Nikolay Middle, Cambridge WI - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on Nikolay Middle

Nikolay Middle School serves grades six through eight in the Cambridge School District, located in the village of Cambridge, Wisconsin. The school is a regular public school and draws its students from a village that is set among rolling hills and farmland, part of the Madison metropolitan area. Cambridge has a compact historic downtown with shops and cafes, and the area is known for outdoor recreation, including the Glacial Drumlin State Trail and CamRock County Park. The village has seen steady population growth in recent decades, and the district itself added a new option for older students with the establishment of Koshkonong Trails School, a public charter school focused on agricultural education for grades seven through twelve.

The student body at Nikolay Middle is small, which is typical for a village of this size. The demographic composition is predominantly white, with smaller shares of students who are Asian, Hispanic, or identify as two or more races. About a quarter of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a share that is moderate. A parent looking at the peer environment here will see a relatively homogeneous student population, with limited economic diversity, in a small-school setting.

On the Wisconsin Forward Exam, results show a varied picture. In mathematics, the share of students scoring at a proficient or advanced level was lowest among sixth graders and rose to a stronger showing among seventh and eighth graders. English language arts proficiency was more consistent across the grades, with roughly half of students meeting the benchmark in each grade. In eighth-grade science and social studies, proficiency rates were below the half mark. When compared against other school districts across Dane County, Nikolay Middle’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades falls in the bottom quartile of the county. This is a soft spot in the school’s academic profile. A parent considering the school may want to ask how the school supports students who are not yet at the proficient level and what academic interventions are in place, particularly in the areas where results are lower.

The school has high participation rates on the state assessments, with nearly all students tested, which gives families a reliable picture of where the school stands. However, data on some other indicators that can inform a parent’s sense of the school environment was not available. There is no reported information on chronic absenteeism, discipline rates, staffing ratios, or the share of students receiving special education services or English learner support. A parent should consider reaching out to the school directly for this context.

Housing in the Cambridge area is priced above the national median, and the cost of a home is also above the Wisconsin state median. This reflects the village’s location within the Madison metro area and its desirability as a place with small-town character and access to outdoor amenities. The typical mortgage payment is substantial, and renting is moderately more affordable on a monthly basis.

For families who value a small, rural school in a community with a strong sense of place and outdoor attractions, Nikolay Middle provides that setting. The board of the district has not seen major recent changes that would affect a parent’s decision, beyond the charter school addition for older students. The academic results, though mixed and below the county median, are what they are, and a parent will want to understand the school’s approach to moving those numbers before making a commitment.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 639%

School 39% · District 39%

▼ 14 pts below state median · ▼ 20 pts below county median

Grade 766%

School 66% · District 67% · ▼ 1 pts below district

▲ 12 pts above state median · ▲ 5 pts above county median

Grade 858%

School 58% · District 58%

▲ 7 pts above state median · ▲ 4 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 652%

School 52% · District 52%

▼ 2 pts below state median · ▼ 7 pts below county median

Grade 753%

School 53% · District 56% · ▼ 3 pts below district

▲ 1 pts above state median · ▼ 3 pts below county median

Grade 848%

School 48% · District 48%

▼ 4 pts below state median · ▼ 10 pts below county median

Science

Grade 847%

School 47% · District 47%

▼ 4 pts below state median · ▼ 6 pts below county median

Social studies

Grade 840%

School 40% · District 41%

▼ 24 pts below state median · ▼ 29 pts below county median

This schoolCambridge School District, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 6Lower-income50%Higher-income52%2 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income46%Higher-income55%9 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income35%Higher-income53%18 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 6Lower-income26%Higher-income46%20 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income55%Higher-income69%14 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income29%Higher-income69%40 pp gap