What share of students in Wisconsin are proficient in math?

In 2024, 37% of eighth graders in Wisconsin public schools were at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics (3rd highest among the 50 states and DC) and 31% in reading, compared with 41% and 39% in 2019 (national public 2024: 27% and 29%).

Education in Wisconsin, United States: official figures

90.3% of public high school students in Wisconsin graduated within four years of starting ninth grade in the 2021-22 school year (the adjusted cohort graduation rate); 3rd highest among the 49 states (including DC) with data (U.S.: 86.6%).

High school graduation rate (4-year ACGR)

90.3%

2021-22

NAEP fourth-grade reading score

215

2024

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics score

283

2024

Current spending per pupil, public schools

$15,952

FY2024

Public school enrollment

814,202

Fall 2023

Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher

34.6%

2024

Is the graduation rate in Wisconsin rising?

The four-year graduation rate in Wisconsin was 90.3% in 2021-22, compared with 88% in 2011-12 and 90.1% in 2018-19, before the pandemic; nationally the rate went from 80% in 2011-12 to 86.6% in 2021-22.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the graduation rate for disadvantaged students in Wisconsin?

In 2021-22 the four-year graduation rate in Wisconsin was 81.4% for economically disadvantaged students, 72.8% for students with disabilities and 76.0% for English learners (U.S.: 81.3%, 71.4%, 72.1% respectively).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the graduation rate by race in Wisconsin?

By race and ethnicity, the 2021-22 graduation rate in Wisconsin was 70.9% for Black, 82.4% for Hispanic and 94.2% for White students (U.S.: 81.0%, 82.8%, 89.8%).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Wisconsin score in grade 4 reading?

Public school students in Wisconsin averaged 215 in fourth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 22nd highest among the 50 states and DC, down from 220 in 2019 (national public: 214, 219 in 2019). 31% scored at or above Proficient and 39% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Wisconsin score in grade 8 reading?

Public school students in Wisconsin averaged 260 in eighth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 12th highest among the 50 states and DC, down from 267 in 2019 (national public: 257, 262 in 2019). 31% scored at or above Proficient and 30% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Wisconsin score in grade 4 math?

Public school students in Wisconsin averaged 239 in fourth-grade mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 13th highest among the 50 states and DC, down from 242 in 2019 (national public: 237, 240 in 2019). 42% scored at or above Proficient and 23% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Wisconsin score in grade 8 math?

Public school students in Wisconsin averaged 283 in eighth-grade mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint the highest among the 50 states and DC, down from 289 in 2019 (national public: 272, 281 in 2019). 37% scored at or above Proficient and 31% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How much does Wisconsin spend per student?

Public school systems in Wisconsin spent $15,952 per pupil on current operations in fiscal year 2024, 25th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: $17,619), according to the Census Bureau's Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Is school spending per pupil in Wisconsin going up?

Current spending per pupil in Wisconsin rose from $12,598 in fiscal 2019 to $15,952 in fiscal 2024, up 26.6% before inflation (U.S.: up 33.6%); the change on fiscal 2023 was up 7.2%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What does Wisconsin spend school money on?

Of the $15,952 spent per pupil in Wisconsin in fiscal 2024, $9,157 went on instruction and $6,161 on support services; salaries and wages came to $8,669 per pupil and employee benefits $4,741.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Where does school funding in Wisconsin come from?

Public school systems in Wisconsin received $15.6 billion in revenue in fiscal 2024: 11.9% from the federal government, 52.1% from the state and 36.0% from local sources such as property taxes (U.S.: 11.6%, 45.2% and 43.2%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Wisconsin spend on public schools in total?

Total spending by public school systems in Wisconsin was $15.9 billion in fiscal 2024, of which $13.2 billion was current spending and $2.0 billion capital outlay on buildings and equipment; the systems owed $8.7 billion in debt at the end of the year.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many students are in public schools in Wisconsin?

814,202 pupils were enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools in Wisconsin in fall 2023, down 4.8% on fall 2019 (855,400) and down 6.9% on fall 2013; nationally enrollment was down 2.5% since 2019.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the student-teacher ratio in Wisconsin?

Public schools in Wisconsin had 60,011 full-time-equivalent teachers in fall 2022, about 13.7 pupils per teacher, joint 19th fewest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 15.4; Wisconsin in fall 2019: 14.3).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What percentage of people in Wisconsin have a college degree?

34.6% of adults aged 25 and over in Wisconsin, about 1,442,000 people, held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2024; 22nd lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 36.8%). That is up 2.1 percentage points on 2021 (32.5%), according to the American Community Survey.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Wisconsin have a graduate degree?

In 2024, 12.0% of adults 25 and over in Wisconsin had a graduate or professional degree and 11.6% an associate degree as their highest qualification (U.S.: 14.7% and 8.8%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many adults in Wisconsin did not finish high school?

93.7% of adults 25 and over in Wisconsin had at least a high school diploma or equivalent in 2024, leaving 6.3% without one; that share is joint 10th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 10.1%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Wisconsin compares with other states

Public high school 4-year graduation rate (ACGR) (2021-22)

Wisconsin ranks 3 of 49, highest first. Adjusted cohort graduation rate; New Mexico and Oklahoma did not report for 2021-22

Rank	Region	Public high school 4-year graduation rate (ACGR)
1	West Virginia	91.2%
2	Tennessee	90.4%
3	Wisconsin	90.3%
4	Massachusetts	90.1%
5	Kentucky	90.1%
6	Iowa	89.9%
7	Missouri	89.8%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Graduation rate of economically disadvantaged students (2021-22)

Wisconsin ranks 19 of 48, highest first. Adjusted cohort graduation rate

Rank	Region	Graduation rate of economically disadvantaged students
16	Missouri	81.7%
17	New York	81.6%
18	Nevada	81.5%
19	Wisconsin	81.4%
20	Delaware	81.0%
21	Oregon	80.7%
22	Pennsylvania	80.1%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score (2024)

Wisconsin ranks 24 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score
21	North Dakota	216
22	New York	215
23	Tennessee	215
24	Wisconsin	215
25	South Carolina	215
26	Iowa	215
27	Illinois	214

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score (2024)

Wisconsin ranks 13 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score
10	Idaho	261
11	Montana	261
12	Ohio	260
13	Wisconsin	260
14	Minnesota	260
15	South Dakota	260
16	Wyoming	260

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

Wisconsin ranks 16 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score
13	Ohio	239
14	North Carolina	239
15	Colorado	239
16	Wisconsin	239
17	Connecticut	239
18	Mississippi	239
19	Hawaii	239

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

Wisconsin ranks 2 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score
1	Massachusetts	283
2	Wisconsin	283
3	New Jersey	282
4	Minnesota	282
5	Utah	282
6	South Dakota	281
7	Nebraska	280

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Eighth graders at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics (2024)

Wisconsin ranks 3 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Eighth graders at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics
1	Massachusetts	37.2%
2	New Jersey	36.8%
3	Wisconsin	36.5%
4	Utah	35.1%
5	Minnesota	34.0%
6	South Dakota	33.3%
7	Colorado	32.5%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading (2024)

Wisconsin ranks 35 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading
32	Minnesota	39.1%
33	Hawaii	39.1%
34	Tennessee	38.9%
35	Wisconsin	38.8%
36	Idaho	38.6%
37	North Dakota	38.4%
38	Ohio	38.2%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Current spending per pupil, public schools (FY2024)

Wisconsin ranks 27 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau Annual Survey of School System Finances

Rank	Region	Current spending per pupil, public schools
24	North Dakota	$17,102
25	Minnesota	$17,098
26	Nebraska	$16,147
27	Wisconsin	$15,952
28	Colorado	$15,908
29	Georgia	$15,833
30	West Virginia	$15,640

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Change in current spending per pupil since FY2019 (FY2019-FY2024)

Wisconsin ranks 43 of 51, highest first. Current dollars, not adjusted for inflation

Rank	Region	Change in current spending per pupil since FY2019
40	Missouri	+27.1%
41	New York	+27.0%
42	Nebraska	+26.7%
43	Wisconsin	+26.6%
44	South Dakota	+26.5%
45	Wyoming	+25.9%
46	Pennsylvania	+25.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Share of public school revenue from local sources (FY2024)

Wisconsin ranks 32 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau

Rank	Region	Share of public school revenue from local sources
29	North Dakota	38.4%
30	Oregon	37.7%
31	Kentucky	37.0%
32	Wisconsin	36.0%
33	West Virginia	35.6%
34	California	35.0%
35	Arizona	34.7%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Pupils per teacher, public schools (Fall 2022)

Wisconsin ranks 32 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Pupils per teacher, public schools
29	Nebraska	13.8
30	South Dakota	13.8
31	Illinois	13.7
32	Wisconsin	13.7
33	Montana	13.7
34	Virginia	13.6
35	West Virginia	13.5

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Change in public school enrollment, fall 2019 to fall 2023 (2019-2023)

Wisconsin ranks 38 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Change in public school enrollment, fall 2019 to fall 2023
35	Maine	-4.3%
36	Michigan	-4.6%
37	Massachusetts	-4.6%
38	Wisconsin	-4.8%
39	Illinois	-5.0%
40	Kentucky	-5.0%
41	Vermont	-5.0%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Adults 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher (2024)

Wisconsin ranks 30 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher
27	Nebraska	35.4%
28	Texas	35.2%
29	Arizona	34.7%
30	Wisconsin	34.6%
31	South Dakota	34.2%
32	North Dakota	34.0%
33	Missouri	33.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Adults 25 and over without a high school diploma or equivalent (2024)

Wisconsin ranks 42 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over without a high school diploma or equivalent
39	Colorado	6.8%
40	Alaska	6.6%
41	Utah	6.4%
42	Wisconsin	6.3%
43	Hawaii	6.3%
44	South Dakota	6.0%
45	North Dakota	5.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 219.46: Public high school 4-year adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR), by selected student characteristics and state, 2011-12 through 2021-22, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1913b92e5e75…)
U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Educational attainment for the population 25 years and over (B15003), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0c933281d2c2…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2024, Table 203.20: Enrollment in public elementary and secondary schools, by state, fall 1990 through fall 2023 (Common Core of Data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 8e370b60d62a…)
U.S. Census Bureau: 2024 Annual Survey of School System Finances: summary tables (Public Elementary-Secondary Education Finance Data, fiscal year 2024), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 848133174f29…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP mathematics grade 4, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 913ed194a3d5…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP mathematics grade 8, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7dc207d5418d…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP reading grade 4, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7da857933d83…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP reading grade 8, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 790de8a24822…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 208.40: Public elementary and secondary teachers, enrollment, and pupil/teacher ratios, by state, fall 2000 through fall 2022 (Common Core of Data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c15568f58c4c…)

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