Madison Metropolitan School District operates 54 schools (grades PK–12). Individual school names, addresses, and attendance zone boundaries are available directly from the district.
| Metric | Madison Metropolitan School District | National Average | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student Enrollment | 27,000 | 3,700 | ↑ Larger than avg |
| Number of Schools | 54 | 6 | Varies by district |
| Per-Pupil Spending | $17,000/yr | $13,700/yr | ≈ Near avg |
| District Type | Urban | Public District | — |
| Overall Rating | 3/10 — Below Average | — | Near average |
- Cesar Chavez Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 631 students
- Leopold Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 626 students
- 4K PK Off Site — Grades PK–PK · 619 students
- Kennedy Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 582 students
- Dr Virginia Henderson Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 462 students
- Olson Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 462 students
- Milele Chikasa Anana Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 455 students
- Stephens Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 447 students
- Huegel Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 417 students
- Elvehjem Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 415 students
- Sandburg Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 410 students
- Thoreau Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 403 students
- Van Hise Elementary — Grades K–5 · 396 students
- Schenk Elementary — Grades K–5 · 394 students
- Lincoln Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 393 students
- Muir Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 377 students
- Midvale Elementary — Grades PK–2 · 372 students
- Shorewood Hills Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 368 students
- Hawthorne Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 360 students
- Southside Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 336 students
- Lowell Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 329 students
- Randall Elementary School — Grades 3–5 · 320 students
- Nuestro Mundo — Grades PK–5 · 311 students
- Franklin Elementary — Grades PK–2 · 308 students
- Emerson Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 297 students
- + 8 more elementary schools
- Hamilton Middle — Grades 6–8 · 790 students
- Sennett Middle — Grades 6–8 · 570 students
- Cherokee Heights Middle — Grades 6–8 · 526 students
- Toki Middle — Grades 6–8 · 487 students
- Ezekiel Gillespie Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 462 students
- O'Keeffe Middle — Grades 6–8 · 434 students
- Whitehorse Middle — Grades 6–8 · 415 students
- Sherman Middle — Grades 6–8 · 400 students
- Black Hawk Middle — Grades 6–8 · 300 students
- Spring Harbor Middle — Grades 6–8 · 269 students
- James Wright Middle — Grades 6–8 · 245 students
- Badger Rock Middle — Grades 6–8 · 92 students
- West High — Grades 9–12 · 2,222 students
- Vel Phillips Memorial High School — Grades 9–12 · 2,004 students
- East High — Grades 9–12 · 1,643 students
- LaFollette High — Grades 9–12 · 1,541 students
- Innovative High — Grades 9–12 · 138 students
- Capital High — Grades 9–12 · 129 students
- Shabazz-City High — Grades 9–12 · 106 students
- Metro School — Grades 4–12 · 12 students
About Madison Metropolitan School District
Madison Metropolitan School District serves zip code 53711, covering Madison, Wisconsin with grades Pre-K – 12th. Whether you’re researching a move, evaluating a home purchase, or preparing to enroll a child, the sections below give you a complete picture of this district’s resources, size, and what its rating means for your family.
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 3/10 Rating
With a rating of 3/10 (below average), Madison Metropolitan School District ranks among Wisconsin’s below 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 carries a below-average rating, indicating resource levels and structural indicators below typical Wisconsin benchmarks. Below-average ratings primarily reflect per-pupil spending, staffing ratios, and enrollment trends — not necessarily teaching quality or school culture. Some below-average districts have schools with strong communities and dedicated staff. Families should research specific school quality, visit in person, and ask about available programs. Also ask about open enrollment and magnet options that may offer alternatives to the default attendance-zone assignment.
Enrollment for Families in Zip Code 53711
Children in zip code 53711 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 53711, 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 53711, buyers should factor school district quality into their overall evaluation of homes in zip code 53711. 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 53711.
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 53711 data.