Total enrollment
9,194
-1,324 (-13%) vs SY 2017-18
Jefferson County
Wisconsin · Public K-12
Jefferson County's school count of 31 reflects a public K-12 system serving about 9,194 students inside Wisconsin, around 11% of the county population. By level, that breaks down as 16 elementary, 7 middle, and 6 high schools.
7-year change in Jefferson County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
31
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
75%
was 79%
% Hispanic
19%
was 16%
% Black
1%
was 2%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
31
9 districts
Enrollment
9,194
NCES CCD
Median income
$83,750
Above Wisconsin avg
Free/reduced lunch
35.0%
Below Wisconsin avg
Elementary
16
3,715 students
Middle
7
2,173 students
High
6
2,540 students
Combined / other
2
766 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Fort Atkinson School District
2,263 students · 9 districts in Jefferson County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Jefferson County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
28.5%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
5.3%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.6%
civilian labor
Median age
42
19.7% under 18
Test scores in Jefferson County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 21 schools ranked. Wisconsin state average: 53.1%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Rockwell Elementary· 69.0%
- Luther Elementary· 67.8%
- Webster Elementary· 66.1%
- Palmyra-Eagle Middle· 66.0%
- Ixonia Elementary· 65.7%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Schurz Elementary· 32.3%
- Waterloo Intermediate· 42.7%
- Waterloo Middle· 46.4%
- Riverside Middle· 48.2%
- Waterloo Elementary· 49.4%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Atkinson High | Fort Atkinson | High | 09-12 | 816 | · |
| Johnson Creek Public School | Johnson Creek | Combined | PK-12 | 634 | · |
| Riverside Middle | Watertown | Middle | 06-08 | 616 | · |
| Lake Mills Elementary | Lake Mills | Elementary | PK-04 | 613 | · |
| Jefferson High | Jefferson | High | 09-12 | 603 | · |
| Fort Atkinson Middle | Fort Atkinson | Middle | 06-08 | 467 | · |
| Lake Mills High | Lake Mills | High | 09-12 | 447 | · |
| Lake Mills Middle | Lake Mills | Middle | 05-08 | 413 | · |
| Webster Elementary | Watertown | Elementary | PK-05 | 381 | · |
| Jefferson Middle | Jefferson | Middle | 06-08 | 349 | · |
| East Elementary | Jefferson | Elementary | PK-05 | 283 | · |
| Waterloo Elementary | Waterloo | Elementary | PK-04 | 281 | · |
| Cambridge High | Cambridge | High | 09-12 | 277 | · |
| Ixonia Elementary | Ixonia | Elementary | PK-04 | 256 | · |
| Luther Elementary | Fort Atkinson | Elementary | KG-05 | 238 | · |
| Purdy Elementary | Fort Atkinson | Elementary | PK-05 | 233 | · |
| West Elementary | Jefferson | Elementary | KG-05 | 233 | · |
| Waterloo High | Waterloo | High | 09-12 | 232 | · |
| Schurz Elementary | Watertown | Elementary | KG-05 | 223 | · |
| Barrie Elementary | Fort Atkinson | Elementary | KG-05 | 212 | · |
| Rockwell Elementary | Fort Atkinson | Elementary | KG-05 | 197 | · |
| Palmyra-Eagle High | Palmyra | High | 09-12 | 165 | · |
| Watertown 4 Kids | Watertown | Elementary | PK-PK | 155 | · |
| Sullivan Elementary | Sullivan | Elementary | PK-05 | 144 | · |
| Lincoln Elementary | Watertown | Elementary | KG-05 | 140 | · |
| eCampus Academy Charter School | Watertown | Combined | PK-12 | 132 | · |
| Waterloo Middle | Waterloo | Middle | 07-08 | 118 | · |
| Waterloo Intermediate | Waterloo | Middle | 05-06 | 114 | · |
| Fort Atkinson 4K | Fort Atkinson | Elementary | PK-PK | 100 | · |
| Palmyra-Eagle Middle | Palmyra | Middle | 06-08 | 96 | · |
| Palmyra Eagle Montessori School | Palmyra | Elementary | PK-06 | 26 | · |
Cities in Jefferson County
About Jefferson County
Jefferson County is an average-sized Wisconsin county of about 86,003 residents, home to 31 public schools and roughly 9,194 students.
Zooming out, census numbers show the median household earns about $83,750 a year, roughly 29% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 5% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 14% meaningfully above the Wisconsin median.
Looking at the level breakdown, Jefferson County covers 16 elementary schools (3,715 students), 7 middle schools (2,173), 6 high schools (2,540), and 2 combined or other schools.
Fort Atkinson School District dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 2,263 students on its own.
Five-year track record. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment declined 13%: 10,518 students in SY 2017-18 versus 9,194 in SY 2024-25. On the demographic side, White enrollment moved from 79% to 75% over the same window.
Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Jefferson County discusses sports rivalries, cross-district programs, and shared facilities. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.
Frequently asked questions
Jefferson County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data