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Excellent

#112 of 2,105 schools in WI

Top 5% in state

Prairie Elementary

Elementary School · Waukesha School District

1801 Center Rd, Waukesha, WI 53189

Enrollment

326

Student-Teacher

13:1

Score

8.9

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Wisconsin schools

#112 of 2,105

In Waukesha

#1 of 27

public schools

In district

#1 of 26

Waukesha School District

Academic growth

9.6 / 10

Excellent

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Prairie Elementary

8.9/10

Elementary School in Waukesha · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

South High

5.1/10

1.4 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Eachieve Elementary

6.4/10

1.7 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Prairie Elementary

Prairie Elementary is a public elementary school in Waukesha, WI, part of Waukesha School District. Prairie Elementary serves approximately 326 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 13:1 student-teacher ratio. Prairie Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.9 out of 10 and ranks #112 of 2,105 schools in WI.

Structured state assessment records for Prairie Elementary show 58% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 51% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares1.2 pts above district
  • This school 8.9 · Excellent
  • District avg 7.8
  • WI avg 6.8

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress9.6Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change+0.07 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendStable
Academics9.2Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency73.3% (2025 FORWARD)
Reading/ELA Proficiency69.1% (2025 FORWARD)
Math vs. State Avg+19 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+17.9 pts
Overall Proficiency71% (2025 FORWARD, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)55% (model expectation from 2025 FORWARD)
vs. Expected+15.8 pts
Adjusted Percentile88th
Resources & Environment6.9Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio13:1
Per-Pupil Spending$12,969
Chronic Absenteeism14.4%

Prairie Elementary — Students at Prairie Elementary score 71% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 55%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

28.2%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores WI FORWARD (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 58.2% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
53.0% (2025 FORWARD)
ELA Proficiency 51.0% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
50.9% (2025 FORWARD)

Based on 34 test records from WI state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
71%
ELA
79%
2010
Math
72%
ELA
82%
2011
Math
47%
ELA
32%
2012
Math
42%
ELA
32%
2013
Math
52%
ELA
27%
2014
Math
52%
ELA
52%
2015
Math
57%
ELA
32%
2016
Math
62%
ELA
42%
2017
Math
47%
ELA
37%
2018
Math
52%
ELA
52%
2019
Math
52%
ELA
52%
2020*
Math
52%
ELA
47%
2021*
Math
52%
ELA
47%
2022
Math
60.4%
ELA
47.1%
2025
Math
73.3%
ELA
69.1%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 9.6/10.

How Prairie Elementary Compares

See how Prairie Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.9/10
95th percentile in WI
Academic
9.2/10
Excellent
Growth
9.6/10
Excellent
Environment
6.9/10
Average
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
28%
Teaching Staff
13:1 student-teacher ratio
25 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
14.4%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

1801 Center Rd, Waukesha, WI 53189

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Prairie Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Waukesha STEM Academy (rated 8.4/10, 1.8 miles away), with a comparable rating. Another option is La Casa de Esperanza Charter School (rated 8.2/10, 2.4 miles away), with a comparable rating. Additionally, White Rock School (rated 8.1/10, 2.7 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Waukesha, see our Waukesha schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.7 mi
School Distance Rating
South High Waukesha 1.4 mi 5.1
eAchieve Elementary Waukesha 1.7 mi 6.4
eAchieve Academy - Wisconsin Waukesha 1.7 mi 3.7
Waukesha Academy of Health Professions Waukesha 1.4 mi 5.0
Waukesha Engineering Preparatory Academy Waukesha 1.4 mi 6.7
Les Paul Middle Waukesha 1.9 mi 7.9
Waukesha STEM Academy Waukesha 1.8 mi 8.4
MOUNT CALVARY LUTHERAN SCHOOL Waukesha 2.1 mi 5.9
WAUKESHA CATHOLIC SCHOOL Waukesha 1.8 mi 7.5
Butler Middle Waukesha 2.4 mi 6.7
West High Waukesha 1.9 mi 5.6
Lowell Elementary Waukesha 2.4 mi 7.6
Heyer Elementary Waukesha 1.9 mi 6.6
Bethesda Elementary Waukesha 2.2 mi 7.3
La Casa de Esperanza Charter School Waukesha 2.4 mi 8.2
TRINITY LUTHERAN SCHOOL Waukesha 2.5 mi 6.2
North High Waukesha 2.6 mi 4.8
Hadfield Elementary Waukesha 2.4 mi 5.6
White Rock School Waukesha 2.7 mi 8.1
Waukesha East Alternative School Waukesha 2.7 mi 6.2

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 53189 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$114,555

Median Home Value

$372,600

Median Rent

$1,206/mo

Population

26,607

College Educated

45.4%

Homeownership

81.7%

Avg Commute

25.3 min

Poverty Rate

5.4%

Median Age

43.2

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
E W Luther Elementary South Milwaukee, WI 8.9
Eastview Elementary Lake Geneva, WI 8.9
Hayward Intermediate Hayward, WI 8.9
Ixonia Elementary Ixonia, WI 8.9
Jackson Elementary Jackson, WI 8.9
Lakeshore Elementary Fond Du Lac, WI 8.9

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Prairie Elementary

What grades does Prairie Elementary serve?

Prairie Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Prairie Elementary?

Prairie Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 326 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Prairie Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Prairie Elementary is 13:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Prairie Elementary rank in WI?

Prairie Elementary ranks #112 of 2,105 schools in WI.

What is Prairie Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Prairie Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.9 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Prairie Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Prairie Elementary has 58% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 51% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Prairie Elementary a charter school?

No, Prairie Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Prairie Elementary a Title I school?

No, Prairie Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Prairie Elementary?

28.2% of students at Prairie Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
33 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
25 Some Transit
Bike Score
36 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
326
Student-Teacher Ratio
13:1
Teachers (FTE)
25
Free/Reduced Lunch
28.2%
Type
regular
Setting
Small City
County
Waukesha County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
14.4%

District

Waukesha School District
District Enrollment
11,318
Schools in District
27
Per-Pupil Spending
$12,969
District Rank
#1 of 26

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