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Waukesha STEM Academy

Public, Charter Grades K-8
99th
SchoolDigger Rank ?
of 1,044 Wisconsin Elementary Schools
Better than 91% of Wisconsin elementary schools
Summary

Waukesha STEM Academy is a high-performing public charter elementary school serving grades PK-8 in Waukesha, Wisconsin, part of the Waukesha School District. With 599 students, the school has consistently been ranked among the top elementary schools in Wisconsin, currently holding a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Waukesha STEM Academy's academic performance is exceptional, with students consistently outperforming the district and state averages in proficiency rates on the Forward Exam across all grade levels and subject areas. In 2024-2025, the school had 80.77% of 3rd graders proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to 60.84% for the district and 52.14% for the state. In Mathematics, the school's performance is particularly strong, with 92.31% of 3rd graders proficient or better, compared to 71.15% for the district and 55% for the state. The school also ranks among the top in the state for several student subgroups, including Asian students, male students, and students with special needs.

Waukesha STEM Academy's strong academic performance is complemented by its low dropout rates, ranging from 0% to 1.4% over the past few years, and its relatively low chronic absenteeism rates, which are still lower than the district and state averages. When compared to nearby public schools, such as Prairie Elementary, Lowell Elementary, Hawthorne Elementary, and Banting Elementary, Waukesha STEM Academy significantly outperforms them in academic proficiency rates. The only nearby school that comes close to Waukesha STEM Academy's performance is White Rock School, which also ranks among the top elementary schools in the state.

580
Students ?
13.6
Student/teacher ratio ?
$11,554
Per pupil spending ?
25%
Free/discounted lunch ?
 1103 S East Avenue
       Waukesha, WI  53186

(262) 970-2305

District: Waukesha School District

Racial breakdown:

White:
69.7%
Hispanic:
14.1%
Two or more races:
5.9%
more
 See top rated Wisconsin elementary schools

 Compare Waukesha STEM Academy to nearby elementary schools!
At a glance
Ranking trend: Improving — 71st percentile in 2015 → 91st in 2025
Strengths
Test scores above the Wisconsin average (74% vs 54% meeting standards)
Ranks in the top 9% of Wisconsin elementary schools
Ranking is trending up — up 20 percentile points since 2015
Worth a look
!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing
Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?
This school74%
District avg61%
Wisconsin avg54%
Elementary school
99th of 1,044
Wisconsin public elementary schools ?
Top 9%▲ up 20 pts since 2015
From top 29% (2015) to top 9% (2025)
See the entire ranking list of Wisconsin Elementary Schools →
SchoolDigger rating ?
Middle school
68th of 628
Wisconsin public middle schools ?
Top 11%▲ up 1 pts since 2015
See the entire ranking list of Wisconsin Middle Schools →
SchoolDigger rating ?
3rd of 14Elementary Schools in the Waukesha School District
166th of 426Waukesha 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)
Elementary school ranking
Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankWisconsin percentileRating
202584.699 of 104490.5%★★★★★
202480.9153 of 106185.6%★★★★☆
202378.8177 of 106783.4%★★★★☆
202284.8104 of 106790.3%★★★★★
202178.7172 of 105083.6%★★★★☆
201981.4131 of 103787.4%★★★★☆
201873.7225 of 102578.0%★★★★☆
201776.1201 of 107181.2%★★★★☆
201658.6465 of 107556.7%★★★☆☆
201568.2315 of 107670.7%★★★★☆
201473.9203 of 106180.9%★★★★☆
201380.4114 of 105389.2%★★★★☆
201271.7245 of 104576.6%★★★★☆
201060.3471 of 104554.9%★★★☆☆
200959.8484 of 103053.0%★★★☆☆
200853.1598 of 102141.4%★★☆☆☆
200668.9248 of 71265.2%★★★☆☆
200577.4111 of 63282.4%★★★★☆
200471.9173 of 63372.7%★★★★☆

Asian

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankWisconsin percentileRating
202291.88 of 11092.7%★★★★★
201991.710 of 12291.8%★★★★★
201876.129 of 10772.9%★★★★☆

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankWisconsin percentileRating
202582.5100 of 100190.0%★★★★★
202472.2259 of 101174.4%★★★★☆
202374.6216 of 101078.6%★★★★☆
202280.5135 of 101786.7%★★★★☆
202180.8133 of 100486.8%★★★★☆
201985.169 of 100293.1%★★★★★
201876.0191 of 99780.8%★★★★☆

Hispanic

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankWisconsin percentileRating
202579.140 of 32287.6%★★★★☆
202470.380 of 33175.8%★★★★☆
202360.595 of 29067.2%★★★☆☆
202271.161 of 29679.4%★★★★☆
202179.133 of 27488.0%★★★★☆
201847.6122 of 27155.0%★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankWisconsin percentileRating
202578.994 of 87089.2%★★★★☆
202461.2297 of 86665.7%★★★☆☆
202360.9289 of 87166.8%★★★☆☆
202264.5241 of 85971.9%★★★★☆
202163.7229 of 84773.0%★★★★☆
201962.6259 of 87470.4%★★★★☆
201847.9443 of 85448.1%★★☆☆☆

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankWisconsin percentileRating
202584.492 of 100090.8%★★★★★
202485.474 of 101292.7%★★★★★
202379.2157 of 101184.5%★★★★☆
202283.4103 of 101789.9%★★★★☆
202173.1216 of 100378.5%★★★★☆
201974.8191 of 100280.9%★★★★☆
201870.3262 of 99773.7%★★★★☆

Special Education

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankWisconsin percentileRating
202597.06 of 80299.3%★★★★★
202498.05 of 79099.4%★★★★★
202392.518 of 77097.7%★★★★★
202295.214 of 74898.1%★★★★★
202178.380 of 74689.3%★★★★☆
201982.363 of 74291.5%★★★★★
201876.890 of 72187.5%★★★★☆

White

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankWisconsin percentileRating
202584.165 of 71890.9%★★★★★
202478.6109 of 72785.0%★★★★☆
202374.1138 of 71580.7%★★★★☆
202280.198 of 70486.1%★★★★☆
202169.7182 of 69974.0%★★★★☆
201970.0173 of 71875.9%★★★★☆
201867.4187 of 68672.7%★★★★☆
Middle school ranking
Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankWisconsin percentileRating
202583.168 of 62889.2%★★★★☆
202478.1103 of 64183.9%★★★★☆
202378.495 of 64085.2%★★★★☆
202276.7104 of 61783.1%★★★★☆
202180.972 of 61388.3%★★★★☆
201973.0128 of 59478.5%★★★★☆
201865.6168 of 57971.0%★★★★☆
201773.3113 of 61281.5%★★★★☆
201686.145 of 60992.6%★★★★★
201578.771 of 61288.4%★★★★☆
201482.047 of 58592.0%★★★★★
201382.448 of 56991.6%★★★★★
201264.9200 of 55964.2%★★★☆☆

Asian

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankWisconsin percentileRating
202489.19 of 8789.7%★★★★★
202269.125 of 9573.7%★★★★☆
202184.317 of 9081.1%★★★★☆
201986.013 of 9185.7%★★★★☆
201883.212 of 9086.7%★★★★☆

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankWisconsin percentileRating
202584.161 of 57389.4%★★★★☆
202477.2104 of 58082.1%★★★★☆
202376.495 of 57983.6%★★★★☆
202279.278 of 57686.5%★★★★☆
202185.142 of 57492.7%★★★★★
201978.378 of 55786.0%★★★★☆
201873.4104 of 55181.1%★★★★☆

Hispanic

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankWisconsin percentileRating
202577.141 of 23782.7%★★★★☆
202480.629 of 23987.9%★★★★☆
202379.334 of 22985.2%★★★★☆
202265.757 of 22174.2%★★★★☆
202160.567 of 22570.2%★★★★☆
201955.872 of 20965.6%★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankWisconsin percentileRating
202558.1196 of 50961.5%★★★☆☆
202449.8253 of 52051.3%★★★☆☆
202369.1100 of 52581.0%★★★★☆
202264.9123 of 52276.4%★★★★☆
202170.183 of 49983.4%★★★★☆
201956.6175 of 48764.1%★★★☆☆
201868.686 of 48982.4%★★★★☆

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankWisconsin percentileRating
202579.083 of 57785.6%★★★★☆
202477.891 of 58584.4%★★★★☆
202374.7110 of 59181.4%★★★★☆
202273.3109 of 57781.1%★★★★☆
202176.282 of 57285.7%★★★★☆
201969.6132 of 55776.3%★★★★☆
201859.5217 of 55160.6%★★★☆☆

Special Education

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankWisconsin percentileRating
202579.444 of 41489.4%★★★★☆
202483.332 of 42592.5%★★★★★
202366.185 of 43980.6%★★★★☆
202276.236 of 42191.4%★★★★★
202165.085 of 43780.5%★★★★☆
201975.641 of 41490.1%★★★★★
201881.729 of 41793.0%★★★★★

White

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankWisconsin percentileRating
202578.164 of 39984.0%★★★★☆
202471.194 of 40776.9%★★★★☆
202368.8102 of 41275.2%★★★★☆
202272.383 of 39779.1%★★★★☆
202176.958 of 39385.2%★★★★☆
201962.8123 of 38267.8%★★★☆☆
201849.9189 of 37549.6%★★★☆☆
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)
Elementary school
Special Education (2025)99th percentile+9 vs school
Asian (2022)93rd percentile~ school
White (2025)91st percentile~ school
Male (2025)91st percentile~ school
Female (2025)90th percentile~ school
Low Socio Economic Status (2025)89th percentile~ school
Hispanic (2025)88th percentile-3 vs school
Middle school
Asian (2024)90th percentile+6 vs school
Special Education (2025)89th percentile~ school
Female (2025)89th percentile~ school
Male (2025)86th percentile-4 vs school
White (2025)84th percentile-5 vs school
Hispanic (2025)83rd percentile-6 vs school
Low Socio Economic Status (2025)61st percentile-28 vs school
By subject vs Wisconsin (2024-2025) ?
Social Studies78%+15 vs state
Mathematics77%+23 vs state
English Language Arts71%+19 vs state
Science65%+14 vs state

1.7
6 ratings · 6 written reviews
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What people are saying
by a parent
Sunday, January 25, 2015

Open Quote With the school for three years. One year in elementary and two in middle. Not sure why we stuck it out this long. Hoped it would get organized but it hasn't. Principal is this pie in the sky guy who spews educator talk. Talks down to parents and can't explain why he does the things he does. Close Quote


by a parent
Monday, December 29, 2014

Open Quote We enjoyed our years at the elementary campus but not the middle school campus. Our youngest, still in elementary, will not go on to the STEM middle school. For lack of a better way of putting it the middle school is too unstructured. Lots of self-paced activities with too much time between progress checkpoints and milestones. It's easy for kids to fall behind in this environment and then struggle to catch up. My husband and I still haven't figured out as parents how to know week to week if our kid is on track or not so we don't know when or how to be involved. Several teachers sent us emails last year midway through the last trimester worried about our kid completing objectives. Despite attending conferences and monitoring the online system these came as complete surprises. The principal tells us we just aren't understanding the "new paradigm". He's definitely right about that part. Close Quote


by a parent
Sunday, December 7, 2014

Open Quote Most new families at this school just gurgle with excitement. It's fun and different, loaded with possibilities. If you are thinking about going to this school make sure you talk to families who've been around for a few years. The change and turmoil here are exhausting and by the start of your third year you'll be wondering what you ever saw in this school. The middle school program is very unstructured. Everything is "self-paced". If your child isn't the type to speak up and ask a teacher for assistance then do not attend this school. Teachers will not tell you if you child is doing well or not until it's too late and the system they use to track it is impossibly complicated to understand. Then when you ask teachers to explain how your kid is doing because you as a parent don't get their crazy system they act annoyed. Close Quote


by a parent
Sunday, November 2, 2014

Open Quote You'll hear the term "self-paced" at this school alot. What that means is that teachers pawn off student time management onto parents so they don't have to maintain much structure. I didn't like the concept the first time when it was called Montessori. This isn't labeled a Montessori school but it's very close in many regards. Not all students thrive in this environment. My son doesn't like attending this school but some students just love it. You should be sure this is a good fit before you apply. Close Quote


by a parent
Friday, October 31, 2014

Open Quote We've been with this school for 3 years and it's only kind of meh. Except for one all the teachers we've had have been really good. The downfall of this school is that everything is really disjointed. Lots of great initiatives but they are all over the place. Parents are always complaining about the same things over and over again but leadership doesn't seem to care. Surprisingly, for a STEM school, they have the most amazing art and music teachers ever at both campuses. We like to see more emphasis on grammar and such but have heard parents across the entire district complain about this so I suspect it's not unique to STEM academy. Close Quote


by a parent
Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Open Quote Most teachers are exceptional but that's about all that's great. I highly recommend thinking twice about attending WSA. It's called STEM but all they care about is prepping students for the Engineering Academy in the district. If your kid is truly interested in pure science, math or technology not directly related to engineering then this is not the school for you. Literacy is a complete afterthought here. They also try out all sorts of crazy teaching methods that don't seem to have anything to do with their stated mission. Attending this school is a serious chore for students and parents alike. I regret choosing this school for my child but it's just to challenging to change at this point. Close Quote





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Frequently Asked Questions about Waukesha STEM Academy

In the 2024-25 school year, 580 students attended Waukesha STEM Academy.

Yes. Waukesha STEM Academy ranks in the top 9.5% of Wisconsin elementary schools.

Students at Waukesha STEM Academy are 70% White, 14% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races, 5% Asian, 4% African American, 1% American Indian.


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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.





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