Best Schools in Wausau, Wisconsin
27 schools · 18 Elementary · 3 Middle · 4 High · 2 Other
Choosing a school in Wausau?
Use this page to compare every school in Wausau by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
South Mountain Elementary
Elementary · Wausau School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Thomas Jefferson Elementary
Elementary · Wausau School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Rib Mountain Elementary
Elementary · Wausau School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Wausau for 2026 are South Mountain Elementary (8.7/10), Thomas Jefferson Elementary (8.5/10), and Rib Mountain Elementary (8.0/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 24 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
27
20 public · 7 private
Avg Score
6.5
out of 10
Median Home
$182,750
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Schools
27
20 public · 7 private
Avg Score
6.5
out of 10
Median Home
$182,750
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Rates 8.7/10 despite 22% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.0 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Wausau schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Wausau
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (24 of 27). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Mountain Elementary | 8.7 / 10 |
| 2 | Thomas Jefferson Elementary | 8.5 / 10 |
| 3 | Rib Mountain Elementary | 8.0 / 10 |
| 4 | Grant Elementary | 7.9 / 10 |
| 5 | Stettin Elementary | 7.8 / 10 |
| 6 | Horace Mann Middle | 7.3 / 10 |
| 7 | John Muir Middle | 7.2 / 10 |
| 8 | Wausau Area Montessori Charter School | 7.2 / 10 |
| 9 | Newman Catholic Schools | 6.8 / 10 |
| 10 | Maine Elementary | 6.5 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 6.5/10
- Median household income
- $67,791
- Median home value
- $182,750
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 32%
- Avg commute
- 17 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 66%
33% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Wausau compares
Wisconsin rank
#159 of 324
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.2
above Wisconsin avg (6.4)
Median household income
$68k
87% of Wisconsin median
Schools in this city
24
About Schools in Wausau, Wisconsin
Wausau's public school system covers 20 ranked schools with an average score of 6.4 out of 10 — a solid mid-range result that masks a clear split between the city's strongest performers and the broader field. Parents here get meaningful choice: 8 of 20 schools, or 40 percent of the district, score 7 or higher, giving families in the right attendance zones access to schools that outperform the majority of peers statewide.
The top of the rankings is dominated by elementary schools. South Mountain Elementary, Grant Elementary, and Rib Mountain Elementary each earn an 8.4 out of 10 — the highest scores in the city and a strong signal that Wausau's elementary tier punches well above the district average. Hawthorn Hills Elementary follows at 7.7, with Stettin Elementary rounding out the upper tier at 7.2. Five of the eight schools scoring 7 or above are at the elementary level, which means parents of younger children have the most options when targeting high-performing campuses.
The practical implication is that school selection in Wausau is most consequential at the middle and high school levels, where the concentration of top-rated campuses thins out compared to the elementary tier. Families should map their home address against attendance boundaries before committing, since the gap between the 8.4-rated top schools and the district's 6.4 average is wide enough to matter. For parents with flexibility in where they live, the northwest and suburban-fringe areas hosting Rib Mountain and Stettin elementaries offer competitive options alongside the city-center schools.
Overall, Wausau is a functional district with a defined performance ceiling at the elementary level and meaningful variance across the full 20-school landscape. Parents who identify the right attendance zone early — particularly around South Mountain, Grant, and Rib Mountain — will find schools performing well above the district norm. Those unable to access those zones should weigh open enrollment options and look closely at individual school scores rather than relying on the district average.
Elementary Schools
18 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 223 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.7 |
| 2 | 375 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.5 |
| 3 | 209 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.0 |
| 4 | 172 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.9 |
| 5 | 313 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.8 |
| 6 | 101 students · Kindergarten–8th | 7.2 |
| 7 | 240 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.5 |
| 8 | 198 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.5 |
| 9 | 222 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.2 |
| 10 | 547 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.1 |
Show all 18 elementary schools in Wausau
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 662 students · 6th–8th | 7.3 | ||
| 2 | 977 students · 6th–8th | 7.2 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Hillside Christian SchoolPrivate 7 students · 1st–6th | Not Rated | ||
High Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 33 students · 6th–12th | 6.4 | ||
| 2 | 1,443 students · 9th–12th | 5.1 | ||
| 3 | 897 students · 9th–12th | 5.0 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Newman Catholic High SchoolPrivate 241 students · 6th–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 175 students · Kindergarten–12th | 4.6 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Newman Catholic SchoolsPrivate 501 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in Wausau
Wausau, Wisconsin · 27 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes
Median Income
$67,791
Median Home Value
$182,750
Median Rent
$956/mo
Population
56,406
College Educated
32%
Homeownership
66%
Avg Commute
17 min
Poverty Rate
11.7%
Community Profile
Wausau has a median household income of $67,791. It is an area where 32% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $182,750, with a median rent of $956/month. The area has a poverty rate of 11.7%. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 17 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Wisconsin
- Elementary
- 18
- Middle
- 3
- High
- 4
- Other
- 2
School District
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in Wisconsin
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Wausau, Wisconsin
How many schools are in Wausau, Wisconsin?
Wausau has 27 schools, including 20 public and 7 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Wausau, Wisconsin?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Wausau is 6.5 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Wausau, Wisconsin?
The top-ranked school in Wausau on MySchoolScout is South Mountain Elementary with a composite score of 8.7/10.
What is the best elementary school in Wausau, Wisconsin?
The top-ranked elementary school in Wausau on MySchoolScout is South Mountain Elementary with a composite score of 8.7/10.
What is the best middle school in Wausau, Wisconsin?
The top-ranked middle school in Wausau on MySchoolScout is Horace Mann Middle with a composite score of 7.3/10.
What is the best high school in Wausau, Wisconsin?
The top-ranked high school in Wausau on MySchoolScout is Enrich Excel Achieve Learning Academy with a composite score of 6.4/10.
How many school districts serve Wausau, Wisconsin?
Wausau is served by 1 school district: Wausau School District.
What is the education level in Wausau, Wisconsin?
According to Census data, 32% of adults in Wausau have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Wausau, Wisconsin?
The median household income in Wausau is approximately $67,791 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Wausau, Wisconsin?
Yes, Wausau has 7 private schools alongside 20 public schools. The top-rated private school is Newman Catholic Schools with a score of 6.8/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Wausau, Wisconsin?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Wausau is 11.8:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Wausau, Wisconsin?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Wisconsin Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.