Summary:
ZIP code 53597 contains six schools serving pre-kindergarten through 12th grade — three elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school — all within the Waunakee Community School District, which ranks 27th of 432 Wisconsin districts (94th percentile, 5 stars). Total enrollment is 4,166 students, split fairly evenly across elementary (1,503), middle (1,328), and high school (1,335).
The strongest standouts are Waunakee High and Arboretum Elementary. Waunakee High ranks 8th of 533 high schools (98th percentile, 5 stars) and posts a 98.7% graduation rate with a 0.0% dropout rate, well ahead of the state's 92.0% and 1.1%. Its ACT Math proficiency is 78.40 versus 42.93 statewide. Arboretum ranks 45th of 1,039 elementary schools (96th percentile, 5 stars), has the lowest free/reduced-lunch rate at 3.22%, and earns the highest single reported 2025–26 score in the group, 90.43% in 4th grade Social Studies. Waunakee Middle also shines, ranking 29th of 643 middle schools (95th percentile, 5 stars), with 85.91% in 8th grade Social Studies and 80.25% in 7th grade Math. Waunakee Intermediate reaches 84.38% in 6th grade ELA, but has the group's highest chronic absenteeism at 14.8%, still below the state's 17.3%.
Among elementary schools, Waunakee Heritage Elementary ranks 106th of 1,039 (4 stars) despite the highest free/reduced-lunch rate (15.64%) and highest spending ($17,867), while Waunakee Prairie Elementary ranks 192nd of 1,039 (4 stars) and trails district averages in every reported 2025–26 subject, even with the lowest chronic absenteeism at 7.0%. Every reported proficiency rate across all six schools exceeds its state benchmark, and all schools beat the state's 17.3% chronic absenteeism mark.
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