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Average

#1213 of 2,105 schools in WI

Sandburg Elementary

Elementary School · Madison Metropolitan School District

4114 Donald Dr, Madison, WI 53704

Enrollment

411

Student-Teacher

11.1:1

Score

6.1

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Wisconsin schools

#1,213 of 2,105

In Madison

#35 of 54

public schools

In district

#34 of 52

Madison Metropolitan School District

School environment

8.6 / 10

Excellent

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Sandburg Elementary

6.1/10

Elementary School in Madison · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Eastside Lutheran School

6.9/10

0.5 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Wings to Soar Online Academy

4.2/10

1.5 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Sandburg Elementary

Sandburg Elementary is a public elementary school in Madison, WI, part of Madison Metropolitan School District. Sandburg Elementary serves approximately 411 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 11.1:1 student-teacher ratio. Sandburg Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.1 out of 10 and ranks #1,213 of 2,105 schools in WI.

Structured state assessment records for Sandburg Elementary show 33% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 29% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares0.8 pts below district
  • This school 6.1 · Average
  • District avg 6.9
  • WI avg 6.8

What Parents Should Know

Test scores at Sandburg Elementary sit below average, but its growth scores are strong: students here make above-average progress year over year. The raw numbers haven't caught up, but a school that keeps moving kids forward is doing the harder, more important work.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress6.3Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data13
Annual Change-1.78 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics4.2Below Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency24.7% (2025 FORWARD)
Reading/ELA Proficiency29.3% (2025 FORWARD)
Math vs. State Avg-29.6 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-21.9 pts
Overall Proficiency27% (2025 FORWARD, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)36% (model expectation from 2025 FORWARD)
vs. Expected-8.6 pts
Adjusted Percentile23th
Resources & Environment8.6Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio11.1:1
Per-Pupil Spending$17,411
Chronic Absenteeism25.5%

Sandburg Elementary — Students at Sandburg Elementary score 27% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 36%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

61.6%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores WI FORWARD (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 32.6% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
53.0% (2025 FORWARD)
ELA Proficiency 28.7% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
50.9% (2025 FORWARD)

Based on 30 test records from WI state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
62%
ELA
67%
2010
Math
62%
ELA
67%
2011
Math
32%
ELA
12%
2012
Math
37%
ELA
17%
2013
Math
32%
ELA
17%
2014
Math
27%
ELA
27%
2015
Math
27%
ELA
22%
2016
Math
27%
ELA
32%
2017
Math
22%
ELA
22%
2018
Math
32%
ELA
22%
2019
Math
32%
ELA
22%
2022
Math
22.8%
ELA
14.9%
2025
Math
24.7%
ELA
29.3%

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 6.3/10.

How Sandburg Elementary Compares

See how Sandburg Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
6.1/10
42th percentile in WI
Academic
4.2/10
Below Average
Growth
6.3/10
Average
Environment
8.6/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
62%
Teaching Staff
11:1 student-teacher ratio
37 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
25.5%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

4114 Donald Dr, Madison, WI 53704

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Sandburg Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Lowell Elementary (rated 8.4/10, 3.3 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Emerson Elementary (rated 7.6/10, 3.2 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Gompers Elementary (rated 7.5/10, 2.9 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Madison, see our Madison schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 3.0 mi
School Distance Rating
EASTSIDE LUTHERAN SCHOOL Madison 0.5 mi 6.9
WINGS TO SOAR ONLINE ACADEMY Madison 1.5 mi 4.2
Hawthorne Elementary Madison 1.8 mi 5.5
HOLY CROSS LUTHERAN SCHOOL Madison 2.3 mi 5.7
TOAD HILL CHILDRENS HOUSE Madison 2.6 mi
RICHARDSON SCHOOL Madison 2.0 mi
Isthmus Montessori Academy Public Madison 2.4 mi 8.6
Kennedy Elementary Madison 3.0 mi 4.3
Whitehorse Middle Madison 3.1 mi 4.5
Schenk Elementary Madison 3.1 mi 6.2
ST DENNIS SCHOOL Madison 3.2 mi 6.9
Lake View Elementary Madison 2.5 mi 4.6
OPERATION FRESH START Madison 3.0 mi 7.0
Lowell Elementary Madison 3.3 mi 8.4
Sherman Middle Madison 2.8 mi 5.1
Emerson Elementary Madison 3.2 mi 7.6
Shabazz-City High Madison 2.8 mi 4.2
East High Madison 3.4 mi 5.8
Gompers Elementary Madison 2.9 mi 7.5
Black Hawk Middle Madison 3.0 mi 4.3

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 53704 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$75,007

Median Home Value

$289,000

Median Rent

$1,231/mo

Population

47,136

College Educated

49.5%

Homeownership

53.5%

Avg Commute

21.3 min

Poverty Rate

11.8%

Median Age

35.2

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Franklin Elementary Madison, WI 6.1
G D Jones Elementary Wausau, WI 6.1
Grant Elementary Sheboygan, WI 6.1
Johnston Elementary Appleton, WI 6.1
Kate Goodrich Elementary Merrill, WI 6.1
Lake Country Academy - Charter Sheboygan, WI 6.1

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Sandburg Elementary

What grades does Sandburg Elementary serve?

Sandburg Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Sandburg Elementary?

Sandburg Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 411 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Sandburg Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Sandburg Elementary is 11.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Sandburg Elementary rank in WI?

Sandburg Elementary ranks #1,213 of 2,105 schools in WI.

What is Sandburg Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Sandburg Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.1 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Sandburg Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Sandburg Elementary has 33% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 29% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Sandburg Elementary a charter school?

No, Sandburg Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Sandburg Elementary a Title I school?

No, Sandburg Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Sandburg Elementary?

61.6% of students at Sandburg Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
28 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
35 Some Transit
Bike Score
52 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
411
Student-Teacher Ratio
11.1:1
Teachers (FTE)
37
Free/Reduced Lunch
61.6%
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
Dane County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
25.5%

District

Madison Metropolitan School District
District Enrollment
25,247
Schools in District
54
Per-Pupil Spending
$17,411
District Rank
#34 of 52

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