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South High

Public Grades 9-12

350^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 431 Wisconsin High Schools

Better than 19% of Wisconsin high schools

Summary

South High is a public high school located in Waukesha, Wisconsin, serving grades 9-12 with a student population of 879. Despite being part of the Waukesha School District, which is ranked 166 out of 426 districts in the state, South High has consistently underperformed, ranking between 349-383 out of 415-431 Wisconsin high schools over the past 5 years.

South High's academic performance, as measured by proficiency rates on state assessments, is significantly lower than the district and state averages, particularly in mathematics, where only 36.05% of 10th graders were proficient or better in 2024-2025, compared to 40.57% for the district and 42.73% for the state. The school's performance also varies significantly across different student subgroups, with Hispanic and Multi-racial students, as well as students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, struggling the most. Additionally, South High has a high chronic absenteeism rate, ranging from 15.8% to 29.1% in recent years, which is significantly higher than the district and state averages.

Compared to other schools in the area, South High lags behind its counterparts, North High and West High, both within the Waukesha School District, as well as nearby schools like Pewaukee High and New Berlin West Middle/High. Additionally, public charter schools within the Waukesha School District, such as Waukesha Academy of Health Professions and Waukesha Engineering Preparatory Academy, significantly outperform South High in academic measures and overall school rankings.

833

Students ?

11.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,294

Per pupil spending ?

55.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

401 E Roberta Ave
Waukesha, WI 53186-6637

(262) 970-3705

District: Waukesha School District

Feeder schools for South High:

Elementary:

Hillcrest Elementary

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

41.2%

White:

39.9%

African American:

11.8%

See top rated Wisconsin high schools

Compare South High to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 10th percentile in 2015 → 19th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 9 percentile points since 2015

✓Small classes — about 12 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Wisconsin average (36% vs 46% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (19th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (31% vs 17% Wisconsin)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school36%

District avg47%

Wisconsin avg46%

350^th of 431

Wisconsin public high schools ?

Bottom 19%▲ up 9 pts since 2015

From bottom 10% (2015) to bottom 19% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Wisconsin High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

6^th of 6High Schools in the Waukesha School District

166^th 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)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	25.8	350 of 431	18.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	26.2	349 of 431	19.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	15.5	383 of 415	7.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	15.6	366 of 391	6.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	15.4	357 of 390	8.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	14.8	374 of 400	6.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	15.9	380 of 410	7.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	19.8	364 of 410	11.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	23.2	352 of 408	13.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	22.0	421 of 466	9.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	32.0	389 of 462	15.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	45.8	310 of 457	32.2%	★★☆☆☆
2012	29.1	397 of 452	12.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	38.5	367 of 445	17.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	52.7	299 of 450	33.6%	★★☆☆☆
2009	49.2	305 of 438	30.4%	★★☆☆☆
2008	56.2	243 of 437	44.4%	★★☆☆☆
2007	53.7	195 of 281	30.6%	★★☆☆☆
2006	41.2	233 of 292	20.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	61.4	134 of 287	53.3%	★★★☆☆
2004	50.3	186 of 275	32.4%	★★☆☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2022	60.4	22 of 48	54.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	57.5	16 of 44	63.6%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2018	27.6	28 of 40	30.0%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2024	37.9	248 of 353	29.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	27.2	263 of 329	20.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	17.8	313 of 343	8.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	13.1	312 of 332	6.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	14.6	321 of 343	6.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	21.4	309 of 355	13.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	22.0	103 of 126	18.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	38.9	74 of 119	37.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	13.9	80 of 86	7.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	17.4	68 of 76	10.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	14.6	300 of 335	10.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	15.1	300 of 326	8.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	13.5	240 of 250	4.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	17.5	212 of 226	6.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	19.6	226 of 255	11.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2024	11.6	344 of 365	5.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	8.2	349 of 359	2.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	13.5	330 of 347	4.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	15.5	312 of 334	6.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	12.8	339 of 354	4.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	10.2	364 of 373	2.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2024	14.8	65 of 71	8.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	56.7	37 of 93	60.2%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	57.4	110 of 285	61.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	39.1	193 of 300	35.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	20.2	231 of 271	14.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	28.0	211 of 269	21.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	35.9	169 of 266	36.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	26.3	208 of 266	21.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	18.5	231 of 261	11.5%	★☆☆☆☆

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)61st percentile+43 vs school

Special Education (2025)60th percentile+41 vs school

Asian (2022)54th percentile+48 vs school

Disabled (2018)30th percentile+23 vs school

Female (2024)30th percentile+11 vs school

Hispanic (2025)18th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)10th percentile-8 vs school

Multi-racial (2024)8th percentile-11 vs school

Male (2024)6th percentile-13 vs school

By subject vs Wisconsin (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts38%-10 vs state

Science38%-5 vs state

Mathematics36%-7 vs state

Social Studies30%-17 vs state

★

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Schools Near South 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 English Language Arts (2025)			Forward Exam Mathematics (2025)			Forward Exam Social Studies (2025)		Forward Exam Science (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 English Language Arts 6th Grade	Forward Exam English Language Arts 7th Grade	Forward Exam English Language Arts 8th Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 6th Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 7th Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 8th Grade	Forward Exam Social Studies 8th Grade	Forward Exam Social Studies 10th Grade	Forward Exam Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
South High	Public	9-12	401 E Roberta Ave	Waukesha	53186	Waukesha County	Waukesha School District	No	No	No	No	(262) 970-3705	833	72	11.6	55.2%	332 (39.9%)	98 (11.8%)	343 (41.2%)	16 (1.9%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	40 (4.8%)	25.8	350^th of 431 public high schools	18.8%		26.2	349^th of 431 public high schools	19.0%	1	38.4	36.1	38.4								30.2		$13,294	$323	$12,971
Waukesha Academy of Health Professions	Public, Charter	9-12	401 E Roberta Ave	Waukesha	53186	Waukesha County	Waukesha School District	Yes	No	No	No	(262) 970-3775	112	1	112.0	33.9%	68 (60.7%)	1 (0.9%)	35 (31.3%)	4 (3.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (3.6%)	90.2	26^th of 431 public high schools	94.0%		80.9	49^th of 431 public high schools	88.6%	23	75.0	67.9	75.0								57.7		$12,640	$321	$12,319
Waukesha Engineering Preparatory Academy	Public, Charter	9-12	401 E Roberta Ave	Waukesha	53186	Waukesha County	Waukesha School District	Yes	No	No	No	(262) 970-3880	144	3	48.0	22.2%	107 (74.3%)	1 (0.7%)	25 (17.4%)	9 (6.3%)	1 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.7%)	97.4	5^th of 431 public high schools	98.8%		98.6	4^th of 431 public high schools	99.1%	1	84.0										81.0		$12,629	$321	$12,308
Waukesha East Alternative School	Public	6-12	1150 Whiterock Ave	Waukesha	53186	Waukesha County	Waukesha School District	No	No	No	No	(262) 970-4355	74	9	8.2	78.4%	20 (27.0%)	11 (14.9%)	38 (51.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (6.8%)								(n/a)											60.0		$13,816	$951	$12,864
Waukesha Transition Academy	Public	12	1150 Whiterock Ave	Waukesha	53186	Waukesha County	Waukesha School District	No	No	No	No	(262) 970-1102	36	6	6.0	30.6%	20 (55.6%)	3 (8.3%)	10 (27.8%)	1 (2.8%)	1 (2.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (2.8%)								(n/a)													$13,349	$348	$13,001
eAchieve Academy - Wisconsin	Public, Virtual, Charter	6-12	301 Hyde Park Avenue	Waukesha	53188	Waukesha County	Waukesha School District	Yes	No	Yes	No	(262) 970-1069	639	27	23.4	34.7%	423 (66.2%)	46 (7.2%)	102 (16.0%)	8 (1.3%)	12 (1.9%)	1 (0.2%)	43 (6.7%)	26.4	347^th of 431 public high schools	19.5%		13.7	401^st of 431 public high schools	7.0%	54	45.1	18.3	34.3	75.0	77.8	31.8	62.5	33.3	22.7	31.8	45.5	40.9	$12,110	$818	$11,292
Riverview School	Public	6-12	521 Riverview Ave	Waukesha	53188	Waukesha County	Waukesha School District	No	No	No	No	(262) 548-7731	5	1	5.0		3 (60.0%)	2 (40.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)													$75,809	$276	$75,533
North High	Public	9-12	2222 Michigan Ave	Waukesha	53188	Waukesha County	Waukesha School District	No	No	No	No	(262) 970-3505	911	58	15.6	43.1%	545 (59.8%)	42 (4.6%)	268 (29.4%)	18 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.2%)	36 (4.0%)	31.8	329^th of 431 public high schools	23.7%		51.2	213^th of 431 public high schools	50.6%	116	44.3	34.9	40.1								34.8		$13,197	$323	$12,874
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%)	76.4	73^rd of 431 public high schools	83.1%		77.8	67^th of 431 public high schools	84.5%	6	68.2	48.9	54.3								62.0		$13,139	$323	$12,816
New Berlin West Middle/High	Public	7-12	18695 W Cleveland Ave	New Berlin	53146	Waukesha County	New Berlin School District	No	No	No	Yes	(262) 789-6400	1,036	69	14.9	16.6%	804 (77.6%)	15 (1.4%)	138 (13.3%)	38 (3.7%)	3 (0.3%)	4 (0.4%)	34 (3.3%)	79.6	63^rd of 431 public high schools	85.4%		87.4	30^th of 431 public high schools	93.0%	33	56.8	56.3	55.7		62.9	73.5		70.2	77.8	77.8	76.9	66.7	$12,639	$412	$12,227

Frequently Asked Questions about South High

What schools feed into South High?

South High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Hillcrest Elementary

How many students attend South High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 833 students attended South High.

What district is South High in?

Waukesha School District

What is the racial makeup of South High?

Students at South High are 41% Hispanic, 40% White, 12% African American, 5% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

Is South High a good school?

South High ranks in the bottom 18.8% of Wisconsin high schools.

Rate South High!

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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.