Racial breakdown:

White:

85.6%

Hispanic:

10.1%

African American:

1.5%

See top rated Wisconsin high schools

Compare Waterford High to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 91st percentile in 2016 → 86th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Wisconsin average (58% vs 46% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 14% of Wisconsin high schools

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

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 5 percentile points since 2016

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school58%

District avg58%

Wisconsin avg46%

76^th of 533

Wisconsin public high schools ?

Top 14%▼ down 5 pts since 2016

From top 9% (2016) to top 14% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Wisconsin High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

45^th of 432Waterford Union High School 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	78.8	76 of 533	85.7%	★★★★☆
2025	80.3	58 of 431	86.5%	★★★★☆
2024	82.6	45 of 431	89.6%	★★★★☆
2023	78.6	62 of 415	85.1%	★★★★☆
2022	74.8	75 of 391	80.8%	★★★★☆
2021	79.6	57 of 390	85.4%	★★★★☆
2019	79.8	53 of 400	86.8%	★★★★☆
2018	85.5	36 of 410	91.2%	★★★★★
2017	83.8	47 of 410	88.5%	★★★★☆
2016	87.7	36 of 408	91.2%	★★★★★
2015	72.5	96 of 466	79.4%	★★★★☆
2014	79.2	50 of 462	89.2%	★★★★☆
2013	71.2	97 of 457	78.8%	★★★★☆
2012	71.1	107 of 452	76.3%	★★★★☆
2011	76.1	66 of 445	85.2%	★★★★☆
2010	72.3	98 of 450	78.2%	★★★★☆
2009	71.2	104 of 438	76.3%	★★★★☆
2008	67.4	144 of 437	67.0%	★★★☆☆
2007	72.4	76 of 281	73.0%	★★★★☆
2006	65.5	119 of 292	59.2%	★★★☆☆
2005	74.5	63 of 287	78.0%	★★★★☆
2004	68.1	91 of 275	66.9%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2019	71.4	7 of 32	78.1%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	74.5	86 of 461	81.3%	★★★★☆
2025	73.1	75 of 358	79.1%	★★★★☆
2024	82.1	34 of 353	90.4%	★★★★★
2023	76.6	52 of 329	84.2%	★★★★☆
2022	77.8	47 of 343	86.3%	★★★★☆
2021	71.8	76 of 332	77.1%	★★★★☆
2019	76.7	58 of 343	83.1%	★★★★☆
2018	90.2	19 of 355	94.6%	★★★★★

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	70.0	32 of 126	74.6%	★★★★☆
2024	85.6	13 of 119	89.1%	★★★★☆
2022	72.5	19 of 86	77.9%	★★★★☆
2019	70.4	18 of 86	79.1%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	64.8	126 of 446	71.7%	★★★★☆
2025	63.8	97 of 335	71.0%	★★★★☆
2024	48.7	167 of 326	48.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	67.8	54 of 271	80.1%	★★★★☆
2022	71.2	35 of 250	86.0%	★★★★☆
2021	86.9	17 of 226	92.5%	★★★★★
2019	48.3	121 of 251	51.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	70.5	46 of 255	82.0%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	79.0	69 of 462	85.1%	★★★★☆
2025	81.8	41 of 380	89.2%	★★★★☆
2024	78.7	53 of 365	85.5%	★★★★☆
2023	74.1	63 of 359	82.5%	★★★★☆
2022	62.9	101 of 347	70.9%	★★★★☆
2021	78.9	46 of 334	86.2%	★★★★☆
2019	75.6	65 of 354	81.6%	★★★★☆
2018	74.2	73 of 373	80.4%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	55.6	112 of 333	66.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	64.5	21 of 95	77.9%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	68.0	92 of 344	73.3%	★★★★☆
2025	74.1	61 of 285	78.6%	★★★★☆
2024	78.6	42 of 300	86.0%	★★★★☆
2023	73.6	55 of 271	79.7%	★★★★☆
2022	65.7	77 of 269	71.4%	★★★★☆
2021	70.7	55 of 266	79.3%	★★★★☆
2019	73.2	52 of 266	80.5%	★★★★☆
2018	81.3	41 of 261	84.3%	★★★★☆

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)

Male (2026)85th percentile~ school

Female (2026)81st percentile-4 vs school

Disabled (2019)78th percentile-9 vs school

Hispanic (2025)75th percentile-12 vs school

White (2026)73rd percentile-12 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)72nd percentile-14 vs school

Special Education (2026)66th percentile-19 vs school

By subject vs Wisconsin (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts60%+12 vs state

Social Studies60%+11 vs state

Mathematics58%+15 vs state

Science53%+10 vs state

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Schools Near Waterford High

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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 Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				ACT English Language Arts (2026)	ACT Mathematics (2026)	ACT Science (2026)	Forward Exam Social Studies (2026)	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	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
Waterford High	Public	9-12	611 W Main Street	Waterford	53185	Racine County	Waterford Union High School School District	No	No	No	Yes	(262) 534-3189	889	68	13.0	13.5%	761 (85.6%)	13 (1.5%)	90 (10.1%)	13 (1.5%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.2%)	9 (1.0%)	78.8	76^th of 533 public high schools	85.7%		80.3	58^th of 431 public high schools	86.5%	18	60.4	58.0	53.3	59.5	$24,066	$264	$23,802
Burlington High School	Public	9-12	400 McCanna Pkwy	Burlington	53105	Racine County	Burlington Area School District	No	No	No	No	(262) 763-0200	880	56	15.7	28.5%	682 (77.5%)	10 (1.1%)	145 (16.5%)	11 (1.3%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	30 (3.4%)	67.3	164^th of 533 public high schools	69.2%		66.7	124^th of 431 public high schools	71.2%	40	53.4	45.0	51.3	54.6	$14,346	$350	$13,996
DOC: Robert E Ellsworth Correctional Cen ter	Public	12	21425-A Spring St	Union Grove	53182	Racine County	Wisconsin Department of Corrections	No	No	No	No	(262) 878-6000	0	1	.0	—	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Muskego High	Public	9-12	W183S8750 Racine Ave	Muskego	53150	Waukesha County	Muskego-Norway School District	No	No	No	No	(262) 971-1790	1,634	93	17.5	5.4%	1,404 (85.9%)	13 (0.8%)	138 (8.4%)	21 (1.3%)	3 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	55 (3.4%)	91.7	27^th of 533 public high schools	94.9%		95.3	12^th of 431 public high schools	97.2%	15	77.1	74.0	61.5	67.6	$14,200	$231	$13,968
Union Grove High	Public	9-12	3433 S Colony Ave	Union Grove	53182	Racine County	Union Grove Union High School School District	No	No	No	Yes	(262) 878-2434	1,032	64	16.2	11.7%	897 (86.9%)	11 (1.1%)	83 (8.0%)	8 (0.8%)	4 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (2.8%)	56.4	243^rd of 533 public high schools	54.4%		51.3	213^th of 431 public high schools	50.6%	30	43.7	49.2	43.7	46.7	$14,434	$240	$14,195
Mukwonago High	Public	9-12	605 W Veterans Way	Mukwonago	53149	Waukesha County	Mukwonago School District	No	No	No	No	(262) 363-6200	1,604	101	15.9	12.6%	1,427 (89.0%)	7 (0.4%)	107 (6.7%)	13 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	49 (3.1%)	88.3	36^th of 533 public high schools	93.2%		90.6	24^th of 431 public high schools	94.4%	12	66.9	59.8	58.6	75.8	$13,847	$407	$13,440
East Troy High	Public	9-12	3128 Graydon Ave	East Troy	53120	Walworth County	East Troy Community School District	No	No	No	No	(262) 642-6760	448	36	12.3	21.7%	397 (88.6%)	4 (0.9%)	31 (6.9%)	4 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (2.7%)	81.8	60^th of 533 public high schools	88.7%		62.1	152^nd of 431 public high schools	64.7%	92	65.7	57.6	59.6	57.1	$17,052	$306	$16,746
Milwaukee County Community Reintegration Center	Public	9-12	8885 S 68th St	Franklin	53132	Milwaukee County	Franklin Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(414) 525-7630	31	2	20.6	90.3%	0 (0.0%)	19 (61.3%)	8 (25.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (12.9%)								(n/a)					$15,542	$296	$15,245
West High	Public	9-12	3301 Saylesville Rd	Waukesha	53189	Waukesha County	Waukesha School District	No	No	No	No	(262) 970-3905	1,167	67	17.4	21.3%	868 (74.4%)	43 (3.7%)	163 (14.0%)	36 (3.1%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	54 (4.6%)	78.8	75^th of 533 public high schools	85.9%		76.4	73^rd of 431 public high schools	83.1%	2	60.2	54.9	56.4	59.6	$14,320	$393	$13,927
Central High	Public	9-12	24617 75th St	Salem	53168	Kenosha County	Westosha Central Union High School School District	No	No	No	Yes	(262) 843-2321	1,309	71	18.5	12.3%	1,086 (83.0%)	21 (1.6%)	141 (10.8%)	15 (1.1%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	44 (3.4%)	65.6	179^th of 533 public high schools	66.4%		64.8	137^th of 431 public high schools	68.2%	42	49.4	48.2	44.6	58.9	$14,273	$395	$13,878

Frequently Asked Questions about Waterford High

What schools feed into Waterford High?

Waterford High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Drought Elementary
Elementary : Evergreen Elementary
Elementary : North Cape Elementary
Elementary : Trailside Elementary
Elementary : Washington Elementary
Elementary : Woodfield Elementary
Middle : Fox River Middle

What is the racial makeup of Waterford High?

Students at Waterford High are 86% White, 10% Hispanic, 1% African American, 1% Asian, 1% Two or more races.

Is Waterford High a good school?

Waterford High ranks 76^th of 533 Wisconsin high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Waterford High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 889 students attended Waterford High.

What district is Waterford High in?

Waterford Union High School School District

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Latest Wisconsin data All new data »

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

2016–17 through 2017–18 immunization rates (updated)NewOct 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.