Public schools in Madison, WI
56 open public schools with an address in Madison, operated by 3 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
56
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
24,922
56 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
10.8:1
Wisconsin median 13.2:1
Charter schools
3
2 magnet · 0 virtual
An overview of Madison public schools
The federal directory lists 56 public schools in Madison, WI: 31 elementary, 13 middle, 8 high, 4 combined or other. The 56 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 24,922 students, an average of 445 per school. The largest campus is West High (2,222 students), and the largest elementary school is Cesar Chavez Elementary (631).
Madison Metropolitan School District operates the most schools here (53), plus 2 charter, service, or other agencies. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 10.8:1, lower than the statewide school median of 13.2:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 3 charter schools, 2 magnet schools. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 10 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 4 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 4 of 11 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 46% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Madison
Elementary schools in Madison
31| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cesar Chavez Elementary Madison Metropolitan School District | PK–05 | 631 | 12:1 | |
| Crestwood Elementary Madison Metropolitan School District | PK–05 | 293 | 11.8:1 | |
| Dr Virginia Henderson Elementary School Madison Metropolitan School District | PK–05 | 462 | 10.2:1 | |
| Elvehjem Elementary Madison Metropolitan School District | PK–05 | 415 | 13.6:1 | |
| Emerson Elementary Madison Metropolitan School District | PK–05 | 297 | 10:1 | |
| Franklin Elementary Madison Metropolitan School District | PK–02 | 308 | 13.3:1 | |
| Gompers Elementary Madison Metropolitan School District | PK–05 | 217 | 9.1:1 | |
| Hawthorne Elementary Madison Metropolitan School District | PK–05 | 360 | 10.2:1 | |
| Huegel Elementary Madison Metropolitan School District | PK–05 | 417 | 10.8:1 | |
| Kennedy Elementary Madison Metropolitan School District | KG–05 | 582 | 10.9:1 | |
| Lake View Elementary Madison Metropolitan School District | KG–05 | 292 | 8.9:1 | |
| Lapham Elementary Madison Metropolitan School District | PK–02 | 182 | 8:1 | |
| Leopold Elementary Madison Metropolitan School District | PK–05 | 626 | 10.1:1 | |
| Lincoln Elementary Madison Metropolitan School District | PK–05 | 393 | 10.8:1 | |
| Lindbergh Elementary Madison Metropolitan School District | PK–05 | 180 | 9.9:1 | |
| Lori Mann Carey Elementary Madison Metropolitan School District | PK–05 | 336 | 9.7:1 | |
| Lowell Elementary Madison Metropolitan School District | PK–05 | 329 | 11.8:1 | |
| Marquette Elementary Madison Metropolitan School District | 03–05 | 169 | 11.2:1 | |
| Mendota Elementary Madison Metropolitan School District | PK–05 | 282 | 9.6:1 | |
| Midvale Elementary Madison Metropolitan School District | PK–02 | 372 | 10.5:1 | |
| Milele Chikasa Anana Elementary School Madison Metropolitan School District | PK–05 | 455 | 10.5:1 | |
| Muir Elementary Madison Metropolitan School District | PK–05 | 377 | 10.1:1 | |
| Nuestro Mundo Madison Metropolitan School District · Charter | PK–05 | 311 | 11.1:1 | |
| Orchard Ridge Elementary Madison Metropolitan School District | PK–05 | 265 | 11.3:1 | |
| Randall Elementary School Madison Metropolitan School District | 03–05 | 320 | 14.8:1 | |
| Sandburg Elementary Madison Metropolitan School District | PK–05 | 410 | 10.3:1 | |
| Schenk Elementary Madison Metropolitan School District | KG–05 | 394 | 9.4:1 | |
| Shorewood Hills Elementary Madison Metropolitan School District | PK–05 | 368 | 11.5:1 | |
| Stephens Elementary Madison Metropolitan School District | PK–05 | 447 | 10.4:1 | |
| Thoreau Elementary Madison Metropolitan School District | PK–05 | 403 | 11:1 | |
| Van Hise Elementary Madison Metropolitan School District | KG–05 | 396 | 13.9:1 |
Middle schools in Madison
13| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Badger Rock Middle Madison Metropolitan School District · Charter | 06–08 | 92 | 9.4:1 | |
| Black Hawk Middle Madison Metropolitan School District | 06–08 | 300 | 8.7:1 | |
| Cherokee Heights Middle Madison Metropolitan School District | 06–08 | 526 | 11.3:1 | |
| Ezekiel Gillespie Middle School Madison Metropolitan School District | 06–08 | 462 | 11.4:1 | |
| Hamilton Middle Madison Metropolitan School District | 06–08 | 790 | 14.5:1 | |
| Innovative and Alternative Middle Madison Metropolitan School District · Alternative School | 06–08 | 0 | 0:1 | |
| James Wright Middle Madison Metropolitan School District · Magnet | 06–08 | 245 | 9.6:1 | |
| O'Keeffe Middle Madison Metropolitan School District | 06–08 | 434 | 11.7:1 | |
| Sennett Middle Madison Metropolitan School District | 06–08 | 570 | 12.2:1 | |
| Sherman Middle Madison Metropolitan School District | 06–08 | 400 | 11:1 | |
| Spring Harbor Middle Madison Metropolitan School District · Magnet | 06–08 | 269 | 12.1:1 | |
| Toki Middle Madison Metropolitan School District | 06–08 | 487 | 9.9:1 | |
| Whitehorse Middle Madison Metropolitan School District | 06–08 | 415 | 12.7:1 |
High schools in Madison
8| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital High Madison Metropolitan School District · Alternative School | 09–12 | 129 | 8.7:1 | |
| East High Madison Metropolitan School District | 09–12 | 1,643 | 15.5:1 | |
| Innovative High Madison Metropolitan School District · Alternative School | 09–12 | 138 | 7.9:1 | |
| LaFollette High Madison Metropolitan School District | 09–12 | 1,541 | 14.8:1 | |
| Metro School Madison Metropolitan School District · Alternative School | 06–12 | 12 | 2:1 | |
| Shabazz-City High Madison Metropolitan School District · Alternative School | 09–12 | 106 | 7.3:1 | |
| Vel Phillips Memorial High School Madison Metropolitan School District | 09–12 | 2,004 | 15.8:1 | |
| West High Madison Metropolitan School District | 09–12 | 2,222 | 16.2:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Madison
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4K PK Off Site Madison Metropolitan School District | PK–PK | 619 | 13.2:1 | |
| Central Wisconsin Center Wisconsin Department of Health Services · Alternative School | KG–12 | 1 | 0.4:1 | |
| Isthmus Montessori Academy Public Isthmus Montessori Academy Inc · Charter | PK–12 | 210 | 15.3:1 | |
| Mendota Mental Health Institution Wisconsin Department of Health Services · Alternative School | KG–12 | 18 | 9:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White38.6%
- Hispanic26%
- Black18.1%
- Asian6.9%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.3%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0%
- Multiracial9.5%
Enrollment-weighted across 55 Madison schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (24,922 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Madison
How many public schools are in Madison, WI?
The current NCES directory lists 56 open public schools with a location address in Madison: 31 elementary, 13 middle, 8 high, 4 combined or other. Together they reported 24,922 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Madison?
Schools with an address in Madison belong to 3 education agencies, led by Madison Metropolitan School District (53 schools), Wisconsin Department of Health Services (2 schools), Isthmus Montessori Academy Inc (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Madison?
West High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Madison, with 2,222 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Madison?
Yes. 3 of the 56 public schools in Madison are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Badger Rock Middle, Isthmus Montessori Academy Public, Nuestro Mundo. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Madison schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Madison public schools is 10.8:1, lower than the Wisconsin school median of 13.2:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Madison guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Wisconsin cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Wisconsin cities