Best High Schools in Madison, WI

The city of Madison, Wisconsin is home to 8 high schools, a mix of public and public charter schools serving grades 9-12. While the overall Madison Metropolitan School District is ranked 317 out of 426 districts in the state, the performance of individual schools within the district varies greatly. West High consistently ranks among the top high schools in the state, with strong test scores and a high graduation rate. In contrast, East High and LaFollette High lag behind the district and state averages in academic performance.

The smaller, specialized high schools like Innovative High, Capital High, and Shabazz-City High serve unique student populations and have different performance profiles compared to the larger comprehensive high schools. Milestone Democratic School, a public charter school, is outperforming the district and state averages in several subject areas, particularly for its 8th grade students.

The wide range in per-student spending across the schools, from $10,910 to $25,715, raises questions about the relationship between funding and academic performance. Further analysis would be needed to understand the factors driving these differences. Overall, the data provides a detailed look at the high school landscape in Madison, Wisconsin, highlighting both the strengths and challenges facing the district and individual schools.