6.5 avg / 10

Best Schools in Wausau, Wisconsin

27 schools · 18 Elementary · 3 Middle · 4 High · 2 Other

Last updated: May 2026

Public: 20

Private: 7

Districts: 1

Avg Rating: 6.5/10

Estimated Scores: 17%

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%

How Wausau compares

Wisconsin rank

#168 of 324

cities by avg. school score

Vs. state average

+0.1

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.

Filter by Level: All Levels (27) Elementary (18) Middle (3) High (4)

Filter by Type: All Types (27) Public (20) Private (7)

Filter by Rating: All Ratings (27) Academics (27) Growth (20) Diversity (20) Resources (20)

Filter by ZIP: 54401 (16) 54403 (10)

Elementary Schools

18 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Grant Elementary 172 students · Kindergarten–5th	172	Kindergarten–5th	8.6
2	South Mountain Elementary 223 students · Kindergarten–5th	223	Kindergarten–5th	8.1
3	Rib Mountain Elementary 209 students · Kindergarten–5th	209	Kindergarten–5th	8.1
4	Hawthorn Hills Elementary 198 students · Pre-K–5th	198	Pre-K–5th	8.0
5	Stettin Elementary 313 students · Kindergarten–5th	313	Kindergarten–5th	7.1
6	Thomas Jefferson Elementary 375 students · Pre-K–5th	375	Pre-K–5th	7.0
7	Maine Elementary 240 students · Kindergarten–5th	240	Kindergarten–5th	6.8
8	Franklin Elementary 191 students · Kindergarten–5th	191	Kindergarten–5th	6.3
9	Wausau Area Montessori Charter School 101 students · Kindergarten–8th	101	Kindergarten–8th	6.3
10	Lincoln Elementary 222 students · Kindergarten–5th	222	Kindergarten–5th	6.1
11	G D Jones Elementary 547 students · Pre-K–5th	547	Pre-K–5th	5.6
12	Hewitt-Texas Elementary 87 students · Kindergarten–5th	87	Kindergarten–5th	5.4
13	John Marshall Elementary 223 students · Kindergarten–5th	223	Kindergarten–5th	5.1
14	Riverview Elementary 495 students · Pre-K–5th	495	Pre-K–5th	5.1
Private Schools 4 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.
1	ST JOHN LUTHERAN SCHOOL Private 33 students · Kindergarten–8th	33	Kindergarten–8th	Not Rated
2	TRINITY LUTHERAN SCHOOL Private 155 students · Pre-K–8th	155	Pre-K–8th	Not Rated
3	OUR SAVIORS LUTHERAN SCHOOL Private 23 students · Pre-K–7th	23	Pre-K–7th	Not Rated
4	MOUNTAIN VIEW MONTESSORI Private 12 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten	12	Pre-K–Kindergarten	Not Rated

Middle Schools

3 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Horace Mann Middle 662 students · 6th–8th	662	6th–8th	6.9
2	John Muir Middle 977 students · 6th–8th	977	6th–8th	6.6
Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.
1	HILLSIDE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Private 7 students · 1st–6th	7	1st–6th	Not Rated

High Schools

4 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	West High 1,443 students · 9th–12th	1,443	9th–12th	6.5
2	East High 897 students · 9th–12th	897	9th–12th	5.8
3	Enrich Excel Achieve Learning Academy 33 students · 6th–12th	33	6th–12th	4.9
Private Schools 1 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 SCHOOL Private 241 students · 6th–12th	241	6th–12th	Not Rated

Other Schools

2 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Wausau Area Virtual Education 175 students · Kindergarten–12th	175	Kindergarten–12th	5.3
Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.
1	NEWMAN CATHOLIC SCHOOLS Private 501 students · Pre-K–12th	501	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.

Quick Facts

State: Wisconsin
Total Schools: 27
Elementary: 18
Middle: 3
High: 4
Districts: 1
Avg Rating: 6.5/10

Resources

🔍 Google "Wausau schools" 🏫 GreatSchools Wausau 📊 Niche Wausau Rankings 📍 Google Maps: Schools

School District

Wausau School District

20 schools · 7,783 students

Nearby Cities

Rothschild (4 schools)

7 mi

Kronenwetter (1 school)

Junction City (1 school)

27 mi

Athens (6 schools)

21 mi

Birnamwood (1 school)

21 mi

Custer (1 school)

29 mi

Other Major Cities in Wisconsin

Top metros statewide by school count.

Milwaukee 254 schools Madison 85 schools Green Bay 80 schools Appleton 52 schools Kenosha 47 schools

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

Frequently 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, based on academic achievement, student growth, equity, and school environment.

What is the top-ranked school in Wausau, Wisconsin?

The top-ranked school in Wausau on MySchoolScout is Grant Elementary with a composite score of 8.6/10.

What is the best elementary school in Wausau, Wisconsin?

The top-ranked elementary school in Wausau on MySchoolScout is Grant Elementary with a composite score of 8.6/10.

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 6.9/10.

What is the best high school in Wausau, Wisconsin?

The top-ranked high school in Wausau on MySchoolScout is West High with a composite score of 6.5/10.

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 based on four components: Academic Achievement, Student Growth, Equity, and School Environment.