Hamilton School District students scored well on the 2025-26 Wisconsin Forward Exam, topping the statewide average by 23-28 percentage points and outperforming most Waukesha County school districts in nearly all subject areas.
- Hamilton’s science score of 74.1% was 22.6 percentage points higher than the state average of 51.5%.
- In social studies, 83.5% of Hamilton students were proficient or advanced – 26.6 percentage points higher than the state average of 56.9%.
- The mathematics score was 80.3% for Hamilton which tops the state average of 52.7% by 27.6 percentage points.
- Some 77.8% of Hamilton students were proficient or advanced in English language arts compared to 53% at the state level, putting Hamilton 24.8 percentage points above the average in Wisconsin.
Among Waukesha County’s 10 K-12 school districts, Hamilton was the top performer in social studies. Hamilton ranked second in the county for English language arts, third for science and fourth for math.
The Forward Exam is designed to gauge how well students are doing in relation to the Wisconsin Academic Standards. These standards outline what students should know and be able to do in order to be on track for future learning.
“Helping every student succeed takes all of us working together,” says Superintendent Paul Mielke, Ph.D. “The strong partnerships among families, staff and our community are essential to creating an environment where every student can grow, learn and reach their potential.”
The Forward Exam tests Wisconsin students in English language arts and mathematics in grades three to eight; science in grades four and eight; and social studies in grades four, eight and 10. Educators note that the Forward Exam is one data point in a comprehensive assessment program that includes state, district and classroom assessments.
