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Burlington Downtown Historic District Looking southwest WIS36Photo: I, the copyright holder of this work, hereby publish it under the following license: · CC BY-SA 3.0
B
Schools in Burlington · Burlington Area School District, Waterford Union High School District

Burlington’s public schools outscore 60% of Wisconsin districts

In Burlington, 44% of tested students read at a proficient level, above the Wisconsin average (38%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Burlington, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Wisconsin, not nationally.

#185of 362 Wisconsin townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Wisconsin state tests taken in spring 2022, when 97% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
44%
▲ 6 pts vs WI 38%
2021–22
Math proficiency
44%
▲ 5 pts vs WI 39%
2021–22
Graduate on time
96%
▲ 6 pts vs WI 90%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$14.5K
▼ 12% vs WI $16.5K
FY2024 · Burlington Area
Students per teacher
14.7
WI 13.6 · larger classes
Schools in town
1
2,755 students on the public path
In brief

Burlington’s schools, in brief

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 44% and math 44% across both districts in spring 2022, against 38% and 39% statewide; 96% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 90%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

Burlington Area spends $14,544 per student and Waterford Union High $23,692, against $16,459 across Wisconsin (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Burlington’s grade

B+ Test scoresB− Graduation

B: better than 60% of Wisconsin school districts, #185 of 362 Wisconsin towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Wisconsin average; test scores are the stronger of the two.

Wisconsin school districts we grade (441)Better than 60%
Lower resultsHigher results
Wisconsin towns with similar household incomes (925)Better than 56%
B−B+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,695 test results and a graduating class of 283 could put Burlington anywhere from B− to B+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 97% of Burlington’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,695 in math, 1,695 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Burlington, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
K–4Winkler ElementaryBurlington Area School DistrictA+
5–8Karcher Middle SchoolBurlington Area School DistrictB
9–122 high schoolsDepends on your addressB− to B

Burlington runs its own schools through grade 12 (Burlington Area School District). From grade 9, students attend the Waterford Union High School District, shared with Burlington, Dover, Norway, Rochester, Vernon, Waterford and Waterford. Its middle school is in Burlington. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Burlington

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Burlington Area School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 8 schools · 2,876 students, up 4% since 2023–24 · 15.4 per teacher (WI 13.6)
$14,544WI $16,459 · FY2024
B
Waterford Union High School DistrictGrades 9–12 · 1 schools · 889 students, down 6% since 2020–21 · 13.0 per teacher (WI 13.6)
$23,692WI $16,459 · FY2024
B+
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading · PK–12, Burlington Area School District44%
State average 38.1% · 1432 students tested
Math · PK–12, Burlington Area School District44%
State average 38.7% · 1432 students tested
Reading · 9–12, Waterford Union High School District42%
State average 38.1% · 263 students tested
Math · 9–12, Waterford Union High School District44%
State average 38.7% · 263 students tested

Burlington vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Wisconsin towns that share Burlington’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
BurlingtonBBurlington Area PK–12 · Waterford Union High 9–12
LyonsB+Lake Geneva Joint No. 1 PK–8 · Burlington Area PK–12 · Lake Geneva-Genoa City Union High 9–12
Spring PrairieBBurlington Area PK–12 · East Troy PK–12 · Lake Geneva-Genoa City Union High 9–12
WheatlandB+Wheatland Joint No. 1 PK–8 · Westosha Central High 9–12
RochesterB+Waterford Joint No. 1 PK–8 · Burlington Area PK–12 · Waterford Union High 9–12

3 of the 4 neighbors share Burlington Area with Burlington for grades PK–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.

Every school in Burlington

4 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Wisconsin’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Burlingtonby address
Winkler Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–4
A+
207 students12:1Rate it →
Also serving Burlingtonin other towns
Karcher Middle School
Middle · Grades 5–8
B
779 students16:1Rate it →
Waterford High
High · Grades 9–12 · Waterford
B
889 students13:1Rate it →
Burlington High School
High · Grades 9–12
B−
880 students16:1Rate it →

Questions about Burlington’s schools

Are Burlington’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of Wisconsin: the public schools Burlington children attend outscore 60% of Wisconsin’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade, #185 of 362 Wisconsin towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 56%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Burlington in?

Two districts: Burlington Area School District runs grades PK–12, and Waterford Union High School District runs grades 9–12, shared with Burlington, Dover, Norway, Rochester, Vernon, Waterford and Waterford.

Where do Burlington kids go to high school?

One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Waterford High and Burlington High School.

What is Burlington’s graduation rate?

96% of the class of 2023 in Waterford Union High School District graduated in four years, against 90% across Wisconsin.

How much does Burlington spend per student?

$14,544 in Burlington Area School District and $23,692 in Waterford Union High School District (FY2024), against $16,459 across Wisconsin. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Burlington families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Burlington → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Wisconsin. Stars are from neighbors.