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Main Street Commercial Historic District Watertown WisconsinPhoto: I, the copyright holder of this work, hereby publish it under the following license: · CC BY-SA 3.0
C+
Schools in Watertown · Watertown School District

Watertown’s public schools score below 63% of Wisconsin districts on tests and graduation

The grade covers the public school district serving Watertown, 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.

#278of 362 Wisconsin townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Wisconsin state tests taken in spring 2022, when 94% 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
34%
▼ 4 pts vs WI 38%
2021–22
Math proficiency
35%
▼ 4 pts vs WI 39%
2021–22
Graduate on time
93%
▲ 2 pts vs WI 90%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$16.0K
▼ 3% vs WI $16.5K
FY2024
Students per teacher
13.5
WI 13.6
Schools in town
20
2,838 students on the public path
In brief

Watertown’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 1160 Wisconsin towns with household incomes within a quarter of Watertown’s, its schools beat 43%, higher than their 37% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 34% of tested students were proficient in reading and 35% in math, against 38% and 39% statewide; 94% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

93% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 90% across Wisconsin. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $16,044 per student, against $16,459 across Wisconsin (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Four elementary schools, then one middle and one high school

Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 6 the district’s path is Riverside Middle, then Watertown High. Enrollment is down 7% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Endeavor Charter School, Luther Preparatory School (private), St. Marks Evangelical Lutheran School (private), St. John's Lutheran School (private), Good Shepherd Lutheran School (private), Calvary Baptist Christian School (private), Trinity-St. Lukes Lutheran Elementary School (private), St. Henry Catholic School (private), Trinity St. Lukes Lutheran Middle School (private), Maranatha Baptist Academy (private), Watertown Catholic School, St. Bernards Campus (private), Faith Lutheran School (private) and St. Jude Academy (private) are in town. eCampus Academy Charter School, an online school, is based here too; it isn’t counted as a local school. Every school ↓

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 Watertown’s grade

C Test scoresC+ Graduation

C+: better than 37% of Wisconsin school districts, #278 of 362 Wisconsin towns. Graduation is above the Wisconsin average; test scores are below it.

Wisconsin school districts we grade (441)Better than 37%
Lower resultsHigher results
Wisconsin towns with similar household incomes (1160)Better than 43%
CB−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,531 test results and a graduating class of 277 could put Watertown anywhere from C to B−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 94% of Watertown’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,533 in math, 1,529 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
K–54 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressC to A
6–8Riverside MiddleWatertown School DistrictC+
9–12Watertown HighWatertown School DistrictC−

Watertown’s public schools are run by Watertown School District, which also serves Concord, Emmet, Ixonia and Lebanon and others. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

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

Test scores · 2021–22

Below the state in reading

Reading34%
State average 38.1% · 1529 students tested
Math35%
State average 38.7% · 1533 students tested

Watertown vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
WatertownC+Watertown
EmmetC+Watertown

Every school in Watertown

21 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 Watertownby address
Charter schoolsfree, open by application
Online schools based in Watertownnot counted as local schools
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade

Questions about Watertown’s schools

Are Watertown’s schools good?

On Wisconsin’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Watertown children attend score below 63% of Wisconsin’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C+ Schools grade, #278 of 362 Wisconsin towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 43%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Watertown in?

Watertown School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 3,076 students in 10 schools (2024–25).

Where do Watertown kids go to high school?

Watertown High, with 1,012 students; its own test results earn a C−.

What is Watertown’s graduation rate?

93% of the class of 2023 in Watertown School District graduated in four years, against 90% across Wisconsin.

How much does Watertown spend per student?

$16,044 in Watertown School District (FY2024), against $16,459 across Wisconsin. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Watertown?

Yes: Luther Preparatory School (religious, grades 9–12, 409 students), St. Marks Evangelical Lutheran School (religious, grades PK–8, 212 students), St. John's Lutheran School (religious, grades PK–8, 180 students), Good Shepherd Lutheran School (religious, grades PK–8, 166 students), Calvary Baptist Christian School (religious, grades PK–8, 160 students), Trinity-St. Lukes Lutheran Elementary School (religious, grades PK–8, 139 students), St. Henry Catholic School (Catholic, grades 1–8, 102 students), Trinity St. Lukes Lutheran Middle School (religious, grades 3–8, 88 students), Maranatha Baptist Academy (religious, grades 9–12, 65 students), Watertown Catholic School, St. Bernards Campus (Catholic, grades PK–K, 22 students), Faith Lutheran School (religious, grades PK–5, 21 students) and St. Jude Academy (Catholic, grades 9–11, 5 students). Watertown also has 1 charter school, free and open by application.

Parents talk

What Watertown families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Watertown → 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.