The top reported proficiency rate is 83% in Social studies. The lowest is 68% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Arboretum Elementary
Arboretum Elementary is a regular public school serving pre-kindergarten through fourth grade in Waunakee, Wisconsin, part of the Waunakee Community School District. The school is one of three elementary schools in the district, each zoned to a different part of the village. A fourth elementary, Heritage, opened in 2024, which redrew some attendance boundaries and added capacity. Arboretum serves the eastern and southeastern sections of the district.
The enrollment is moderate for its grade band. The student body is predominantly white, with smaller shares of Asian, Hispanic, and multiracial students. The share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch is very low, reflecting the area's economic profile. Information on the share of students with individualized education programs or English learner status was not available in the data provided.
On state assessments, Arboretum’s performance is strong across the subjects and grades tested. In third and fourth grade, proficiency in English language arts, math, science, and social studies consistently reaches levels that are well above the middle of the range. When compared with other schools across districts in Dane County, Arboretum’s overall proficiency index lands in the top quartile. Participation rates on the state tests were very high, meaning the results give a reliable picture of student achievement. Because the school serves only through fourth grade, there is no graduation rate to report, and chronic absenteeism data was not available.
Waunakee itself is a growing village on the northern edge of the Madison metropolitan area. It blends a compact downtown with residential subdivisions and a business park that hosts manufacturing, brewing, and other operations. The school district is the largest local employer. The village has seen ongoing reinvestment in its downtown streetscape, new apartment buildings, and public art. Six Mile Creek runs through town. The Village Center, located near downtown, houses a fitness center, meeting rooms, and senior services. Interstate access and a railroad line connect Waunakee to the broader region. Housing values and rents in the area are high relative to national benchmarks, and the community has been growing at a steady pace, with a new middle school under construction and set to open in 2026.
The district brief notes that a new elementary school, Heritage Elementary, opened in 2024, which is a change that families should be aware of if they are considering which attendance zone they might fall into. No other major district changes, such as a recent referendum or tax shift, were found in the search.
Some information that parents might want to investigate further is missing from the data. There were no figures on discipline incidents or school climate measures. There was no listing of special programs, such as gifted services, art, music, or before- and after-care offerings. The data also did not include teacher staffing ratios or experience levels. Those details would typically be available from the school or district website. For a family weighing academic fit, the assessment record is a clear strength. The school’s peer environment is one of relatively high economic advantage and demographic homogeneity. The village’s growth and rising housing costs mean that families moving into the area should expect a competitive housing market.
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