School District for
Zip Code 53702

About Madison Metropolitan School District

If you live in ZIP 53702 — Madison, Wisconsin in Dane County — your assigned public schools are operated by Madison Metropolitan School District. Its 6/10 rating is roughly in line with the Wisconsin average across the funding and enrollment measures NCES tracks. The district operates 54 schools and serves roughly 27,000 students (one of the larger districts in the state), covering Pre-K – 12th. Review the funding and enrollment data above, then contact the district to confirm which schools serve your exact address before you commit to a move.

Funding and Resources

According to NCES 2024–2025, Madison Metropolitan School District spends approximately $17,000 per student per year, placing it 26% above the Wisconsin state average of approximately $13,500 and above the national average nationally (U.S. average: $13,700/year). Above-average spending generally translates to more instructional resources per student, stronger program variety at the middle and high school levels, and better-maintained facilities. Per-pupil spending directly affects teacher compensation, class sizes, elective course offerings, technology access, and the depth of student support services — making it one of the most meaningful structural indicators of district capacity.

District Scale and Program Breadth

At 54 schools serving grades Pre-K – 12th, Madison Metropolitan School District qualifies as a very large district serving students from Pre-K – 12th. The district enrolls approximately 27,000 students in total. Very large districts are complex systems with significant variation in school quality across attendance zones. They typically offer extensive programs — magnet schools, specialized high schools, dual-language tracks, advanced coursework — but navigating these options requires active engagement with the district.

Understanding the 6/10 Rating

With a rating of 6/10 (average), Madison Metropolitan School District ranks among Wisconsin’s average-rated school systems. Our ratings are built from NCES Common Core of Data and measure structural factors: per-pupil expenditure, student-teacher ratio, enrollment stability, and school count. They do not incorporate test scores or graduation rates, which are not consistently available across all 13,500+ US districts in the NCES dataset.

Madison Metropolitan School District falls in the middle of the performance spectrum with an average rating. Average districts provide foundational public education with functional academic programs, though they may not match the resource breadth of higher-rated districts in the same region. Many families find that average-rated districts deliver solid day-to-day education, particularly when parents stay engaged and involved. If you're considering this area, look beyond the overall rating: visit schools, talk to current parents, and research the specific school your child would attend. Average districts often have individual schools that significantly outperform the district mean.

Enrollment for Families in Zip Code 53702

Children in zip code 53702 are assigned to Madison Metropolitan School District for public school enrollment, covering grades Pre-K – 12th. School assignments are address-specific — your elementary, middle, and high school placements depend on your exact street address within zip code 53702, not just your neighborhood. Two homes on opposite ends of the same zip code may be assigned to different schools within the same district.

To confirm your specific school assignments, contact Madison Metropolitan School District at (608)663-1879 or visit www.madison.k12.wi.us. Typical enrollment documents include proof of address, a government-issued birth certificate, immunization records, and any existing school records or IEP documentation. If your child has an IEP or 504 plan, bring that documentation to enrollment — Wisconsin districts are required to continue services within a reasonable period. Fall enrollment windows typically open in late winter or early spring; contact the district for exact dates and required steps.

School Districts and Home Values in Madison

For families considering a purchase in the Madison area, district assignment matters financially. Because Madison Metropolitan School District serves zip code 53702, district assignment still factors into home-pricing comparisons between zip code 53702 and neighboring areas. District boundaries are address-specific — verify the exact district assignment for any property you’re seriously considering rather than assuming based on the neighborhood. A single block can place two adjacent homes in different districts with different ratings and different annual property tax implications.

Use the property tax estimator on this page to calculate estimated annual tax obligations based on your target purchase price. In Wisconsin, property taxes are a primary funding source for public schools — your tax payments directly support Madison Metropolitan School District programs and staff. Understanding both district quality and the associated tax burden is essential financial due diligence before committing to any home in zip code 53702.

Data Sources and Accuracy

All district information on this page is sourced from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024–2025, the U.S. Department of Education’s annual census of all public school districts — the same dataset used by researchers, journalists, and policymakers to analyze American public education. District boundaries, school assignments, phone numbers, and per-pupil expenditure figures are updated annually when NCES publishes new data, typically in spring. Always verify your specific school assignment and enrollment requirements directly with Madison Metropolitan School District before making any housing or enrollment decision based on zip code 53702 data.