Best Public Schools in Zip Code 53188

Zip code 53188 in Waukesha, WI has nine public schools—six elementary, one middle, and two high schools, one serving grades 6–12—with about 4,208 students, all in Waukesha School District, which ranks 184 of 432 districts in Wisconsin (57th percentile, 3 stars).

Academically, the zip is highly polarized. Meadowbrook Elementary is the standout: 95th percentile, 5 stars, about 80.0% average proficiency, only 4.0% chronic absenteeism, and 18.52% free/reduced lunch. Summit View Elementary (81st percentile, 4 stars, about 70.2%) and Bethesda Elementary (79th percentile, 4 stars, about 69.3%) also perform well, with Bethesda improving from 50th to 79th percentile. North High rebounded to 56th percentile, 3 stars, with a 94.5% graduation rate and 0.6% dropout rate, though its 23.7% chronic absenteeism is high. Butler Middle is steady at 56th percentile, 3 stars, with a 0.0% dropout rate. At the other end, Hawthorne Elementary ranks 22nd percentile, 1 star, with about 39.8% proficiency, 64.49% free/reduced lunch, and the highest per-student spending ($17,543). Lowell Elementary ranks 37th percentile, 2 stars, with about 51.0% proficiency. eAchieve Academy ranks 34th percentile, 2 stars, with an 82.4% graduation rate and 3.0% dropout rate, while eAchieve Elementary is mid-range at 59th percentile, 3 stars.

Spending and class size do not simply predict outcomes: Hawthorne Elementary and Lowell Elementary spend the most among traditional schools but have lower results, while Bethesda Elementary and Summit View Elementary spend less and perform better. The two virtual schools, eAchieve Academy and eAchieve Elementary, report 0.0% chronic absenteeism, much lower spending, higher student-teacher ratios, and should be compared cautiously with brick-and-mortar schools. The biggest takeaway for parents is the wide gap within one zip code: top schools offer strong math, social studies, and low absenteeism, while others face higher poverty, absenteeism, and lower proficiency. Improvement is real but uneven, especially at North High, Bethesda Elementary, and the eAchieve schools.