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Waunakee High

Public Grades 9-12

8^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 533 Wisconsin High Schools

Better than 98% of Wisconsin high schools

Summary

Waunakee High is a public high school in Waunakee, Wisconsin, near Madison, serving grades 9–12 with an enrollment of 1,335 students as part of the Waunakee Community School District, which ranks 27th of 432 districts statewide. In 2025–2026 the school ranked 8th of 533 Wisconsin high schools — the 98th percentile, 5 stars — and it has never fallen below the 90th percentile in the past decade.

Outcomes are strong across the board. The 2024–2025 graduation rate was 98.7% (state: 92.0%), the dropout rate was 0.0% (state: 1.1%), and chronic absenteeism was 13.1% (state: 17.3%). In 2025–2026, 10th-grade proficiency reached 76.23% in social studies, 75.96% in English language arts, 78.4% in math, and 72.7% in science — all far above state averages. Among nearby schools, Middleton High was the closest competitor, ranking 18th statewide, followed by West High (34th) and De Forest High (190th), with Vel Phillips Memorial High School and East High further down. Waunakee led all of these comprehensive schools in every tested subject, and posted the highest graduation rate, the lowest dropout rate, and lower chronic absenteeism than Middleton (22.8%) or the Madison Metropolitan School District high schools (36.5%–45.8%).

The school also serves most student groups well compared with schools statewide, ranking in roughly the 85th–99th percentile for most groups, including female students, students with disabilities, and students across racial and ethnic groups. The clearest outlier is English language learners, where it ranked 102nd of 115 (11th percentile, 1 star), and low-income student performance swung from the 24th to the 82nd percentile in two years — both worth watching. Resources are solid: per-student spending is $16,843, up 26% since 2021–2022, and the student-teacher ratio of 12.9 is lower than Middleton's (15.3) or the Madison high schools' (15.4–16.1). Keep in mind that these schools serve different student populations, so comparisons are not apples to apples. Chronic absenteeism, at 13.1%, remains slightly above the district average of 11.6%, though it has improved from 18.1% in 2021–2022.

1,335

Students ?

12.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,843

Per pupil spending ?

9.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

301 Community Dr
Waunakee, WI 53597-1639

(608) 849-2100

District: Waunakee Community School District

Feeder schools for Waunakee High:

Elementary:	Arboretum Elementary
	Waunakee Heritage Elementary
	Waunakee Prairie Elementary
Middle:	Waunakee Intermediate
	Waunakee Middle

Racial breakdown:

White:

83.1%

Hispanic:

7.9%

Two or more races:

4.3%

See top rated Wisconsin high schools

Compare Waunakee High to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 97th percentile in 2016 → 98th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Wisconsin average (76% vs 46% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 2% of Wisconsin high schools

✓99% graduate in 4 years — above the Wisconsin average (92%)

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school76%

District avg76%

Wisconsin avg46%

8^th of 533

Wisconsin public high schools ?

Top 2%▲ up 1 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of Wisconsin High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

27^th of 432Waunakee Community 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	95.8	8 of 533	98.5%	★★★★★
2025	84.6	42 of 431	90.3%	★★★★★
2024	92.9	17 of 431	96.1%	★★★★★
2023	86.9	37 of 415	91.1%	★★★★★
2022	94.0	14 of 391	96.4%	★★★★★
2021	95.0	13 of 390	96.7%	★★★★★
2019	94.3	15 of 400	96.3%	★★★★★
2018	96.4	8 of 410	98.0%	★★★★★
2017	96.1	13 of 410	96.8%	★★★★★
2016	96.4	12 of 408	97.1%	★★★★★
2015	74.0	77 of 466	83.5%	★★★★☆
2014	92.2	5 of 462	98.9%	★★★★★
2013	81.0	35 of 457	92.3%	★★★★★
2012	76.0	67 of 452	85.2%	★★★★☆
2011	75.3	72 of 445	83.8%	★★★★☆
2010	77.5	50 of 450	88.9%	★★★★☆
2009	76.1	64 of 438	85.4%	★★★★☆
2008	77.9	49 of 437	88.8%	★★★★☆
2007	75.4	52 of 281	81.5%	★★★★☆
2006	77.7	35 of 292	88.0%	★★★★☆
2005	79.7	29 of 287	89.9%	★★★★★
2004	78.6	32 of 275	88.4%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	87.0	8 of 84	90.5%	★★★★★

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	91.2	8 of 71	88.7%	★★★★★

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2018	75.0	9 of 40	77.5%	★★★★☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	22.8	102 of 115	11.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	95.1	5 of 461	98.9%	★★★★★
2025	79.2	54 of 358	84.9%	★★★★☆
2024	94.7	8 of 353	97.7%	★★★★★
2022	94.5	8 of 343	97.7%	★★★★★
2021	95.4	4 of 332	98.8%	★★★★★
2019	93.6	14 of 343	95.9%	★★★★★
2018	96.2	5 of 355	98.6%	★★★★★

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	88.4	18 of 187	90.4%	★★★★★
2025	50.5	54 of 126	57.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	74.3	23 of 119	80.7%	★★★★☆
2023	73.3	22 of 97	77.3%	★★★★☆
2022	71.7	20 of 86	76.7%	★★★★☆
2019	69.6	19 of 86	77.9%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	73.0	80 of 446	82.1%	★★★★☆
2025	30.6	254 of 335	24.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	53.4	149 of 326	54.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	81.0	29 of 271	89.3%	★★★★☆
2022	48.8	118 of 250	52.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	62.6	61 of 226	73.0%	★★★★☆
2019	85.7	12 of 251	95.2%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	86.2	30 of 380	92.1%	★★★★★
2023	87.1	29 of 359	91.9%	★★★★★
2022	89.5	21 of 347	93.9%	★★★★★
2021	90.3	21 of 334	93.7%	★★★★★
2019	91.9	14 of 354	96.0%	★★★★★
2018	94.3	12 of 373	96.8%	★★★★★

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	81.7	15 of 102	85.3%	★★★★☆
2025	62.4	27 of 81	66.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	76.2	13 of 71	81.7%	★★★★☆
2022	97.3	1 of 41	97.6%	★★★★★

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	96.8	4 of 333	98.8%	★★★★★
2024	84.9	7 of 95	92.6%	★★★★★
2023	53.3	20 of 55	63.6%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	95.6	4 of 344	98.8%	★★★★★
2025	81.3	43 of 285	84.9%	★★★★☆
2024	91.4	17 of 300	94.3%	★★★★★
2023	81.7	37 of 271	86.3%	★★★★☆
2022	90.6	20 of 269	92.6%	★★★★★
2021	92.6	17 of 266	93.6%	★★★★★
2019	91.7	20 of 266	92.5%	★★★★★
2018	95.2	10 of 261	96.2%	★★★★★

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)

Female (2026)99th percentile~ school

White (2026)99th percentile~ school

Special Education (2026)99th percentile~ school

Male (2025)92nd percentile~ school

African American (2026)90th percentile-8 vs school

Hispanic (2026)90th percentile-8 vs school

Asian (2026)89th percentile-10 vs school

Multi-racial (2026)85th percentile-13 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)82nd percentile-16 vs school

Disabled (2018)78th percentile-21 vs school

English Language Learner (2026)11th percentile-87 vs school

By subject vs Wisconsin (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics78%+35 vs state

Social Studies76%+28 vs state

English Language Arts76%+27 vs state

Science73%+29 vs state

★

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Schools Near Waunakee 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/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	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
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%)	95.8	8^th of 533 public high schools	98.5%		84.6	42^nd of 431 public high schools	90.3%	34	76.0	78.4	72.7	76.2	$16,843	$264	$16,578
Clark Street Community School	Public, Charter	9-12	2100 Bristol Street	Middleton	53562	Dane County	Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District	Yes	No	No	No	(608) 829-9640	108	10	11.3	25.9%	79 (73.1%)	2 (1.9%)	7 (6.5%)	2 (1.9%)	1 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (11.1%)	59.4	226^th of 533 public high schools	57.6%		85.2	41^st of 431 public high schools	90.5%	185	51.7	24.1	51.9	70.6	$17,468	$402	$17,066
Middleton High	Public	9-12	2100 Bristol St	Middleton	53562	Dane County	Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District	No	No	No	No	(608) 829-9660	2,303	150	15.3	17.8%	1,495 (64.9%)	112 (4.9%)	250 (10.9%)	278 (12.1%)	7 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	155 (6.7%)	93.8	18^th of 533 public high schools	96.6%		95.9	9^th of 431 public high schools	97.9%	9	74.6	69.6	68.3	74.7	$16,092	$436	$15,655
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%)	31.8	394^th of 533 public high schools	26.1%		49.1	227^th of 431 public high schools	47.3%	167	23.8	9.5	19.1	72.7	$33,129	$490	$32,639
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%)	64.5	190^th of 533 public high schools	64.4%		66.7	123^rd of 431 public high schools	71.5%	67	47.4	48.4	49.3	53.5	$15,231	$310	$14,922
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%)	53.3	268^th of 533 public high schools	49.7%		24.4	358^th of 431 public high schools	16.9%	90	51.5	38.7	43.3	42.4	$19,014	$780	$18,233
Capital High	Public	9-12	3802 Regent St	Madison	53705	Dane County	Madison Metropolitan School District	No	No	No	Yes	(608) 204-4220	129	15	8.6	84.5%	18 (14.0%)	57 (44.2%)	27 (20.9%)	7 (5.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (15.5%)	2.3	524^th of 533 public high schools	1.7%					(n/a)	6.9	0.0	3.6	8.3	$25,317	$831	$24,485
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%)	30.2	407^th of 533 public high schools	23.6%					(n/a)	40.0	20.0	50.0	0.0	$12,178	$490	$11,688
West High	Public	9-12	30 Ash St	Madison	53726	Dane County	Madison Metropolitan School District	No	No	No	No	(608) 204-4100	2,222	137	16.1	34.2%	1,072 (48.2%)	231 (10.4%)	553 (24.9%)	165 (7.4%)	1 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	177 (8.0%)	88.4	34^th of 533 public high schools	93.6%		83.6	47^th of 431 public high schools	89.1%	13	69.3	63.5	62.6	65.2	$17,499	$519	$16,980
Vel Phillips Memorial High School	Public	9-12	201 S Gammon Rd	Madison	53717	Dane County	Madison Metropolitan School District	No	No	No	No	(608) 663-5990	2,004	127	15.7	42.4%	810 (40.4%)	306 (15.3%)	527 (26.3%)	172 (8.6%)	1 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	175 (8.7%)	62.4	205^th of 533 public high schools	61.5%		60.7	156^th of 431 public high schools	63.8%	49	53.8	49.4	46.9	43.9	$18,129	$521	$17,608

Frequently Asked Questions about Waunakee High

How many students attend Waunakee High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,335 students attended Waunakee High.

Is Waunakee High a good school?

Yes! Waunakee High is one of the best high schools in the state. It ranks 8^th of 533 Wisconsin high schools.

What is the racial makeup of Waunakee High?

Students at Waunakee High are 83% White, 8% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races, 3% Asian, 1% African American.

What schools feed into Waunakee High?

Waunakee High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Arboretum Elementary
Elementary : Waunakee Heritage Elementary
Elementary : Waunakee Prairie Elementary
Middle : Waunakee Intermediate
Middle : Waunakee Middle

What district is Waunakee High in?

Waunakee Community School District

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Latest Wisconsin data All new data »

2025–26 ACT & Forward Exam scoresNewOct 1, 2026

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

2024–25 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesMar 5, 2026

2024–25 ACT & Forward Exam scoresSep 25, 2025

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.