The West Bend School District (officially West Bend Joint School District #1) is a school district in Wisconsin serving the city of West Bend, the villages of Jackson and Newburg, and parts of the towns of Polk, Trenton, Barton, West Bend, Jackson, and Addison.
As of the 2019-2020 school year, the district served more than 6,000 students.
High schools
The district has two high schools, East and West, which share one building. Each school has about 1,100 students. The two high schools were formed in 1970, but proposals for merging the schools have been raised since the 1980s. Incoming freshmen born on even-numbered dates attend West Bend East while those born on odd-numbered dates attend West Bend West. Students with siblings already in high school follow their eldest sibling, so all children from a family attend the same high school. The high schools have different students, teachers, and sports teams, but share an auditorium, music department, gymnasium complex, and natatorium. In athletics, both East and West participate in the North Shore Conference.
Every two years, in partnership with the West Bend police and fire departments, the high schools hold the two-day Every 15 Minutes program for juniors and seniors, which challenges them to think about drinking, driving, personal safety, and the responsibility of making mature decisions. In partnership with the city's police and fire departments, a mock DUI crash is held on East Decorah Road.
West Bend East
West Bend East's athletic teams are known as the Suns. The school's colors are maroon and gold. In 2013 East was listed #1249 among Newsweeks top U.S. high schools.West Bend West'''
West Bend West's athletic teams are known as the Spartans. The school's colors are blue and white. In 2013 West was listed #1090 among Newsweek'''s top U.S. high schools.
Schools
High schools
West Bend East High School
West Bend West High School
Intermediate school
Silverbrook Intermediate School - grades 5-6
Middle school
Badger Middle School - grades 7-8
Elementary schools
Decorah Elementary School
Fair Park Elementary School
Green Tree Elementary School
Jackson Elementary School
McLane Elementary School
Other
4K Program using Community-Based Providers
Head Start for Washington County
Rolfs Education Center (3- and 4-year-old Head Start)
Notable alumni
Louis A. Arnold, HVAC worker and Socialist Wisconsin state senator
Bob Gannon, businessman and Wisconsin state Representative
Otto Kehrein, carpenter and Socialist Wisconsin state Representative
Willie Mueller, pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers and actor in the movie Major League Ryan Rohlinger, the third baseman for the San Francisco Giants. Henry O. Schowalter, lawyer and Democratic Wisconsin state Representative Dave Steckel, hockey player for the New Jersey Devils Viola S. Wendt, poet and educator