Summary: This is a place where you'll learn how to be curious--and that being curious is cool. We like it when you ask questions, and our academics here are designed to allow you to develop the foundations you'll need to be successful in both the college admissions process and once you get to the school of your dreams.
How do we do it? Small classes--usually under 10 students--so you're guaranteed to have teachers who really know you (and write great recommendation letters when the time comes). Cool electives--fun classes that you'll really want to take that let you take your curiosity and follow it through with hands-on projects and opportunities. And our Capstone program--this is not a book report, but a guided program starting your freshman year to explore topics you care about and delve deeper. By the time you submit your senior capstone, you'll have worked closely with our faculty to research and explore topics that interest you every year.
Our Curriculum:
Students complete a minimum of 19 credits in the following areas to receive a diploma.
English – 4 credits (English 1, 2, 3, 4)
Mathematics – 3 credits (Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2)
Science – 3 credits (Biology, Chemistry, Physics)
Social Studies/History – 3 credits (US History, a non-US history course, 1 additional credit)
Modern and Classical Language – 3 credits
Fine Arts – 1 credit in a combination of Fine Arts courses
Athletics/AAP – 4 years of participation
Students must be enrolled in a minimum of 5 academic classes each semester. Students enroll in Fine Arts classes in addition to the minimum requirement. All students participate in athletics/AAP each season during the school year.
Department Director Seth Ahlborn
Student/Teacher Ratio:
6:1
Average Class Size: 10
Summer Programs: Offered
Full Time Teachers: 23
Number of AP Courses Offered: 22
Teachers Holding Advanced Degrees: 75.0%
Number of IB Courses Offered: 0
English
- Creative Writing
- Honors
- Literature
History
- European History
- Honors
- Medieval History
- United States History
- World History
Foreign Languages
- German
- Greek
- Latin
- Spanish
Humanities / Social Sciences
Sciences
- Anatomy
- Astronomy
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Environmental Science
- Physics
Math
Computer Studies
- Computer Applications
- Multimedia
- Computer Programming
- Computer Science
- Web Design
Music
- Band
- Choral Music
- Electronic Music
- Individual Instructions
- Music History
- Music Theory
- Orchestra
- Voice
Performing / Visual Arts
- Animation
- Drawing
- Graphic Design
- Painting
- Photography
- Studio Art
- 3-D Art
Special Programs
- Study Abroad
- Community Service
- Independent Study
Distinctive or New Programs
- The Freshman Honors Colloquium
- Very Competitive Model U.n. Team
- Cross-curricular Writing Initiative.
Summary: Want competition? Wayland is a proud member of the Midwest Classic Conference, of which most members draw students from greater Milwaukee and other larger cities of SE Wisconsin. The schools may be considered "smaller", but the competition isn't! Plus, Wayland strives for state-wide post-season tournaments sponsored by the WIAA.
WA musicians compete in Wisconsin's annual Solo & Ensemble program.
Arts Department Director: Andrew Estervig
Athletics Department Director: Cody Schultz
Notable Achievements: 2015 State Champion Triple Jump 2015: State Qualifiers in Boys and Girls Tennis
Arts
- Animation
- Drawing
- Graphic Design
- Painting
- Photography
- Studio Art
- 3-D Art
Interscholastic Sports
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Cross Country Running
- Football
- Golf
- Ice Hockey
- Power Lifting
- Soccer
- Softball
- Swimming
- Tennis
- Track and Field
- Volleyball
- Weight Lifting
- Wrestling
Recreational Sports
- Aerobics
- Basketball
- Camping
- Canoeing
- Dance
- Field Hockey
- Gymnastics
- Hiking
- Kickball
- Power Lifting
- Rafting
- Rock Climbing
- Swimming
- Table Tennis
- Weight Lifting
- Ice Skating
Summary: Wayland students benefit from a tailored college counseling program with two college counselors serving our students through a college advising curriculum.
With over 200 colleges and universities visiting each year--not to mention all the great schools in driving distance--you'll head in to your college search informed about all the great options out there.
Wayland students go on to study at some of the best universities in the US and abroad--with recent alums at every US News Top 10 school--but most of all, they go on to college excited and confident in what comes next.
College Information
Percentage of graduates who attend college: 100.0%
Middle Percentile of SAT Scores |
Reading |
Math |
Writing |
25th percentile |
620 |
660 |
670.0 |
75th percentile |
740 |
780 |
720.0 |
College attended in the past 5 years by our graduates:
McGill University: 3
University of Pennsylvania: 2
Rice University: 3
Dartmouth College: 2
Macalester College: 2
Stanford University: 2
University of Southern California: 2
Kenyon College: 2
University of Rochester: 2
Univ. of Cal. Berkeley: 2
Carleton College: 4
Northwestern University: 3
Vanderbilt University: 2
New York University: 5
Lawrence U.: 4
University of Chicago: 6
Marquette University: 6
Cornell University: 5
University of Wisconsin - Madison: 15
Notable Alumni
George E. Taylor
Class of 1879
First African American to run for President of the USA (1904)
Elmer Ferris
Class of 1881
Businessman/Author ("Jerry at the Academy," etc.)
Zona Gale
Class of 1891
First woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Drama (Miss Lulu Bett" 1921)"
Addie Joss
Class of 1898
Baseball HOF
Ned Merriam
Class of 1903
Olympic Athlete
Joan Davis
Class of 1948
Producer, "Masterpiece Theatre"
Ray Patterson
Class of 1941
Educator & NBA Leader
Susan Peterson
Class of 1963
First woman journalist to cover The White House for a major network (CBS)
Steve Patterson
Class of 1975
NBA GM/Director of Athletics U. of Texas-Austin
Quotes From Alumni
“Every year, I grew more as a person, both academically and personally. I’m able to be with friends and people I trust. There are more opportunities to get involved than you can imagine.”
-, Class of 2018,
“My Wayland education prepared me for top schools for which I would otherwise not have been prepared.”
-, Class of 1971, VP (Retired) John Deere & Co.
“When I look back on my first year of college I used the habits skills and knowledge fostered by Wayland.If I hadn't graduated from Wayland I might not have lived up to my full potential.”
-, Class of 2010, PhD Student Harvard University
“Every year, I grew more as a person, both academically and personally. I’m able to be with friends and people I trust. There are more opportunities to get involved than you can imagine.”
-Sydney Walker, Class of 2018,
“My Wayland education prepared me for top schools for which I would otherwise not have been prepared.”
-David Larson, Class of 1971, VP (Retired) John Deere & Co.
“When I look back on my first year of college I used the habits skills and knowledge fostered by Wayland.If I hadn't graduated from Wayland I might not have lived up to my full potential.”
-Nick Derr, Class of 2010, PhD Student Harvard University
Merit Scholarships: Offered
Students Receiving Merit Scholarships: 20.0%
Average Merit Scholarship: 15,000
Current Endowment Amount: $17,181,865