Excellent
#302 of 2,105 schools in WI
Top 14% in state
Thoreau Elementary
Elementary School · Madison Metropolitan School District · Madison, WI
A Madison Metropolitan School District elementary school where students score 7 points above what's typical for similar communities.
3870 Nakoma Rd, Madison, WI 53711
- Math 56% vs WI 53% (2025)
- Reading 59% vs WI 51% (2025)
- 11.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Thoreau Elementary score 58% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 51%).
2025 FORWARD proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. WI average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 21 points since 2020, reaching 58% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 50% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 51% (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
35.4%
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 Thoreau Elementary 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 31Car-Dependent
- Transit 36Some Transit
- Bike 57Bikeable
- 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
$101,236
Median home value
$387,600
Median rent
$1,357/mo
College educated
66%
Homeownership
62%
Poverty rate
7.9%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 53711; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wingra SchoolPrivate · tuition | 7.8private | K–8 | 0.7 mi | 100 | Compare → |
| Midvale ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 7.4 | PK–2 | 0.8 mi | 372 | Compare → |
| Our Lady Queen of Peace SchoolPrivate · tuition | 6.0private | PK–8 | 1.0 mi | 441 | Compare → |
| Edgewood Campus SchoolPrivate · tuition | 6.0private | PK–8 | 1.4 mi | 333 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Madison Metropolitan School District
- Schools in district
- 54
- Rank in district
- #7 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
Thoreau Elementary is listed in Madison Metropolitan School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Thoreau Elementary
Thoreau Elementary is a public elementary school in Madison, WI, part of Madison Metropolitan School District, serving approximately 398 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 11.7:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.3 out of 10 and ranks #302 of 2,105 schools in WI. State assessment records show 50% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 51% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Thoreau Elementary
What grades does Thoreau Elementary serve?
Thoreau Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Thoreau Elementary?
Thoreau Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 398 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Thoreau Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Thoreau Elementary is 11.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Thoreau Elementary rank in WI?
Thoreau Elementary ranks #302 of 2,105 schools in WI.
What is Thoreau Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Thoreau Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.3 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 Thoreau Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Thoreau Elementary has 50% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 51% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Thoreau Elementary a charter school?
No, Thoreau Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Thoreau Elementary a Title I school?
No, Thoreau Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Thoreau Elementary?
35.4% of students at Thoreau 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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 398
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 11.7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 34
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large City
- County
- Dane County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 32.7%
- Phone
- (608) 204-6940
- Area population (ZIP 53711)
- 50,474
- Area average commute
- 19.3 min
- Area median age
- 38.3
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 53711; 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
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