MMSD Schools Among the Best in Wisconsin

Several schools in the Madison Metropolitan School District were named among the best in the state, according to rankings from the U.S. News & World Report and Stacker.

The U.S. News & World Report reviewed more than 100,000 schools across the U.S., grouping results by state. Schools were assessed using proficiency scores from state testing data. “Half of the formula assessed the scores themselves and the other half incorporated the test results in the context of socioeconomic demographics,” states the U.S. News website.

Out of the top 25 elementary schools across the state:

• Shorewood Hills Elementary was ranked the fifth best elementary school in Wisconsin – the school was also one of the top 10 performing schools based on recent state report card data. 
• Randall Elementary was ranked 13 and Van Hise Elementary at 24. 

At the secondary level, MMSD also had several schools in the top 25 middle and high schools.
Middle schools were “ranked on their performance on state-required tests, graduation, and how well they prepare their students for high school,” according to the U.S. News website. High schools were assessed also using proficiency rates from state tests, scores on college-level exams, and graduation data.

• Hamilton Middle School was ranked the seventh best middle school in Wisconsin. 
• West High School was ranked 22 of Wisconsin high schools, with Memorial High School listed at 25.

Stacker reviewed high schools across Wisconsin, using 2023 rankings from Niche, to compile their list of the 30 best schools. Memorial High School was ranked ninth and West High School came in at seventh.

The district’s four comprehensive high schools (East, La Follette, Memorial, and West) all received ‘exceeds expectations’ ratings on this year's state report cards, released annually by the Department of Public Instruction. Report cards are based on last year’s data in four major measures - achievement, closing gaps, growth and keeping students on track.