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Excellent

#450 of 2,105 schools in WI

Top 21% in state

Waunakee Prairie Elementary

Elementary School · Waunakee Community School District

700 N Madison St, Waunakee, WI 53597

Enrollment

524

Student-Teacher

12.2:1

Score

8.0

Grades

Pre-K – 4th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Wisconsin schools

#450 of 2,105

In Waunakee

#5 of 7

public schools

In district

#5 of 7

Waunakee Community School District

School environment

9.2 / 10

Excellent

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Waunakee Prairie Elementary

8.0/10

Elementary School in Waunakee · grades Pre-K – 4th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

St John the Baptist Catholic School

7.2/10

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

Waunakee Heritage Elementary

8.8/10

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

About Waunakee Prairie Elementary

Waunakee Prairie Elementary is a public elementary school in Waunakee, WI, part of Waunakee Community School District. Waunakee Prairie Elementary serves approximately 524 students, and covers grades Pre-K-4th, and has a 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio. Waunakee Prairie Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.0 out of 10 and ranks #450 of 2,105 schools in WI.

Structured state assessment records for Waunakee Prairie Elementary show 72% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 61% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares0.3 pts below district
  • This school 8.0 · Excellent
  • District avg 8.3
  • WI avg 6.8

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress7.7Very Good50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-1.23 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics7.7Very Good30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency68.3% (2025 FORWARD)
Reading/ELA Proficiency65.5% (2025 FORWARD)
Math vs. State Avg+14 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+14.3 pts
Overall Proficiency67% (2025 FORWARD, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)69% (model expectation from 2025 FORWARD)
vs. Expected-1.7 pts
Adjusted Percentile66th
Resources & Environment9.2Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio12.2:1
Per-Pupil Spending$15,152
Chronic Absenteeism9.5%

Waunakee Prairie Elementary — Students at Waunakee Prairie Elementary score 67% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 69%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

5.7%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores WI FORWARD (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 71.7% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
53.6% (2025 FORWARD)
ELA Proficiency 60.8% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
51.2% (2025 FORWARD)

Based on 32 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
91%
ELA
94%
2010
Math
90%
ELA
91%
2011
Math
76%
ELA
50%
2012
Math
74%
ELA
48%
2013
Math
74%
ELA
53%
2014
Math
64%
ELA
60%
2015
Math
72%
ELA
58%
2016
Math
63%
ELA
61%
2017
Math
68%
ELA
61%
2018
Math
75%
ELA
59%
2019
Math
75%
ELA
59%
2020*
Math
62%
ELA
47%
2021*
Math
62%
ELA
47%
2022
Math
64.5%
ELA
54.5%
2025
Math
68.3%
ELA
65.5%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 7.7/10.

How Waunakee Prairie Elementary Compares

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

Overall Score
8.0/10
79th percentile in WI
Academic
7.7/10
Very Good
Growth
7.7/10
Very Good
Environment
9.2/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
6%
Teaching Staff
12:1 student-teacher ratio
43 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
9.5%

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

700 N Madison St, Waunakee, WI 53597

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Waunakee Prairie Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Waunakee Heritage Elementary (rated 8.8/10, 0.8 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Northside Elementary (rated 8.4/10, 6.3 miles away, in nearby Middleton), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Arboretum Elementary (rated 8.2/10, 2.4 miles away), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Waunakee, see our Waunakee schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 6.0 mi
School Distance Rating
ST JOHN THE BAPTIST CATHOLIC SCHOOL Waunakee 0.7 mi 7.2
Waunakee Heritage Elementary Waunakee 0.8 mi 8.8
Waunakee High Waunakee 1.1 mi 7.0
Waunakee Middle Waunakee 1.2 mi 8.1
Waunakee Community 4K School Waunakee 1.5 mi 3.3
Waunakee Intermediate Waunakee 1.9 mi 9.0
Arboretum Elementary Waunakee 2.4 mi 8.2
BLESSED TRINITY CATHOLIC SCHOOL Dane 4.3 mi 7.5
MADISON COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL Waunakee 4.2 mi 9.0
Mendota Mental Health Institution Madison 5.2 mi
Lindbergh Elementary Madison 5.0 mi 5.5
Mendota Elementary Madison 5.5 mi 5.5
Northside Elementary Middleton 6.3 mi 8.4
Black Hawk Middle Madison 5.5 mi 4.3
Gompers Elementary Madison 5.6 mi 7.5
WESTSIDE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Middleton 6.3 mi 7.5
ST PETER CATHOLIC SCHOOL Middleton 6.0 mi 4.9
Kromrey Middle Middleton 7.0 mi 8.4
Sauk Trail Elementary Middleton 7.2 mi 7.6
Yahara Elementary De Forest 6.0 mi 6.7

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

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Addison Elementary Hartford, WI 8.0
Belleville Elementary Belleville, WI 8.0
Cadott Elementary Cadott, WI 8.0
Chappell Elementary Green Bay, WI 8.0
Clovis Grove Elementary Menasha, WI 8.0
Country Dale Elementary Franklin, WI 8.0

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Waunakee Prairie Elementary

What grades does Waunakee Prairie Elementary serve?

Waunakee Prairie Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 4th.

How many students attend Waunakee Prairie Elementary?

Waunakee Prairie Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 524 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Waunakee Prairie Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Waunakee Prairie Elementary is 12.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Waunakee Prairie Elementary rank in WI?

Waunakee Prairie Elementary ranks #450 of 2,105 schools in WI.

What is Waunakee Prairie Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Waunakee Prairie Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.0 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 Waunakee Prairie Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Waunakee Prairie Elementary has 72% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 61% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Waunakee Prairie Elementary a charter school?

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

Is Waunakee Prairie Elementary a Title I school?

No, Waunakee Prairie Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

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

5.7% of students at Waunakee Prairie 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
49 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
61 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 4th
Enrollment
524
Student-Teacher Ratio
12.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
43
Free/Reduced Lunch
5.7%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Dane County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
9.5%

District

Waunakee Community School District
District Enrollment
4,410
Schools in District
7
Per-Pupil Spending
$15,152
District Rank
#5 of 7

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