Below Average
#1909 of 2,105 schools in WI
Southside Elementary School
Elementary School · Madison Metropolitan School District · Madison, WI
A Madison Metropolitan School District elementary school where students score 17 points below what's typical for similar communities.
501 E Badger Rd, Madison, WI 53713
- Math 17% vs WI 53% (2025)
- Reading 14% vs WI 51% (2025)
- 12.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Southside Elementary School score 15% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 32%).
2025 FORWARD proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. WI average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 8 points since 2020, reaching 15% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 21% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 19% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 34 test records from WI state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
68.1%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Southside Elementary School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 55Somewhat Walkable
- Transit 39Some Transit
- Bike 47Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High2,124/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Madison), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$57,833
Median home value
$259,100
Median rent
$1,173/mo
College educated
39.3%
Homeownership
30.7%
Poverty rate
16.3%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 53713; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 7.4 | PK–5 | 1.1 mi | 385 | Compare → |
| Woodland Montessori SchoolPrivate · tuition | Not rated | PK–K | 1.2 mi | 10 | Compare → |
| Franklin ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 6.1 | PK–2 | 1.3 mi | 292 | Compare → |
| Greenway Crossing MontessoriPrivate · tuition | Not rated | K–1 | 1.5 mi | 14 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Madison Metropolitan School District
- Schools in district
- 54
- Rank in district
- #52 of 52
- District spending per student
- $17,411NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 9.4%Census SAIPE · 2024
Southside Elementary School is listed in Madison Metropolitan School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Southside Elementary School
Southside Elementary School is a public elementary school in Madison, WI, part of Madison Metropolitan School District, serving approximately 357 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 12.3:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.1 out of 10 and ranks #1,909 of 2,105 schools in WI. State assessment records show 21% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 19% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Southside Elementary School
What grades does Southside Elementary School serve?
Southside Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Southside Elementary School?
Southside Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 357 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Southside Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Southside Elementary School is 12.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Southside Elementary School rank in WI?
Southside Elementary School ranks #1,909 of 2,105 schools in WI.
What is Southside Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Southside Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.1 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 Southside Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Southside Elementary School has 21% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 19% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Southside Elementary School a charter school?
No, Southside Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Southside Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Southside Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Southside Elementary School?
68.1% of students at Southside Elementary School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 357
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 12.3:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 29
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large City
- County
- Dane County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 58.0%
- Phone
- (608) 204-1056
- Area population (ZIP 53713)
- 23,744
- Area average commute
- 17.1 min
- Area median age
- 30.3
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 FORWARD · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 FORWARD. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 FORWARD · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 FORWARD. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 53713; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
Related reading
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.