Middleton-cross Plains Area School District, WI

Original Research by School Decision on Middleton-cross Plains Area School District

The Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District serves a broad swath of western Dane County, drawing families from the city of Middleton, the villages of Cross Plains and Black Earth, and portions of several surrounding towns. It is a full PK-12 district, and its enrollment makes it one of the larger public school systems in the county. The student body is predominantly white, with a sizable Asian population and significant Hispanic and multiracial communities. The district did not report the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, so a core economic measure of the student population is not available here.

On state assessments, the district posts results that land in the top quartile among Dane County's districts when looking at overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades. Scores in math and English language arts hover at a level that many families would consider solid, with elementary and middle school proficiency rates broadly clustering in the low to mid-seventies. Social studies results are higher, and science results are consistent with the district’s overall pattern. These figures position the district well above the county midpoint, though not at the very top of the county.

Chronic absenteeism is one area where the district falls below the midpoint among its county peers. A parent moving into the area may want to ask the district or individual schools what attendance supports are in place and whether this rate is concentrated in particular grade levels or school buildings. The district’s per-pupil current spending sits in the lower half of the county’s middle range; this is not an outlier in either direction, but it is worth noting in a county where spending varies widely.

The district was not found to have any recent large-scale changes such as referendums, curriculum overhauls, or major boundary shifts that would directly affect an incoming family. That absence of recent disruption can be a neutral or positive signal depending on a parent’s preference for stability.

Housing in the district’s coverage area is the most concrete factor for many families deciding where to live. The area has a weighted average home value well above the state median and the national median. Rent is similarly elevated relative to national averages. The communities vary: Middleton itself is a sizable suburb with its own downtown and employment base, while Cross Plains and Black Earth are smaller villages with a more rural feel. The weighted rent-to-income ratio suggests that renting is significantly cheaper than buying in this market, a pattern that holds across most of the district’s constituent zip codes. A family entering this district should expect a competitive housing market, particularly in Middleton, and plan finances accordingly.

The district operates a range of neighborhood elementary schools and two middle schools before sending students to a single comprehensive high school. It also includes a smaller alternative school, Clark Street Community School, and a standalone 4K program. The shape of the system is conventional, with a gradual funnel into one high school, meaning that where you live within the district directly determines your elementary school and your middle school.

This is a district that generally performs well academically in a county with many strong districts. Its demographic profile is not especially diverse for a Dane County system, but it is not monolithic either. The housing market is expensive and the chronic absenteeism rate is a soft spot worth a conversation with the school. For a family that places a high value on strong but not elite test scores, values the stability of a district that is not in the middle of upheaval, and is prepared for a high-cost housing market in the Madison orbit, this district warrants serious consideration.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

7,059

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 10%

Black 5%

White 66%

Asian 12%

Two+ 6%

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

39%

77%

Gr 4

28%

84%

Gr 5

34%

79%

Gr 6

36%

83%

Gr 7

41%

78%

Gr 8

34%

87%

Math

Gr 3

39%

81%

Gr 4

31%

86%

Gr 5

35%

82%

Gr 6

33%

83%

Gr 7

36%

84%

Gr 8

25%

87%

Science

Gr 4

30%

83%

Gr 8

32%

84%

Social studies

Gr 4

49%

92%

Gr 8

45%

89%

source_specific:read

Gr 3

40%

77%

Gr 4

35%

82%

Gr 5

36%

80%

Gr 6

37%

82%

Gr 7

44%

77%

Gr 8

36%

82%

source_specific:wri

Gr 3

31%

73%

Gr 4

25%

80%

Gr 5

34%

76%

Gr 6

37%

83%

Gr 7

39%

78%

Gr 8

30%

87%

Schools in this District

12 schools are officially reported under this district.

Glacier Creek Middle

Sunset Ridge Elementary

Sauk Trail Elementary

West Middleton Elementary

Clark Street Community School

Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District 4K

Pope Farm Elementary

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

6 grades reported

73%

Grade 3

77%

Grade 4

74%

Grade 5

74%

Grade 6

76%

Grade 7

75%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

70%

Grade 3

74%

Grade 4

72%

Grade 5

75%

Grade 6

72%

Grade 7

76%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

74%

Grade 4

74%

Grade 8

Social Studies

2 grades reported

84%

Grade 4

80%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$578,728

Year-over-year change+2.7%

Range across 11 ZIP codes$428K to $625K

vs. state typical1.73x

vs. national typical1.57x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (11 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
53562	Middleton	$625K	+2.4%	38.9%
53528	Cross Plains	$539K	+3.6%	35.7%
53593	Verona	$600K	+1.3%	9.7%
53597	Waunakee	$600K	+2.5%	8.3%
53529	Dane	$508K	+3.3%	2.0%
53515	Black Earth	$435K	+2.8%	2.0%
53719	Madison	$440K	+1.9%	1.9%
53717	Madison	$518K	+2.4%	1.3%
53560	Mazomanie	$428K	+4.9%	0.1%
53711	Madison	$513K	+3.6%	0.1%
53705	Madison	$567K	+4.3%	0.0%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,772/mo

Year-over-year change+2.3%

Range across 7 ZIP codes$1,671 to $2,220/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (7 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
53562	Middleton	$1,671	+2.3%	38.9%
53593	Verona	$1,974	+2.2%	9.7%
53597	Waunakee	$2,038	—	8.3%
53719	Madison	$1,684	+3.0%	1.9%
53717	Madison	$1,742	—	1.3%
53711	Madison	$1,710	+0.4%	0.1%
53705	Madison	$2,220	+9.3%	0.0%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$2,920/mo

Home price / national median income6.9x

Annual rent / national median income25.4%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$1,148/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.