Best Schools in Dane County, WI
Dane County, WI has 252 public schools (45 high, 47 middle, 133 elementary) serving 100,143 students. On average they score 47% on state proficiency tests against a projected 49%, so schools in Dane County don't meet expectations. Rankings below compare each school’s actual results with the projection for its socioeconomic context.
Best High Schools in Dane County, WI
The top high schools in Dane County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Pecatonica High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Pecatonica Area School District • Public • Grades 6 - 12 • 207 Students
2. Monona Grove Liberal Arts
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Monona Grove School District • Charter • Grades 6 - 12 • 81 Students
3. Middleton High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Middleton-cross Plains Area School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 2309 Students
4. Koshkonong Trails School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Cambridge School District • Charter • Grades 7 - 12 • 33 Students
5. Poynette High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Poynette School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 307 Students
6. West High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Madison Metropolitan School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 2147 Students
7. Wisconsin Heights High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Wisconsin Heights School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 219 Students
8. Waunakee High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Waunakee Community School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1327 Students
9. Vel Phillips Memorial High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Madison Metropolitan School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 2025 Students
10. Mount Horeb High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Mount Horeb Area School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 793 Students
Best Middle Schools in Dane County, WI
The top middle schools in Dane County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Waunakee Intermediate
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Waunakee Community School District • Public • Grades 5 - 6 • 635 Students
2. Glacier Creek Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Middleton-cross Plains Area School District • Public • Grades 5 - 8 • 935 Students
3. Belleville Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Belleville School District • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 134 Students
4. New Glarus Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
New Glarus School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 219 Students
5. Kromrey Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Middleton-cross Plains Area School District • Public • Grades 5 - 8 • 1191 Students
6. Hamilton Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Madison Metropolitan School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 725 Students
7. Waunakee Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Waunakee Community School District • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 682 Students
8. Spring Harbor Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Madison Metropolitan School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 263 Students
9. Indian Mound Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Mcfarland School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 531 Students
10. Wisconsin Heights Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Wisconsin Heights School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 154 Students
Best Elementary Schools in Dane County, WI
The top elementary schools in Dane County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Shorewood Hills Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Madison Metropolitan School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 381 Students
2. Pope Farm Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Middleton-cross Plains Area School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 4 • 410 Students
3. Elm Lawn Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Middleton-cross Plains Area School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 4 • 355 Students
4. New Century School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Verona Area School District • Charter • Grades KG - 5 • 125 Students
5. Forest Edge Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Oregon School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 6 • 385 Students
6. Barneveld Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Barneveld School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 206 Students
7. Park Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Middleton-cross Plains Area School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 4 • 252 Students
8. West Middleton Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Middleton-cross Plains Area School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 4 • 364 Students
9. Netherwood Knoll Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Oregon School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 4 • 398 Students
10. Core Knowledge Charter School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Verona Area School District • Charter • Grades KG - 8 • 417 Students
Education & Community Snapshot in Dane County, WI
County-level factors that shape the learning environment around local schools.
Community Factors
Dane County, WI has a total population of 561,504 with 28% of that population attending schools. The adult high school graduation rate is 95%, and 55% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Students in Dane County, WI
K-12 Students
High School Graduates
Adults 25+ with HS diplomas
College Graduates
Adults 25+ with a Bachelor’s degree or higher
Demographics statistics provided by Best Neighborhood Dane County, WI.
Safety
Crime Grades summarize reported incidents per 1,000 residents. Use them as neighborhood context, not a school rating.
Overall Crime Grade
18.61 per 1,000 Residents
Violent Crime Grade
2.81 per 1,000 Residents
Property Crime Grade
15.80 per 1,000 Residents
Crime statistics provided by CrimeGrade in Dane County, WI.
Connectivity
Connectivity influences learning at home. We summarize internet infrastructure, typical download speed, and a digital connectivity index for Dane County, WI.
ISP Report Card
Internet Infrastructure Grade
Average Download Speed
Speed Most Residents Can Get
Digital Connectivity Index
ISP Connectivity Demand Report
To read more about these statistics, please visit Dane County, WI Internet Health Assessment.
Questions About Schools in Dane County, WI
How many schools are in Dane County, WI?
Dane County, WI has 252 public schools: 45 high schools, 47 middle schools and 133 elementary schools, serving 100,143 students in total.
How do schools in Dane County perform on state tests?
On average, 252 schools in Dane County score 47% proficient on state assessments. Given the socioeconomic context of their students we project 49%, so on average schools in Dane County don't meet expectations.
How does SchoolGrade rank the best schools in Dane County?
Every public school gets a SchoolGrade from A+ to F based on the share of students at or above the state proficiency bar. The Impact Grade compares that result with what we would expect given the school’s student and community context, so schools that outperform their circumstances stand out. Schools cannot pay to change a grade. Read the full methodology.
Best Schools in Cities Near Dane County, WI
Explore nearby cities to widen your school search.
- Actual: 46%
- Projected: 46%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 47%
- Projected: 47%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 46%
- Projected: 46%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 41%
- Projected: 39%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 40%
- Projected: 42%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 43%
- Projected: 48%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 45%
- Projected: 43%
- Impact Grade: Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 41%
- Projected: 44%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 44%
- Projected: 44%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 36%
- Projected: 39%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
Cities, towns and school districts in Dane County
20 places in Dane County with graded public schools. Each link opens that place's ranked schools.
Cities and towns (20)
- Madison (53)
- Sun Prairie (14)
- Verona (12)
- Middleton (8)
- Waunakee (7)
- Mcfarland (6)
- Mount Horeb (6)
- Oregon (6)
- Stoughton (6)
- Cottage Grove (4)
- Marshall (4)
- Monona (4)
- Belleville (3)
- Cambridge (3)
- Deerfield (3)
- Deforest (3)
- Fitchburg (3)
- Mazomanie (3)
- Cross Plains (2)
- Windsor (1)
School districts (16)
- Madison Metropolitan School District (52 schools)
- Sun Prairie Area School District (14 schools)
- Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District (12 schools)
- Verona Area School District (12 schools)
- McFarland School District (8 schools)
- Oregon School District (8 schools)
- De Forest Area School District (7 schools)
- Monona Grove School District (7 schools)
- Waunakee Community School District (7 schools)
- Mount Horeb Area School District (6 schools)
- Stoughton Area School District (6 schools)
- Marshall School District (5 schools)
- Wisconsin Department of Health Services (4 schools)
- Belleville School District (3 schools)
- Deerfield Community School District (3 schools)
- Wisconsin Heights School District (3 schools)