2024 Best Public High Schools in Wisconsin

• Elmbrook School District, WI•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.08 out of 5  231 reviews

Alum: Brookfield East's academic program is amazing. It definitely set me up for a rigorous college workload--especially the honors and AP classes. The English and History department staff are particularly incredible; I am so grateful for all of the support and resources they provided me with throughout the years. The Science department could use a little work and, often, student understanding of acceptable and unacceptable comments, particularly revolving around race and gender needs some guidance. However, the school's response to any such incident was calm and well handled. I definitely recommend Brookfield East overall!... Read 231 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,337

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Shorewood School District, WI•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.05 out of 5  143 reviews

Parent: I had four kids attend Shorewood High School. All of them received a fantastic education that prepared them very well for college. All four could express themselves orally and in writing beautifully. Several of them were very involved in the world class drama program at Shorewood. For many years our house was full of talk, dancing and music as the kid rehearsed or were building sets for the next play. And all four were in their university’s honors programs and all graduated with distinction. Shorewood High helped make my children smart and interesting young adults.... Read 143 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 635

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Whitefish Bay School District, WI•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.86 out of 5  197 reviews

Alum: I very much enjoyed my experience at Whitefish Bay High School! As a student who went to Whitefish Bay schools from 5th grade through high school, I believe I was able to gain a well rounded view during my time there. Whitefish Bay has been known for some time as a quiet, affluent neighborhood that prides itself in being the home of one of the best public high schools in the state. Whitefish Bay High School does an exceptional job of getting their students to a college ready level in for years. As a result of being in a wealthy neighborhood, the community has been dedicated to ensuring that students at this school have all the resources necessary to be successful. The only downfall that I see is there is a complete lack of diversity in the school despite only being roughly 10 minutes from the inner city of Milwaukee.... Read 197 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 951

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Elmbrook School District, WI•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.88 out of 5  206 reviews

Senior: My experience at Brookfield Central has been truly special. There are so many opportunities available to students. Not only academic opportunities, but opportunities for personal growth, forming life long connections, and trying new things. My best experiences at Brookfield Central have been in and out of the classroom. I really enjoyed participating in a vast variety of extracurriculars, such as DECA, Key Club, Tennis, however, I enjoyed attending all the school events as well. Many of the teachers at BCHS are super accommodating and kind. While BCHS is a great school, there is a lot of internal competition because it is a competitive high school with many smart individuals, and can be overwhelming at times. Additionally, the grading scale is very rigorous. I hope that in the future they consider changing the grading scale to fit many across the country.... Read 206 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,200

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District, WI•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.89 out of 5  357 reviews

Senior: Middleton High School is an excellent institution that has a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere. The school has a diverse student body that represents various backgrounds. The staff at Middleton High School promotes a culture of respect, inclusion, and acceptance, which fosters a positive and supportive learning environment for all students. Middleton High School also has a strong sports program, especially in track, cross-country and football. The preforming arts department is also very good, and there are concerts and plays throughout the year. Overall, I would recommend this school to anyone seeking a multidisciplinary education and supportive community.... Read 357 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,271

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Milwaukee Public Schools, WI•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.94 out of 5  434 reviews

Senior: Reagan has been fostering a positive and accepting environment for all students. With specific teachers when they say they care you know they do. Reagan also promotes a healthy school-home work ethic, something that is heavily needed for many students. However, since Reagan is a College Prep school they place heavy emphasis on college pathways/how to prepare. While this isn't a negative I do feel like at times these college catered lessons can rush a student into a decision they are not ready to make, it makes a student feel like they are behind in the overall college decisions/what to do after school.... Read 434 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,344

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Kettle Moraine School District, WI•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.64 out of 5  28 reviews

Senior: The High School of Health Sciences gives students many opportunities relating to STEM. They have partnerships with many organizations that help students figure out their post-high school plans. The High School of Health Sciences allowed me to take a CNA class through WCTC. The High School of Health Science staff help support each student and tries to prepare them for college if that is what the students' plan is. Their school has self-paced classes which help students learn key skills. While attending this high school for all four years, I have learned organization, time management, and communication skills. The High School of Health Sciences is one of five high schools on campus. The school has extracurricular activities that many students are involved in.... Read 28 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 190

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Mequon-Thiensville School District, WI•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.9 out of 5  287 reviews

Senior: The best part about Homestead is the teachers. A lot of there stay for many years and have so much experience with teaching that I genuinely feel like I'm learning the content and future life lessons. The worst part is that it is based in a very wealthy area, so some students are a lot to deal with in good terms. It isn't Homestead's fault though. Something I wish would change is what Homestead invests their spending into. They put a lot of money into their football program, which is great because our team is great! Unfortunately, I sing and put effort into theater and Homestead doesn't focus on that at all. We have a lot of talent as a school and I just wish everyone was given the same chance to show it off.... Read 287 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,266

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Madison Metropolitan School District, WI•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.83 out of 5  307 reviews

Alum: Madison Memorial has many amazing teachers and coaches! The support I received for my 4 years there was amazing, even during the pandemic. My senior year there was difficult, as one Friday in April, we went home as normal, never to return. The teachers prevailed and continued to teach us online, which is not an easy task. My coaches, both football and baseball continued to coach us, not only in our sport, but mentally and physically. They encouraged us to continue to work hard at our grades, and stay physically active right from home, as all the gyms and schools closed. There were teachers that continuously checked in on me to make sure I was finishing the school year on a positive note. We had no graduation ceremony, but one of my middle school teachers came to my home, and stood in my front yard to congratulate me. She did this for each and every student that she taught, which was over 250 students! Overall, my experience at Madison Memorial High School was a rewarding one!... Read 307 reviews

• grade A

• Students 2,078

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Glendale, WI•

• Public School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.89 out of 5  273 reviews

Senior: I enjoyed the endless possibilities to get involved in sports, clubs, and other after school activities! I always had so much fun at the sporting events in the student sections. The teachers all very inclusive. Something I would change is maybe some more focus on how important no fighting and being kind and safe at school is. There have been some instances of fighting and I hope this changes so that there are no instances.... Read 273 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,090

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Cedarburg School District, WI•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.98 out of 5  261 reviews

Junior: Cedarburg High School gave me a great education! Most of the teachers go above and beyond, and there is an excellent variety of classes to choose from including honors and AP. I’ve met some of my best friends here, and the sports are great too whether you like to watch or play. The only problem is diversity which is difficult to find in a small suburban town.... Read 261 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,110

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Pewaukee School District, WI•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.9 out of 5  246 reviews

Senior: Pewakee High School is very supportive and makes sure that their students feel safe. We have a good variety of clubs, teams, and a good state send off for anyone that qualifies. Lastly our school is very supportive to the students who want to go to state games so there is a fan bus,surveys to see who is going, and to those who aren't going get to watch the game if they with too in the auditorium during class.... Read 246 reviews

• grade A

• Students 846

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Hartland, WI•

• Public School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.97 out of 5  545 reviews

Senior: Arrowhead High School is an excellent school! I could not have asked for a better high school experience. They provide a variety of clubs and class courses to fit your interests. This high school really helps you in any kind of way you need and always has a warm welcoming. I believe Arrowhead truly allows you to be your best self, academically and socially. The education at Arrowhead is tremendous and sets students up for success in the future, weather it be college or in the work force. Although this school is a great one, I think that at Arrowhead, students need to be more understanding and more socially aware of others that don't have as much in hand or come from a different area. Overall, This school is truly amazing and I am so thankful I was able to attend Arrowhead High School.... Read 545 reviews

• grade A

• Students 2,082

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Madison Metropolitan School District, WI•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.7 out of 5  326 reviews

Junior: Overall, I enjoy attending Madison West Highschool because of the quality of people (students and workers) and the quality of service it provides. In my opinion, the best part about my school is that it promotes a safe atmosphere among the attendees of the school by fostering monthly discussions about social problems within and outside of the school. However, I have a few hygiene concerns about my school the worst one being our dirty and constantly vandalized bathrooms. I really would like to see a change in the ladder area because the problem causes many students including myself to avoid going to the bathroom which can be risky or unhealthy.... Read 326 reviews

• grade A

• Students 2,175

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• New Berlin School District, WI•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 3.39 out of 5  170 reviews

Senior: I love how our school has many programs that offer a variety of unique opportunities for students. Additionally, our school also allows the opportunity for students to start their own programs and clubs. For instance, I know of clubs that were started in recent years that have gained a lot of popularity, and they have also encouraged other students to go outside their comfort zone and do their own thing as well!... Read 170 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,044

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Hamilton School District, WI•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.67 out of 5  233 reviews

Alum: What I loved the most about Hamilton High School was the diverse and thorough education I got there. The teachers were always ready to help you and made their classes quite creative and engaging. One thing that can be improved is their school bus etiquette; many times students on the bus had no space to sit as we were overpacked. Three students would have to sit on a chair for two and even worse, some would have to sit on the floor all the way home. This was dangerous especially since we had no seatbelts. The food was pretty good for the most part and the weather was almost always cold so invest in a good winter jacket and boots. Sports play a fairly huge role at Hamilton so join one if you can, if you don’t like sports you can join any of the several clubs offered (I did both). I wish I knew that it was cold for the most part over there before I transferred and be prepared for random days of snow throughout autumn. Overall, I had an awesome experience at Hamilton!... Read 233 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,532

• Student-teacher ratio 5:1

• Kenosha School District, WI•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.18 out of 5  103 reviews

Senior: Overall, I enjoyed my time at Lakeview and believe it was worth going to, at least over other KUSD high schools. In general, the academics, students, and teachers have higher standards than other schools, leading to a more competitive and productive learning environment. While the academics are stellar, there are a few drawbacks that come from going to Lakeview. These include: - Weaker School spirit than a typical high school -Absence of sports teams -Less social environment -fewer AP courses that can be taken Aside from these drawbacks, I'm glad that I attended Lakeview and I believe it's a school that bests prepares students for their future.... Read 103 reviews

• grade A

• Students 394

• Student-teacher ratio 22:1

• Wauwatosa School District, WI•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.7 out of 5  163 reviews

Parent: Increasingly raising expectations for academics, college/post-secondary preparation, and music and the arts. I like the new leadership of the school and have been impressed by the athletics and co-curricular experiences. Not many high schools doing a better job of supporting student well being and pushing academic achievement.... Read 163 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,079

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Waunakee Community School District, WI•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.01 out of 5  227 reviews

Senior: I really enjoyed how the class schedules were set up and how most teachers ran their classes. It offered us the best opportunities to learn and focus and get support when we struggled. It was very rigorous compared to other schools in the area from what I know but they offered enough support that I did not feel overwhelmed. My biggest critiques come from the culture of students. While I felt welcome by my friends and classmates it was easy to see that others did not. I tried my best to make everyone I met feel connected and appreciated but it was clearly hard for some. As is with every high school it seems, there were many social politics and popularity contests that I wanted no part of but on the school side of things Waunakee was excellent and therefore I was happy with what I got out of it.... Read 227 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,352

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Menomonee Falls School District, WI•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.74 out of 5  258 reviews

Alum: Menomonee Falls High School is a very impressive school! It has a very convenient layout when it comes to classrooms, most science classes on the second floor down a certain hall, while English is on the first floor by the library. This helped me so much with learning the layout my freshman year. They also promote respectful and exemplary behavior everyday. I would like to see a change in there being more art programs, although there are a few already!... Read 258 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,319

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Greendale School District, WI•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.96 out of 5  223 reviews

Senior: At Greendale High since 2021, I appreciate the dedicated teachers and their adaptability to technology. The wide range of extracurricular activities ensures there's something for everyone. However, students taking challenging classes can be disadvantaged in GPA-based achievements. The improving facilities and varied lunch options make campus life enjoyable. A downside is the lack of planning for events like homecoming and prom, leading to disappointments like water shortages and lack of A/C. Memorable experiences include open conversations with teachers, making school feel like a home away from home. I suggest implementing a student feedback system to improve events and rules. Overall, Greendale has strengths and weaknesses, but my experience has been positive due to the teachers, activities, and welcoming atmosphere.... Read 223 reviews

• grade A

• Students 948

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Sun Prairie Area School District, WI•

• 10-12

• •
  Rating 3.93 out of 5  577 reviews

Senior: Sun Prairie West High School is brand new. I've never attended any school like it. It's almost equivalent to a college campus! However, teachers, custodians and security are short staffed, leaving a good portion of students and school unattended to.... Read 577 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,779

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Franklin Public Schools, WI•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.76 out of 5  409 reviews

Sophomore: The facilities and courses offered are a great for all students! The staff are friendly and knowledgeable in what they do. In terms of safety, security measures are taken and regular updates are sent to families. The relationships between classmates and teachers make a lasting impact and motivate students to perform their best in each class. Although certain situations might stir up mixed emotions, there are always resources to reach out for assistance and the support needed. Overall, it is a great place for those looking to work or attend Franklin High School.... Read 409 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,573

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Muskego-Norway School District, WI•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.79 out of 5  276 reviews

Senior: To be fairly honest, it's a great school! I came from a not so nice district, and this is 100% an improvement. All my teachers here cared about me and it's such a great place to meet people. I do wish we were a little more diverse, and coaches of sports weren't so mean. It's a highly Caucasian area, so it's no doubt the school is of high Caucasian ethnicity. I've also had some nasty run-ins with very rude coaches here who think they are above everyone. They just need to be humbled, that is all.... Read 276 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,676

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• School District of Marshfield, WI•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.06 out of 5  184 reviews

Alum: Overall Marshfield High School was great! They really allowed me to explore the topics that interested me and it also had a lot of different paced classes for different learners. So there were custom classes all the way up to AP, which was very nice and made learning a lot easier. The teachers were also very patient and helpful throughout the years. They explained the content well, went into more detail, if you needed, and graded assignments and tests quickly.... Read 184 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,232

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1