Wisconsin


U.S.
Rank
#10
Overall PPI Score: 78.8%

The program that made Milwaukee famous started a movement 33 years ago that made this state one of the earliest adopters of programs that give parents power. Despite changes in leadership that are not always friendly to parent versus system-driven reforms, and resulting in less than expected growth, Wisconsin families have maintained their mid-western resolve in ensuring that their freedom to support their students' education is protected.

Opportunity

Innovation

Policy Environment

Charter Schools

Score
78%
Grade: C
Rank: #17

Concentrated in the cities but also expansive throughout, chartering in the Badger State has been a vital link to giving parents all sorts of options, from experiential to classical, from career focused to college prep. Kudos to state lawmakers who In 2023,...

Transformational Learning

Score
72%
Grade: C
Rank: #34

Wisconsin allows for work-based learning and CTE is offered in schools, but students cannot graduate with a CTE diploma. Innovation Schools and Zones can be created and competency-based education requirements implemented, both which are allowable by law.

Leadership

Governor Tony Evers is still a long-time opponent of parent power and was even criticized by his status quo supporters for a deal he struck that increased payments for the per pupil amounts for private choice and independent charter schools, in exchange for...

Choice Programs (Scholarships, Vouchers, Tax Credits, etc.)

Score
82%
Grade: B
Rank: #12

Wisconsin was a trailblazer with the first private school choice program in the nation established in 1990 Milwaukee, and post Covid dozens more schools opened and expanded to meet the demands of students in new and exciting ways, like Lumen and Milwaukee...

DID YOU KNOW?

States whose opportunity programs ensure more equitable per-pupil funding and do not restrict eligibility to certain groups of students score higher on PPI!. There are only 3 states - Florida, Arizona, and Indiana - where this applies.

Transparency

School report cards are accessible from Wisconsin's Department of Public Instruction homepage under the “Family and Students → Student and School Data.” The report cards, available in PDF format, offer easy printing for parents and are designed for effortless...

Teacher Quality

One of many data points to assess whether a state has the right policies in place to ensure teacher quality is the "use of student achievement data in teacher preparation accountability." How empty or full the fuel tank above is will give you the answer for your state.

Fast Facts:

4th Grade Math Proficiency: 42%
8th Grade Math Proficiency: 37%
4th Grade Reading Proficiency: 31%
8th Grade Reading Proficiency: 31%
Average SAT Score: 1221 / 1600
Average ACT Score: 19.4 / 36
Graduation Rate: 90.3%

Constitutional Issues

"Wisconsin's constitution contains a Blaine amendment and a Compelled Support Clause, but the Wisconsin Supreme Court interprets both in accordance with federal Establishment Clause jurisprudence. The Wisconsin Supreme Court rejected the first-ever uniformity...