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Isthmus Montessori Academy Public

Q: Is Isthmus Montessori Academy Public a good school?

Isthmus Montessori Academy Public ranks 567 th of 1044 Wisconsin alternative schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public, Charter, Alternative Grades PK, KG-12

567^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,044 Wisconsin Alternative Schools

Better than 46% of Wisconsin alternative schools

Summary

Isthmus Montessori Academy Public is an alternative public charter school in Madison, Wisconsin, serving 220 students in grades PK-12. The school has experienced some challenges, with fluctuating dropout rates, high chronic absenteeism, and variable test scores compared to the state average, particularly in the earlier grades. However, the school's performance improves in the upper grades, with several subjects exceeding the state average.

Compared to nearby alternative schools like Metro School, Isthmus Montessori Academy Public has seen higher dropout rates and chronic absenteeism, as well as a significantly lower student-teacher ratio. The school's spending per student has also been lower than the nearby Mendota Mental Health Institution. These comparisons suggest Isthmus Montessori Academy Public may need to examine its practices and strategies to better support its student population.

One positive trend is the declining percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch at Isthmus Montessori Academy Public, which could indicate a shift in the school's demographic composition or changes in the local community. This metric may be worth further investigation to understand the potential implications for the school's programs and support services. Overall, the analysis of Isthmus Montessori Academy Public reveals a school facing some challenges, but also with potential areas for improvement and growth.

210

Students ?

15.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$1,835

Per pupil spending ?

17.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1802 Pankratz St
Madison, WI 53704-4069

(608) 661-8200

District: Isthmus Montessori Academy Inc

Racial breakdown:

White:

67.6%

Hispanic:

14.3%

Two or more races:

11.4%

See top rated Wisconsin elementary schools

Compare Isthmus Montessori Academy Public to nearby alternative schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 30th percentile in 2023 → 85th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 55 percentile points since 2023

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school58%

District avg58%

Wisconsin avg54%

Elementary school

567^th of 1,044

Wisconsin public elementary schools ?

Bottom 46%▲ up 16 pts since 2023

From bottom 30% (2023) to bottom 46% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Wisconsin Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

96^th of 628

Wisconsin public middle schools ?

Top 15%▲ up 22 pts since 2023

From top 37% (2023) to top 15% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Wisconsin Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	51.8	567 of 1044	45.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	39.8	728 of 1061	31.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	36.7	752 of 1067	29.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	35.5	736 of 1001	26.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	41.6	690 of 1011	31.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	44.7	634 of 1010	37.2%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2024	10.9	818 of 866	5.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	19.9	778 of 871	10.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	64.9	352 of 1000	64.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	30.9	772 of 1012	23.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	32.6	745 of 1011	26.3%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	46.5	402 of 718	44.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	22.7	615 of 727	15.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	29.2	562 of 715	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	78.7	96 of 628	84.7%	★★★★☆
2024	49.1	369 of 641	42.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	59.7	236 of 640	63.1%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	73.0	129 of 573	77.5%	★★★★☆
2023	38.1	385 of 579	33.5%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	79.3	79 of 577	86.3%	★★★★☆
2023	36.7	392 of 591	33.7%	★★☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Elementary school

Male (2025)65th percentile+19 vs school

White (2025)44th percentile~ school

Female (2025)26th percentile-19 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2024)6th percentile-26 vs school

Middle school

Male (2025)86th percentile~ school

Female (2025)77th percentile-7 vs school

By subject vs Wisconsin (2024-2025) ?

Social Studies80%+17 vs state

Science76%+25 vs state

Mathematics50%-3 vs state

English Language Arts50%~ state avg

1.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Wednesday, December 2, 2020

This school is a heartbreaking failed experiment at the expense of the taxpayer, students, and the good name of Maria Montessori. Madison needs a public Montessori option, but only new leadership can save this endeavor, a school of chaotic classrooms, ignored student needs, and the repeated exploitation of countless young women staff, many of them women of color. Close Quote

Schools Near Isthmus Montessori Academy Public

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking ()				Ranking ()				Forward Exam English Language Arts (2025)						Forward Exam Mathematics (2025)						Forward Exam Social Studies (2025)		Forward Exam Science (2025)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2021)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score ()	Statewide Rank ()	State Percentile ()	SchoolDigger Rating ()	Average Standard Score ()	Statewide Rank ()	State Percentile ()	Rank Change from Previous Year	Forward Exam English Language Arts 3rd Grade	Forward Exam English Language Arts 4th Grade	Forward Exam English Language Arts 5th Grade	Forward Exam English Language Arts 6th Grade	Forward Exam English Language Arts 7th Grade	Forward Exam English Language Arts 8th Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 3rd Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 4th Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 5th Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 6th Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 7th Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 8th Grade	Forward Exam Social Studies 4th Grade	Forward Exam Social Studies 8th Grade	Forward Exam Science 4th Grade	Forward Exam Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Isthmus Montessori Academy Public	Public, Charter, Alternative	PK, KG-12	1802 Pankratz St	Madison	53704	Dane County	Isthmus Montessori Academy Inc	Yes	No	No	Yes	(608) 661-8200	210	14	15.2	17.6%	142 (67.6%)	6 (2.9%)	30 (14.3%)	8 (3.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (11.4%)								(n/a)	21.7	42.9	52.4	60.0	81.8	78.6	43.5	46.4	47.6	80.0	63.6	42.9	78.6	84.6	71.4	84.6	$1,835	$1,281	$554
Central Wisconsin Center	Public, Alternative	K-12	317 Knutson Dr	Madison	53704	Dane County	Wisconsin Department of Health Services	No	No	No	No	(608) 267-5150	1	3	.3		1 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Mendota Mental Health Institution	Public, Alternative	K-12	301 Troy Dr	Madison	53704	Dane County	Wisconsin Department of Health Services	No	No	No	No	(608) 267-5150	18	2	9.0		3 (16.7%)	13 (72.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (11.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Metro School	Public, Alternative	4-12	115 W Doty St	Madison	53703	Dane County	Madison Metropolitan School District	No	No	No	No	(608) 663-1634	12	6	2.0	41.7%	3 (25.0%)	3 (25.0%)	3 (25.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (25.0%)								(n/a)																	$30,839	$4,767	$26,073

Frequently Asked Questions about Isthmus Montessori Academy Public

What district is Isthmus Montessori Academy Public in?

Isthmus Montessori Academy Inc

Is Isthmus Montessori Academy Public a good school?

Isthmus Montessori Academy Public ranks 567^th of 1044 Wisconsin alternative schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Isthmus Montessori Academy Public?

In the 2024-25 school year, 210 students attended Isthmus Montessori Academy Public.

What is the racial makeup of Isthmus Montessori Academy Public?

Students at Isthmus Montessori Academy Public are 68% White, 14% Hispanic, 11% Two or more races, 4% Asian, 3% African American.

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.