Photo: I, the copyright holder of this work, hereby publish it under the following license: · CC BY-SA 3.0Rochester’s public schools outscore 74% of Wisconsin districts
48% of students in Rochester’s public schools are proficient in math, above the Wisconsin average (39%). The grade covers the three public school districts serving Rochester, 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.
From Wisconsin state tests taken in spring 2022, when 98% 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.
Rochester’s schools, in brief
Above the state on both counts
Reading proficiency is 46% and math 48% across its 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
Waterford Union High spends $23,692 per student and Waterford Joint No. 1 $19,555, against $16,459 across Wisconsin (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓
Seven elementary schools, then two middle and two high schools
Which school depends on the address at every step. See the path ↓
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.
What’s behind Rochester’s grade
B+: better than 74% of Wisconsin school districts, #123 of 362 Wisconsin towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Wisconsin average; test scores are the stronger of the two.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Rochester, with each school’s own grade.
6th grade in Rochester · depends on your address
Karcher Middle School
Grades 5–8 · 779 students · 16:1 students per teacher · in Burlington
Fox River Middle
Grades 6–8 · 510 students · 16:1 students per teacher · in Waterford
Cooper Montessori
Grades PK–6 · 225 students · 18:1 students per teacher · in Burlington
7th grade in Rochester · depends on your address
Karcher Middle School
Grades 5–8 · 779 students · 16:1 students per teacher · in Burlington
Fox River Middle
Grades 6–8 · 510 students · 16:1 students per teacher · in Waterford
8th grade in Rochester · depends on your address
Karcher Middle School
Grades 5–8 · 779 students · 16:1 students per teacher · in Burlington
Fox River Middle
Grades 6–8 · 510 students · 16:1 students per teacher · in Waterford
9th grade in Rochester · depends on your address
Waterford High
Grades 9–12 · 889 students · 13:1 students per teacher · in Waterford
Burlington High School
Grades 9–12 · 880 students · 16:1 students per teacher · in Burlington
10th grade in Rochester · depends on your address
Waterford High
Grades 9–12 · 889 students · 13:1 students per teacher · in Waterford
Burlington High School
Grades 9–12 · 880 students · 16:1 students per teacher · in Burlington
11th grade in Rochester · depends on your address
Waterford High
Grades 9–12 · 889 students · 13:1 students per teacher · in Waterford
Burlington High School
Grades 9–12 · 880 students · 16:1 students per teacher · in Burlington
12th grade in Rochester · depends on your address
Waterford High
Grades 9–12 · 889 students · 13:1 students per teacher · in Waterford
Burlington High School
Grades 9–12 · 880 students · 16:1 students per teacher · in Burlington
To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
Three districts serve Rochester
Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.
Well above the state in reading
Rochester vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Wisconsin towns that share Rochester’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Rochester | B+ | Waterford Joint No. 1 PK–8 · Burlington Area PK–12 · Waterford Union High 9–12 |
| Waterford | A | Waterford Joint No. 1 PK–8 · Waterford Union High 9–12 |
| Spring Prairie | B | Burlington Area PK–12 · East Troy PK–12 · Lake Geneva-Genoa City Union High 9–12 |
| Waterford (town) | — | Waterford Joint No. 1 PK–8 · Washington-Caldwell PK–8 · Waterford Union High 9–12 |
| Dover | B | Burlington Area PK–12 · Dover No. 1 PK–8 · Union Grove Union High 9–12 |
| Norway | A− | North Cape PK–8 · Waterford Union High 9–12 |
| Burlington | B | Burlington Area PK–12 · Waterford Union High 9–12 |
5 of the 6 neighbors share Waterford Union High with Rochester for grades 9–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.
Every school in Rochester
11 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).
Questions about Rochester’s schools
Are Rochester’s schools good?
By Wisconsin’s own tests, yes: the public schools Rochester children attend outscore 74% of Wisconsin’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade, #123 of 362 Wisconsin towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 76%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Rochester in?
Waterford Union High School District, which runs grades 9–12 and enrolls 889 students in 1 schools (2024–25).
Where do Rochester kids go to high school?
One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Waterford High and Burlington High School.
What is Rochester’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 Rochester spend per student?
$23,692 in Waterford Union High School District, $19,555 in Waterford Joint No. 1 School District and $14,544 in Burlington Area School District (FY2024), against $16,459 across Wisconsin. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Parents talk
What Rochester families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Rochester → 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.