Madison Metropolitan School District, WI

Original Research by School Decision on Madison Metropolitan School District

Madison Metropolitan School District is the large, urban school system serving Wisconsin’s capital city and several surrounding communities. It is a PK-through-12 district with a sizable enrollment, and its student body is notably diverse. The racial and ethnic makeup shows no single group in the majority: the largest share of students identifies as white, followed by a substantial Hispanic population, a significant Black student population, a smaller but meaningful Asian student population, and a multiracial group that is also a visible presence in the schools. This demographic mix creates a peer environment that is a strong representation of the broader community, and families choosing the district should expect their children to attend school with peers from a wide range of backgrounds.

On state assessments, the district’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades places it in the bottom quartile among Dane County’s districts. The proficiency rates in math and English language arts across grades three through eight hover in a range that suggests a considerable share of students are not meeting the state’s proficient benchmark. In math, proficiency rates in each tested grade sit between the low forties and mid-forties. In English language arts, the pattern is similar, with rates ranging from the mid-forties to just over half, depending on the grade. Science scores for grades four and eight are also in the mid-forties proficiency range, while social studies, tested in grades four and eight, shows a somewhat brighter picture, with proficiency rates approaching three-fifths. These results are a soft spot; a parent looking at these numbers may want to investigate how individual schools within the district perform, as district averages can mask variation across neighborhoods and programs. The comparison to other Dane County districts shows that Madison Metropolitan’s proficiency index is lower than the median district in the county.

Chronic absenteeism is a related area of concern. The district’s rate places it in the bottom quartile among Dane County’s districts, meaning a higher share of students are missing substantial amounts of school compared to most peer districts. This is a signal worth looking into further with the school administration, as high absenteeism is often tied to academic challenges.

On the resource side, the district spends at a level that is in the upper range per pupil among its county peers. This higher spending may reflect the costs of serving a large, diverse urban student body, including the infrastructure and support staff needed for a district of this size.

The housing market in the district’s coverage area varies considerably. Inside the city of Madison, home values range from lower-priced areas to some of the priciest neighborhoods in the county, with a notable variation by ZIP code. Rental costs follow a similar pattern, with the most affordable options found in some of the city’s south and east side ZIPs, while rents in some west-side and near-downtown areas are higher. The overall weighted home value in the district is above the state’s typical benchmark, and the weighted rent is also above the national average for rent relative to income, suggesting a moderately expensive housing market for families settling here. The city of Madison itself is a college town and state capital, with a downtown and a series of distinct neighborhoods that range from close-in urban to more suburban development on the periphery.

The district runs a large number of schools, including multiple comprehensive high schools, several middle schools, and many elementary schools, as well as a handful of specialized or alternative programs such as Shabazz-City High, Metro School, and Capital High. This means there is a range of school environments to consider within the district, from neighborhood schools to choice-based and magnet-like options. We looked for information on recent capital projects or new school buildings in the district and did not find specific details to include; the data on this point was not available in the research. The district’s operational status, charter status, and magnet status are either not labeled or not indicated in the data provided, so a parent should check directly with the district for specifics on school choice, open enrollment, and program availability at individual campuses.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

25,247

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 25%

Black 18%

White 39%

Asian 7%

Two+ 10%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

18%

70%

Gr 4

22%

73%

Gr 5

21%

69%

Gr 6

20%

76%

Gr 7

22%

73%

Gr 8

25%

75%

Math

Gr 3

19%

69%

Gr 4

18%

68%

Gr 5

17%

64%

Gr 6

18%

70%

Gr 7

20%

69%

Gr 8

15%

66%

Science

Gr 4

20%

71%

Gr 8

20%

73%

Social studies

Gr 4

32%

82%

Gr 8

34%

83%

source_specific:read

Gr 3

20%

68%

Gr 4

23%

72%

Gr 5

22%

69%

Gr 6

23%

77%

Gr 7

24%

74%

Gr 8

29%

75%

source_specific:wri

Gr 3

20%

70%

Gr 4

21%

71%

Gr 5

21%

68%

Gr 6

19%

74%

Gr 7

22%

71%

Gr 8

24%

73%

Schools in this District

54 schools are officially reported under this district.

Cherokee Heights Middle

Milele Chikasa Anana Elementary School

Southside Elementary School

Franklin Elementary

Dr Virginia Henderson Elementary School

Stephens Elementary

Whitehorse Middle

Schenk Elementary

Vel Phillips Memorial High School

Ezekiel Gillespie Middle School

Orchard Ridge Elementary

Toki Middle

Randall Elementary School

Shorewood Hills Elementary

Cesar Chavez Elementary

Metro School

Olson Elementary

Badger Rock Middle

Innovative and Alternative Middle

Capital High

Innovative High

Nuestro Mundo

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

6 grades reported

46%

Grade 3

45%

Grade 4

41%

Grade 5

46%

Grade 6

45%

Grade 7

42%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

47%

Grade 3

50%

Grade 4

46%

Grade 5

50%

Grade 6

49%

Grade 7

52%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

47%

Grade 4

48%

Grade 8

Social Studies

2 grades reported

59%

Grade 4

60%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$450,613

Year-over-year change+2.5%

Range across 17 ZIP codes$365K to $816K

vs. state typical1.35x

vs. national typical1.22x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (17 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
53704	Madison	$380K	+1.9%	20.1%
53711	Madison	$513K	+3.6%	16.4%
53713	Madison	$365K	+2.3%	11.1%
53718	Madison	$431K	+2.3%	10.7%
53705	Madison	$567K	+4.3%	8.6%
53719	Madison	$440K	+1.9%	7.6%
53714	Madison	$382K	+3.8%	6.3%
53716	Madison	$417K	+3.3%	5.3%
53593	Verona	$600K	+1.3%	3.6%
53717	Madison	$518K	+2.4%	3.6%

Showing top 10 of 17 ZIP codes by land area weight

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,718/mo

Year-over-year change+2.9%

Range across 16 ZIP codes$1,452 to $2,575/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (16 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
53704	Madison	$1,598	+1.1%	20.1%
53711	Madison	$1,710	+0.4%	16.4%
53713	Madison	$1,452	+3.3%	11.1%
53718	Madison	$1,679	+4.5%	10.7%
53705	Madison	$2,220	+9.3%	8.6%
53719	Madison	$1,684	+3.0%	7.6%
53714	Madison	$1,462	—	6.3%
53716	Madison	$1,997	—	5.3%
53593	Verona	$1,974	+2.2%	3.6%
53717	Madison	$1,742	—	3.6%

Showing top 10 of 16 ZIP codes by land area weight

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$2,274/mo

Home price / national median income5.4x

Annual rent / national median income24.6%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$556/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$333,909 (+5.4% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.