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Stephens Elementary

Q: Is Stephens Elementary a good school?

Stephens Elementary ranks 603 rd of 1044 Wisconsin elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

603^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,044 Wisconsin Elementary Schools

Better than 42% of Wisconsin elementary schools

Summary

Stephens Elementary is a public elementary school in Madison, Wisconsin, serving 482 students in grades PK-5. The school is part of the Madison Metropolitan School District, which is ranked 317 out of 426 districts in the state.

Stephens Elementary has seen fluctuations in its statewide ranking, ranging from a high of 244 out of 1,050 Wisconsin elementary schools in 2020-2021 to a low of 788 out of 1,075 schools in 2015-2016. Currently, the school ranks 603 out of 1,044 Wisconsin elementary schools, with a 2-star rating. While the school generally performs better than the district and state in student proficiency, it struggles with high chronic absenteeism rates. Compared to nearby schools, Stephens Elementary outperforms Milele Chikasa Anana Elementary but lags behind the high-performing Shorewood Hills Elementary.

Stephens Elementary's spending per student, ranging from $14,366 to $15,396 in recent years, is higher than the state average but lower than some of the nearby high-performing schools, such as Orchard Ridge Elementary. The school's student-teacher ratio, ranging from 11.3 to 11.9, is comparable to the nearby schools and the state average. Overall, Stephens Elementary has areas of strength, such as its performance in certain subjects and for specific student subgroups, but also faces challenges, such as the performance of Hispanic students and high chronic absenteeism rates.

447

Students ?

10.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$15,396

Per pupil spending ?

44.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

120 S Rosa Rd
Madison, WI 53705-4499

(608) 204-1900

District: Madison Metropolitan School District

Students who attend Stephens Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Ezekiel Gillespie Middle School
	Spring Harbor Middle
High:	Vel Phillips Memorial High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

41.8%

Hispanic:

29.8%

African American:

11.6%

See top rated Wisconsin elementary schools

Compare Stephens Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 43rd percentile in 2015 → 42nd in 2025

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 10 students per teacher

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school51%

District avg47%

Wisconsin avg54%

603^rd of 1,044

Wisconsin public elementary schools ?

Bottom 42%▼ down 1 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of Wisconsin Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

11^th of 29Elementary Schools in the Madison Metropolitan School District

317^th of 426Madison Metropolitan School District among Wisconsin districts

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

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	48.7	603 of 1044	42.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	50.4	624 of 1061	41.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	63.1	411 of 1067	61.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	71.1	269 of 1067	74.8%	★★★★☆
2021	73.1	244 of 1050	76.8%	★★★★☆
2019	50.7	575 of 1037	44.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	55.3	490 of 1025	52.2%	★★★☆☆
2017	45.5	652 of 1071	39.1%	★★☆☆☆
2016	34.1	788 of 1075	26.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	51.0	614 of 1076	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2014	76.7	167 of 1061	84.3%	★★★★☆
2013	69.4	255 of 1053	75.8%	★★★★☆
2012	68.7	310 of 1045	70.3%	★★★★☆
2011	67.1	324 of 1046	69.0%	★★★☆☆
2010	64.3	395 of 1045	62.2%	★★★☆☆
2009	46.4	693 of 1030	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2008	67.2	345 of 1021	66.2%	★★★☆☆
2007	65.0	286 of 689	58.5%	★★★☆☆
2006	67.6	277 of 712	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2005	58.4	336 of 632	46.8%	★★☆☆☆
2004	21.9	531 of 633	16.1%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	58.6	42 of 144	70.8%	★★★★☆
2024	42.7	75 of 137	45.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	53.6	44 of 138	68.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	63.6	32 of 133	75.9%	★★★★☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2023	71.6	33 of 116	71.6%	★★★★☆
2022	65.0	41 of 110	62.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	82.3	21 of 106	80.2%	★★★★☆
2019	76.0	33 of 122	73.0%	★★★★☆
2018	85.3	20 of 107	81.3%	★★★★☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	40.7	152 of 255	40.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	49.8	114 of 269	57.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	59.3	67 of 249	73.1%	★★★★☆
2022	74.0	30 of 248	87.9%	★★★★☆
2019	44.8	146 of 275	46.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	30.6	223 of 287	22.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	53.8	518 of 1001	48.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	53.6	543 of 1011	46.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	64.6	355 of 1010	64.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	69.5	282 of 1017	72.3%	★★★★☆
2021	72.7	236 of 1004	76.5%	★★★★☆
2019	56.2	464 of 1002	53.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	60.7	408 of 997	59.1%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	20.9	278 of 322	13.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	25.3	260 of 331	21.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	40.5	165 of 290	43.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	38.0	176 of 296	40.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	60.8	76 of 274	72.3%	★★★★☆
2019	21.0	233 of 266	12.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	21.1	239 of 271	11.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	17.7	776 of 870	10.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	8.5	837 of 866	3.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	25.6	726 of 871	16.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	28.9	667 of 859	22.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	51.4	387 of 847	54.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	11.7	838 of 874	4.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	13.5	810 of 854	5.2%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	43.4	642 of 1000	35.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	47.0	617 of 1012	39.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	61.9	399 of 1011	60.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	71.0	263 of 1017	74.1%	★★★★☆
2021	67.0	297 of 1003	70.4%	★★★★☆
2019	45.5	609 of 1002	39.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	51.1	536 of 997	46.2%	★★☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2021	73.8	16 of 85	81.2%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	57.9	286 of 802	64.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	70.8	163 of 790	79.4%	★★★★☆
2023	70.5	149 of 770	80.6%	★★★★☆
2022	68.2	159 of 748	78.7%	★★★★☆
2021	65.8	174 of 746	76.7%	★★★★☆
2019	30.1	542 of 742	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	39.2	447 of 721	38.0%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	77.2	127 of 718	82.3%	★★★★☆
2024	84.1	60 of 727	91.7%	★★★★★
2023	90.0	25 of 715	96.5%	★★★★★
2022	94.0	14 of 704	98.0%	★★★★★
2021	75.8	119 of 699	83.0%	★★★★☆
2019	80.5	92 of 718	87.2%	★★★★☆
2018	85.7	55 of 686	92.0%	★★★★★

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)

White (2025)82nd percentile+40 vs school

Multi-racial (2021)81st percentile+4 vs school

Asian (2023)72nd percentile+10 vs school

African American (2025)71st percentile+29 vs school

Special Education (2025)64th percentile+22 vs school

Female (2025)48th percentile+6 vs school

English Language Learner (2025)40th percentile~ school

Male (2025)36th percentile-6 vs school

Hispanic (2025)14th percentile-29 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)11th percentile-31 vs school

By subject vs Wisconsin (2024-2025) ?

Social Studies60%-4 vs state

Science55%+4 vs state

English Language Arts51%~ state avg

Mathematics46%-8 vs state

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Schools Near Stephens Elementary

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				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 (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	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 Mathematics 3rd Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 4th Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 5th Grade	Forward Exam Social Studies 4th Grade	Forward Exam Science 4th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Stephens Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	120 S Rosa Rd	Madison	53705	Dane County	Madison Metropolitan School District	No	No	No	No	(608) 204-1900	447	43	10.3	44.1%	187 (41.8%)	52 (11.6%)	133 (29.8%)	37 (8.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (8.5%)	48.7	603^rd of 1044 public elementary schools	42.2%		50.4	624^th of 1061 public elementary schools	41.2%	21	51.2	51.3	51.4	48.8	40.2	51.3	59.8	54.9	$15,396	$499	$14,898
Crestwood Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	5930 Old Sauk Rd	Madison	53705	Dane County	Madison Metropolitan School District	No	No	No	No	(608) 204-1120	293	25	11.8	24.2%	181 (61.8%)	32 (10.9%)	41 (14.0%)	14 (4.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (8.2%)	78.1	190^th of 1044 public elementary schools	81.8%		64.4	414^th of 1061 public elementary schools	61.0%	224	61.5	67.7	68.2	66.7	73.5	65.9	82.4	67.7	$17,154	$399	$16,756
Muir Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	6602 Inner Dr	Madison	53705	Dane County	Madison Metropolitan School District	No	No	No	Yes	(608) 663-8170	377	37	10.0	50.9%	121 (32.1%)	119 (31.6%)	37 (9.8%)	57 (15.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	43 (11.4%)	55.8	514^th of 1044 public elementary schools	50.8%		49.4	629^th of 1061 public elementary schools	40.7%	115	54.4	51.2	52.9	47.8	67.4	43.1	69.8	58.1	$15,106	$807	$14,300
Van Hise Elementary	Public	K-5	4747 Waukesha St	Madison	53705	Dane County	Madison Metropolitan School District	No	No	No	No	(608) 204-4800	396	28	13.9	16.7%	234 (59.1%)	22 (5.6%)	42 (10.6%)	50 (12.6%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	47 (11.9%)	84.1	106^th of 1044 public elementary schools	89.8%		88.9	44^th of 1061 public elementary schools	95.9%	62	69.3	70.8	82.4	66.7	75.8	80.9	81.0	71.9	$13,664	$520	$13,145
Midvale Elementary	Public	PK, KG-2	502 Caromar Dr	Madison	53711	Dane County	Madison Metropolitan School District	No	No	No	Yes	(608) 204-6700	372	36	10.4	42.2%	165 (44.4%)	38 (10.2%)	124 (33.3%)	17 (4.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (7.5%)								(n/a)									$16,458	$891	$15,568
Milele Chikasa Anana Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	6323 Woodington Way	Madison	53711	Dane County	Madison Metropolitan School District	No	No	No	Yes	(608) 204-2180	455	43	10.4	50.8%	157 (34.5%)	84 (18.5%)	140 (30.8%)	25 (5.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	45 (9.9%)	32.5	789^th of 1044 public elementary schools	24.4%		20.5	883^rd of 1061 public elementary schools	16.8%	94	38.8	53.6	30.7	44.1	45.6	33.8	50.9	42.1	$17,345	$1,174	$16,172
Elm Lawn Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	6701 Woodgate Rd	Middleton	53562	Dane County	Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District	No	No	No	No	(608) 829-9070	313	28	11.3	14.7%	224 (71.6%)	19 (6.1%)	27 (8.6%)	24 (7.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (6.1%)	89.7	34^th of 1044 public elementary schools	96.7%		84.1	100^th of 1061 public elementary schools	90.6%	66	68.9	85.5		75.4	85.5		90.3	83.9	$13,491	$309	$13,182
Shorewood Hills Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1105 Shorewood Blvd	Madison	53705	Dane County	Madison Metropolitan School District	No	No	No	No	(608) 204-1200	368	32	11.5	24.2%	175 (47.6%)	15 (4.1%)	35 (9.5%)	104 (28.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (10.3%)	94.8	7^th of 1044 public elementary schools	99.3%		91.5	25^th of 1061 public elementary schools	97.6%	18	82.0	86.3	83.6	90.0	90.6	89.8	94.3	83.0	$14,642	$399	$14,244
Orchard Ridge Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	5602 Russett Rd	Madison	53711	Dane County	Madison Metropolitan School District	No	No	No	Yes	(608) 204-2320	265	23	11.3	52.1%	107 (40.4%)	70 (26.4%)	50 (18.9%)	6 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (11.7%)	32.3	793^rd of 1044 public elementary schools	24.0%		38	751^st of 1061 public elementary schools	29.2%	42	62.8	40.0	34.4	55.8	29.3	28.1	41.5	31.7	$18,086	$989	$17,098
Thoreau Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3870 Nakoma Rd	Madison	53711	Dane County	Madison Metropolitan School District	No	No	No	No	(608) 204-6940	403	37	10.9	43.4%	206 (51.1%)	56 (13.9%)	103 (25.6%)	5 (1.2%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (7.2%)	64.3	395^th of 1044 public elementary schools	62.2%		61.5	460^th of 1061 public elementary schools	56.6%	65	60.7	57.1	60.9	60.7	53.6	54.7	69.6	62.5	$15,078	$470	$14,609

Frequently Asked Questions about Stephens Elementary

What schools do graduates of Stephens Elementary attend?

Students who attend Stephens Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Ezekiel Gillespie Middle School
Middle : Spring Harbor Middle
High : Vel Phillips Memorial High School

How many students attend Stephens Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 447 students attended Stephens Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Stephens Elementary?

Students at Stephens Elementary are 42% White, 30% Hispanic, 12% African American, 9% Two or more races, 8% Asian.

What district is Stephens Elementary in?

Madison Metropolitan School District

Is Stephens Elementary a good school?

Stephens Elementary ranks 603^rd of 1044 Wisconsin elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

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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.