Excellent
#450 of 2,105 schools in WI
Top 21% in state
Waunakee Prairie Elementary
Elementary School · Waunakee Community School District · Waunakee, WI
A Waunakee Community School District elementary school serving grades Pre-K – 4th.
700 N Madison St, Waunakee, WI 53597
- Math 68% vs WI 54% (2025)
- Reading 66% vs WI 51% (2025)
- 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Waunakee Prairie Elementary score 67% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 69%).
2025 FORWARD proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. WI average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 12 points since 2020, reaching 67% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 72% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 61% (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 32 test records from WI state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
5.7%
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 Waunakee Prairie 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 49Car-Dependent
- Bike 61Bikeable
- City Safety: Average315/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Waunakee), 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
$114,542
Median home value
$462,900
Median rent
$1,336/mo
College educated
57.5%
Homeownership
74.4%
Poverty rate
4%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 53597; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
3 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St John the Baptist Catholic SchoolPrivate · tuition | 7.2private | K–8 | 0.7 mi | 171 | Compare → |
| Waunakee Heritage ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 8.8 | PK–4 | 0.8 mi | 575 | Compare → |
| Waunakee Community 4k SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 3.3 | PK | 1.5 mi | 237 | 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.
Waunakee Community School District
- Schools in district
- 7
- Rank in district
- #5 of 7
- District spending per student
- $15,152NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 2.3%Census SAIPE · 2024
Waunakee Prairie Elementary is listed in Waunakee Community School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Waunakee Prairie Elementary
Waunakee Prairie Elementary is a public elementary school in Waunakee, WI, part of Waunakee Community School District, serving approximately 524 students in grades Pre-K-4th with a 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.0 out of 10 and ranks #450 of 2,105 schools in WI. State assessment records show 72% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 61% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 4th
- Enrollment
- 524
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 12.2:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 43
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Dane County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 9.5%
- Phone
- (608) 849-2200
- Area population (ZIP 53597)
- 20,671
- Area average commute
- 22.1 min
- Area median age
- 42.2
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 53597; 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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