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Excellent

#6 of 571 private schools in WI

Top 1% of private schools

Madison Country Day School

School

5606 RIVER RD, Waunakee, WI 53597

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on WI statewide data. Learn more

Enrollment

427

Student-Teacher

7.6:1

Score

9.0

Grades

Pre-K – 12th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

In Waunakee

#1 of 2

public schools

Wisconsin schools

#2 of 80

About Madison Country Day School

Madison Country Day School serves pre-kindergarten through 12th grade in Waunakee, Wisconsin, within Dane County. With 427 students, 56 full-time teachers, and a 7.6:1 student-teacher ratio, the school provides a well-staffed independent K-12 education in the Madison suburbs. No standardized test data is available.

Waunakee is a rural community near a town north of Madison where median household income tops $113,000, home values average nearly $429,000, and 57% of adults hold college degrees — a growing, prosperous community that has attracted Madison-area families seeking small-town character with easy access to the capital city's cultural and economic resources. The school community is large enough to offer a range of activities and peer relationships while maintaining a connected educational environment. Families in the area reflect a community invested in their children's futures, and the school draws from a neighborhood where education is a clear priority.

The rural setting provides a quiet, unhurried environment where students can focus on learning and grow as part of a close community.

What's said publicly about Madison Country Day School

Sources: Wikipedia

Synthesized from public, attributable sources. Updated May 2026.

Madison Country Day School, informally known as MCDS, is a nonsectarian, independent day school located in Dane County, Wisconsin 1 . The institution serves students from Pre-K through grade 12 and maintains an enrollment of approximately 500 students 1 . It holds accreditation from the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS) and is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) 1 . The school is designated as an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, offering the IB Diploma Program (DP) to high school students in grades 11 and 12 1 . Additionally, it provides the IB Middle Years Program (MYP) for students in grades 5 to 10 and the IB Primary Years Program (PYP) for students in Pre-K through grade 4 1 .
Sources (1)
  1. en.wikipedia.org
Generated by AI from public sources. Every claim is grounded in a cited source. Report inaccuracy

What Parents Should Know

With a student-teacher ratio of 7.6:1, Madison Country Day School offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.

As a private school, Madison Country Day School operates independently from the local public school district. Families considering this school should inquire about tuition costs, financial aid availability, and the admissions process. Private schools are not required to follow the same curriculum standards as public schools, which can be either an advantage or a consideration depending on your priorities.

Located in a rural area, Madison Country Day School may involve longer commutes for some families. Rural schools often serve as community anchors and may have smaller class sizes, but parents should consider transportation logistics, after-school program availability, and access to specialized services.

Financial Overview

Source: IRS Form 990 (2023 filing)

Per-Pupil Spending
Total expenses ÷ enrollment
$28,304
Per-Pupil Revenue
Total revenue ÷ enrollment
$28,477
Financial Health
Revenue-to-expense ratio (>1.0 = surplus)
1.01x — Stable
Tuition Dependency
Share of revenue from program services (tuition, fees)
86%
Total Assets
End-of-year total assets from IRS filing
$18.8M

Financial data from IRS Form 990 filings via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Per-pupil figures based on current enrollment of 427 students. Not all private schools file Form 990.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Madison Country Day School compares to 7 public schools serving similar grades in Waunakee, WI

Student-Teacher Ratio
7.6:1
This School
vs
14.7:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
427
This School
vs
630
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
9.0
This School
vs
6.7
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 68.4% vs 0%
Asian 10.3% vs 0%
Black 6.8% vs 0%
Hispanic 4.2% vs 0%
Madison Country Day School Waunakee Public Avg

Nearby Other Schools

School Rating
Madison Country Day School (this school) 9.0
Arboretum Elementary 5.6
Waunakee Community 4K School 5.3
Waunakee Middle 7.6
Waunakee Heritage Elementary 7.8
Waunakee High 7.0
Waunakee Prairie Elementary 6.3
Waunakee Intermediate 7.4

Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.

Score Breakdown

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in WI.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
A 9.1 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 7.6:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
A 9.0 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 7.5 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,312.5
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
A 9.3 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 51%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
A- 8.3 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 427
View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in WI

Test Scores

Test score data not yet available for this school.

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

White 68.4%
Asian 10.3%
Two or More 10.3%
Black 6.8%
Hispanic 4.2%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

5606 RIVER RD, Waunakee, WI 53597

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Madison Country Day School may also want to explore other schools in the area. Isthmus Montessori Academy Public (rated 8.2/10, 3.4 miles away, in nearby Madison), with a comparable rating. Another option is East High (rated 8.2/10, 4.8 miles away, in nearby Madison), with a comparable rating. Additionally, Waunakee Heritage Elementary (rated 7.8/10, 3.8 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in Waunakee, see our Waunakee schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 4.2 mi
School Distance Rating
Lindbergh Elementary Madison 1.3 mi 4.1
Black Hawk Middle Madison 1.4 mi 5.9
Gompers Elementary Madison 1.5 mi 7.2
Mendota Elementary Madison 1.8 mi 6.3
Mendota Mental Health Institution Madison 2.1 mi
Arboretum Elementary Waunakee 1.8 mi 5.6
Lake View Elementary Madison 2.3 mi 7.0
Shabazz-City High Madison 3.3 mi 7.1
Sherman Middle Madison 3.3 mi 6.1
RICHARDSON SCHOOL Madison 3.1 mi
Waunakee Community 4K School Waunakee 2.7 mi 5.3
Isthmus Montessori Academy Public Madison 3.4 mi 8.2
Emerson Elementary Madison 4.6 mi 6.7
ST JOHN THE BAPTIST CATHOLIC SCHOOL Waunakee 3.8 mi 7.3
Waunakee Middle Waunakee 3.7 mi 7.6
Waunakee Heritage Elementary Waunakee 3.8 mi 7.8
East High Madison 4.8 mi 8.2
Waunakee High Waunakee 3.8 mi 7.0
OPERATION FRESH START Madison 4.8 mi 7.0
Waunakee Prairie Elementary Waunakee 4.2 mi 6.3

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 53597 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$114,542

Median Home Value

$462,900

Median Rent

$1,336/mo

Population

20,671

College Educated

57.5%

Homeownership

74.4%

Avg Commute

22.1 min

Poverty Rate

4%

Median Age

42.2

Community Profile

The community surrounding Madison Country Day School has a median household income of $114,542. It is a well-educated community where 58% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $462,900, with a median rent of $1,336/month. The local poverty rate of 4.0% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 22 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
THE PRAIRIE SCHOOL Wind Point, WI 8.7
HERITAGE CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS New Berlin, WI 8.2
SHEBOYGAN CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Sheboygan, WI 8.2
EASTBROOK ACADEMY Milwaukee, WI 7.8
ABUNDANT LIFE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Madison, WI 7.5
Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa School Hayward, WI

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Madison Country Day School

What grades does Madison Country Day School serve?

Madison Country Day School serves students in grades Pre-K through 12th.

How many students attend Madison Country Day School?

Madison Country Day School has an enrollment of approximately 427 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Madison Country Day School?

The student-teacher ratio at Madison Country Day School is 7.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Madison Country Day School rank in WI?

Madison Country Day School is ranked #6 out of 571 private schools in WI.

What is Madison Country Day School's MySchoolScout rating?

Madison Country Day School has a composite rating of 9.0 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

Is Madison Country Day School a private school?

Yes, Madison Country Day School is a private coeducational school with a Nonsectarian affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is Madison Country Day School a religious school?

No, Madison Country Day School is a nonsectarian (non-religious) private school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
11 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
17 Somewhat Bikeable
City Safety
Average (315/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Waunakee). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
Pre-K – 12th
Enrollment
427
Gender Split
52% M / 48% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
7.6:1
Teachers (FTE)
57
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Nonsectarian
School Day
7.5 hours
Days Per Year
175 days
Setting
Fringe Rural
County
DANE
Data Year
2022–2023

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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