West Bend School District, WI

Original Research by School Decision on West Bend School District

The West Bend School District serves a substantial student population from early childhood through twelfth grade in Washington County. The student body is predominantly white, with Hispanic students representing the largest minority group, followed by students who identify as two or more races and Black students. The district draws from a mix of communities, including the city of West Bend, the village of Jackson, and portions of neighboring towns, with housing values that sit above the national median and have seen notable recent appreciation. Rents vary across the area, and the overall cost of housing is a meaningful factor for families considering a move into the district.

On state assessments, the district’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades places it in the bottom quartile among Washington County’s districts. This is a soft spot that a parent may want to look into further with the school. That said, the proficiency results across individual grade levels and subjects show variation. In elementary grades, math proficiency rates hover in the mid-sixties to low seventies, while English language arts rates are in the low sixties, with a slight uptick in fourth grade. Middle school results show a wider range, with sixth grade hitting the mid-seventies in both math and ELA, but eighth grade dipping to the low sixties in math and below sixty percent in ELA. Science proficiency at fourth grade is in the low sixties, dropping to the mid-fifties by eighth grade. Social studies, tested in fourth and eighth grades, is a relative strength, with both grades scoring in the mid-seventies. The chronic absenteeism rate is above the midpoint among the county’s districts, meaning it is lower than the median, which is a positive indicator for consistent student attendance.

Per-pupil current spending is in the upper half of the middle range among Washington County’s districts, suggesting a level of investment that is neither the highest nor the lowest in the area. Data on the share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, as well as special education and English learner populations, was not available, which limits a full picture of the district’s socioeconomic and support needs.

The district operates a network of elementary schools, intermediate and middle schools, two high schools, and an early childhood center. The most consequential development for families is the planned consolidation of East High and West High into a single high school, beginning in the 2027-28 school year. The school board voted unanimously on this change in March 2026, ending a decades-long arrangement where the two schools shared a campus but operated separately with students assigned by birth date. This will reshape the high school experience, affecting athletics, staffing, and the broader school identity that has defined the district for many years.

Program offerings, such as Advanced Placement, dual-credit, or career and technical education pathways, were not detailed in the available data. A parent seeking this information would want to check directly with the district or the individual high schools.

For a family considering the West Bend area, the district offers a large, traditional public school setting in a county where housing costs are above the national average but still within reach for many buyers. The academic picture is mixed, with some grade levels and subjects showing solid results while the overall proficiency index is on the lower end relative to neighboring districts. The upcoming high school consolidation is a major change that current and prospective families will want to understand fully, as it will redefine the upper grades.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

5,591

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 9%

Black 4%

White 80%

Asian 2%

Two+ 5%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

47%

72%

Gr 4

41%

72%

Gr 5

49%

69%

Gr 6

57%

79%

Gr 7

50%

75%

Gr 8

43%

69%

Math

Gr 3

48%

72%

Gr 4

45%

80%

Gr 5

47%

77%

Gr 6

64%

79%

Gr 7

46%

73%

Gr 8

39%

75%

Science

Gr 4

42%

72%

Gr 8

39%

66%

Social studies

Gr 4

56%

84%

Gr 8

56%

84%

source_specific:read

Gr 3

45%

67%

Gr 4

42%

67%

Gr 5

44%

67%

Gr 6

51%

74%

Gr 7

43%

66%

Gr 8

37%

60%

source_specific:wri

Gr 3

52%

75%

Gr 4

46%

75%

Gr 5

51%

70%

Gr 6

58%

81%

Gr 7

50%

79%

Gr 8

43%

74%

Schools in this District

12 schools are officially reported under this district.

Green Tree Elementary

Jackson Elementary

McLane Elementary

Silverbrook Intermediate

West High

Washington Street School

Rolf's Early Childhood Center

West Bend School District 4K

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

6 grades reported

63%

Grade 3

70%

Grade 4

66%

Grade 5

74%

Grade 6

64%

Grade 7

62%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

62%

Grade 3

63%

Grade 4

62%

Grade 5

72%

Grade 6

66%

Grade 7

60%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

63%

Grade 4

57%

Grade 8

Social Studies

2 grades reported

76%

Grade 4

74%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$405,112

Year-over-year change+7.3%

Range across 5 ZIP codes$370K to $540K

vs. state typical1.21x

vs. national typical1.10x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (5 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
53095	West Bend	$404K	+7.6%	56.8%
53090	West Bend	$370K	+7.7%	27.7%
53037	Jackson	$415K	+6.3%	8.1%
53012	Cedarburg	$540K	+4.5%	6.9%
53040	Kewaskum	$396K	+7.0%	0.5%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,484/mo

Range across 3 ZIP codes$1,130 to $2,163/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (3 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
53095	West Bend	$1,130	—	56.8%
53090	West Bend	$2,163	—	27.7%
53012	Cedarburg	$1,673	—	6.9%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$2,044/mo

Home price / national median income4.8x

Annual rent / national median income21.3%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$560/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$333,909 (+5.4% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.