Six Madison Schools Earn Top State Rankings
Madison parents can now see how their local elementary, middle, and high schools stack up against state-wide peers.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Secondary Education
Live Poll
Do you trust that statewide school rankings accurately reflect the quality of education in your community?
U.S. News & World Report has recognized six Madison Metropolitan School District schools as some of the top-performing public institutions in Wisconsin. These schools earned their positions based on student academic performance and high school readiness metrics.
Why it matters
These rankings provide local families with a comparative snapshot of academic success within the Madison public school system. Parents can use this data to understand how individual schools perform relative to others across the state in areas like reading and math proficiency.
Shorewood Hills Elementary ranks 6th out of 1,265 Wisconsin elementary schools, while Velma B. Hamilton Middle School holds the 19th spot among 840 schools. Additionally, Madison West High School secured the 38th rank out of 616 high schools statewide.
The players
Madison Metropolitan School District
The local public school system serving the Madison community and encompassing the ranked schools.
U.S. News & World Report
A media organization that produces annual performance rankings for educational institutions across the United States.
The details
The rankings are derived from different criteria based on school levels. For elementary and middle schools, the report focuses on student proficiency in reading and mathematics. High school assessments are more comprehensive, incorporating college readiness, graduation rates, curriculum diversity, and the performance outcomes of underserved student populations.
Timeline
The Madison Metropolitan School District announced the 2026 U.S. News & World Report rankings on October 21, 2026.
The Home Front
These rankings align with the ongoing use of state assessment scores to define educational quality in the regional housing market. Consistent performance in these reports often correlates with broader trends in school district reputation and local residential property interest.
Families interested in school performance can review these state-level metrics to better understand how specific schools serve their student body. Parents might use this information when evaluating the local district as part of long-term household or school-enrollment planning.
The takeaway
Understanding how local schools compare to state benchmarks can assist families in monitoring student academic environments. Families can review the full report to see where their specific neighborhood school places within these statewide tiers.
Further reading
For more information on the local school system, explore the Secondary Education section.
Live Poll
Do you trust that statewide school rankings accurately reflect the quality of education in your community?
