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Thoreau Elementary

Q: Is Thoreau Elementary a good school?

Thoreau Elementary ranks 545 th of 1039 Wisconsin elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

545^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,039 Wisconsin Elementary Schools

Better than 48% of Wisconsin elementary schools

Summary

Thoreau Elementary is a PK–5 school in Madison, Wisconsin, serving 403 students in the Madison Metropolitan School District. For 2025–2026, it ranked 545th of 1,039 Wisconsin schools (48th percentile, 2 stars), which is above the district’s overall standing but below the school’s own recent run of 3-star results. Its 2024–2025 economic-disadvantage rate was 43.42%, and chronic absenteeism was 21.4%, improved from 37.7% in 2021–2022 but still above the state average of 17.3%.

Compared with nearby schools, Thoreau sits in the middle. It ranks above Huegel Elementary and Stephens Elementary, Lincoln Elementary, Orchard Ridge Elementary, Milele Chikasa Anana Elementary School, and Leopold Elementary, but far below Shorewood Hills Elementary, Van Hise Elementary, and Randall Elementary School. Thoreau spends $21,138 per student and has a student–teacher ratio of 10.9—more favorable than some higher-performing schools—yet its overall outcomes remain mid-pack. The closest school, Midvale Elementary, is PK–2 only and has similar poverty and absenteeism but spends $24,845 per student; its transition into Thoreau may be worth watching.

Academically, results are mixed by grade. Fourth grade is a clear strength: ELA 61.02%, math 57.63%, social studies 67.8%, and science 62.71% are all above district and state averages. Third grade is mixed, and fifth grade is weaker: ELA 48.28% and math 41.38% fall below both district and state averages, with sharp drops from 2024–2025. Averaged across grades 3–5, Thoreau is above its district in both subjects but slightly below the state in ELA and clearly below in math. The most urgent concern is uneven effectiveness across student groups: low-income students, special education students, and English learners rank in the bottom quartile or lower statewide, even as other groups rank much higher. The 4th-grade results show the school can produce strong outcomes; the challenge is extending that success to all grades and student groups while continuing to reduce absenteeism.

403

Students ?

10.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$21,138

Per pupil spending ?

43.4%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

75%

Kindergartners meeting all minimum immunization requirements (2025-26)

3870 Nakoma Rd
Madison, WI 53711-3096

(608) 204-6940

District: Madison Metropolitan School District

Students who attend Thoreau Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Cherokee Heights Middle
	James Wright Middle
High:	West High

Racial breakdown:

White:

51.1%

Hispanic:

25.6%

African American:

13.9%

See top rated Wisconsin elementary schools

Compare Thoreau Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 62nd percentile in 2016 → 48th in 2026

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 11 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 14 percentile points since 2016

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school55%

District avg49%

Wisconsin avg55%

545^th of 1,039

Wisconsin public elementary schools ?

Bottom 48%▼ down 15 pts since 2016

From top 38% (2016) to bottom 48% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Wisconsin Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

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

321^st of 432Madison 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
2026	54.0	545 of 1039	47.5%	★★☆☆☆
2025	64.3	395 of 1044	62.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	61.5	460 of 1061	56.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	64.1	395 of 1067	63.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	62.4	408 of 1067	61.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	50.1	581 of 1050	44.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	61.4	411 of 1037	60.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	71.5	257 of 1025	74.9%	★★★★☆
2017	46.3	639 of 1071	40.3%	★★☆☆☆
2016	62.1	405 of 1075	62.3%	★★★☆☆
2015	59.6	491 of 1076	54.4%	★★★☆☆
2014	54.8	537 of 1061	49.4%	★★☆☆☆
2013	44.4	706 of 1053	33.0%	★★☆☆☆
2012	29.5	881 of 1045	15.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	27.6	890 of 1046	14.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	26.1	887 of 1045	15.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	37.7	797 of 1030	22.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	52.9	606 of 1021	40.6%	★★☆☆☆
2007	40.1	521 of 689	24.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	39.7	531 of 712	25.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	30.8	493 of 632	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	24.4	522 of 633	17.5%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	35.8	99 of 150	34.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	23.6	136 of 161	15.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	50.5	58 of 165	64.8%	★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	33.0	176 of 245	28.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	25.6	220 of 255	13.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	39.7	157 of 269	41.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	29.4	199 of 249	20.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	43.8	128 of 248	48.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	47.3	127 of 275	53.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	55.6	91 of 287	68.3%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	55.8	484 of 986	50.9%	★★★☆☆
2025	73.1	250 of 1001	75.0%	★★★★☆
2024	67.3	333 of 1011	67.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	68.5	303 of 1010	70.0%	★★★★☆
2022	56.2	466 of 1017	54.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	37.4	687 of 1004	31.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	53.4	507 of 1002	49.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	57.6	446 of 997	55.3%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	19.8	301 of 347	13.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	24.6	262 of 322	18.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	42.4	183 of 331	44.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	37.5	182 of 290	37.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	40.7	153 of 274	44.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	33.6	178 of 266	33.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	37.1	162 of 271	40.2%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	10.8	808 of 848	4.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	11.8	825 of 870	5.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	15.7	789 of 866	8.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	15.3	799 of 871	8.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	18.8	767 of 859	10.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	14.3	793 of 847	6.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	23.2	762 of 874	12.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	34.6	637 of 854	25.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	49.5	581 of 989	41.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	53.5	516 of 1000	48.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	55.5	507 of 1012	49.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	58.3	456 of 1011	54.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	67.7	296 of 1017	70.9%	★★★★☆
2021	66.7	304 of 1003	69.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	68.3	281 of 1002	72.0%	★★★★☆
2018	82.0	116 of 997	88.4%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	57.0	60 of 142	57.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	37.9	48 of 76	36.8%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	19.5	699 of 791	11.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	24.5	649 of 802	19.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	44.9	416 of 790	47.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	42.7	428 of 770	44.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	32.2	534 of 748	28.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	66.4	169 of 746	77.3%	★★★★☆
2019	41.0	412 of 742	44.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	61.2	214 of 721	70.3%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	86.0	52 of 697	92.5%	★★★★★
2025	91.8	11 of 718	98.5%	★★★★★
2024	86.7	42 of 727	94.2%	★★★★★
2023	88.2	37 of 715	94.8%	★★★★★
2022	89.6	24 of 704	96.6%	★★★★★
2021	84.2	64 of 699	90.8%	★★★★★
2019	87.4	44 of 718	93.9%	★★★★★
2018	90.3	30 of 686	95.6%	★★★★★

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 (2026)93rd percentile+45 vs school

Multi-racial (2026)58th percentile+10 vs school

Female (2026)51st percentile+3 vs school

Male (2026)41st percentile-6 vs school

African American (2026)34th percentile-14 vs school

English Language Learner (2026)28th percentile-19 vs school

Hispanic (2026)13th percentile-34 vs school

Special Education (2026)12th percentile-36 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)5th percentile-43 vs school

By subject vs Wisconsin (2025-2026) ?

Social Studies68%~ state avg

Science63%+9 vs state

English Language Arts53%~ state avg

Mathematics51%-3 vs state

★

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Schools Near Thoreau Elementary

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				Forward Exam English Language Arts (2026)			Forward Exam Mathematics (2026)			Forward Exam Social Studies (2026)	Forward Exam Science (2026)	Vaccination (2025-26)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	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	Vaccination: Kindergartners meeting all minimum immunization requirements	Vaccination: Exemption rate	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
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%)	54	545^th of 1039 public elementary schools	47.5%		64.3	395^th of 1044 public elementary schools	62.2%	150	49.2	61.0	48.3	52.4	57.6	41.4	67.8	62.7	75%		$21,138	$633	$20,505
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)									93%		$24,845	$493	$24,352
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%)	86.2	79^th of 1039 public elementary schools	92.4%		84.1	106^th of 1044 public elementary schools	89.8%	27	61.5	81.3	79.7	75.0	76.3	78.3	85.5	79.0	88%		$16,268	$491	$15,777
Leopold Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2602 Post Rd	Madison	53713	Dane County	Madison Metropolitan School District	No	No	No	Yes	(608) 204-4240	626	62	10.1	56.2%	127 (20.3%)	128 (20.4%)	301 (48.1%)	16 (2.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	52 (8.3%)	12.5	921^st of 1039 public elementary schools	11.4%		15	907^th of 1044 public elementary schools	13.1%	14	22.9	30.5	34.4	16.9	19.5	26.0	39.0	25.6	85%		$22,067	$1,067	$21,000
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%)	43.3	680^th of 1039 public elementary schools	34.6%		32.3	793^rd of 1044 public elementary schools	24.0%	113	54.1	53.7	39.0	51.4	51.2	39.0	53.7	51.2	78%		$20,250	$1,176	$19,074
Randall Elementary School	Public	3-5	1802 Regent St	Madison	53726	Dane County	Madison Metropolitan School District	No	No	No	No	(608) 204-3300	320	22	14.8	25.3%	196 (61.3%)	38 (11.9%)	38 (11.9%)	18 (5.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (9.4%)	80.5	148^th of 1039 public elementary schools	85.8%		79.9	158^th of 1044 public elementary schools	84.9%	10	71.4	75.3	68.8	69.7	65.2	66.7	79.6	76.3			$22,978	$617	$22,361
Lincoln Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	909 Sequoia Trl	Madison	53713	Dane County	Madison Metropolitan School District	No	No	No	Yes	(608) 204-4900	393	36	10.8	46.8%	150 (38.2%)	39 (9.9%)	152 (38.7%)	26 (6.6%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (6.1%)	44.5	664^th of 1039 public elementary schools	36.1%		38.4	742^nd of 1044 public elementary schools	28.9%	78	44.6	51.0	56.4	47.5	34.0	48.7	62.0	49.0			$20,081	$575	$19,506
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%)	94.5	6^th of 1039 public elementary schools	99.4%		94.8	7^th of 1044 public elementary schools	99.3%	1	86.3	80.9	96.3	87.5	91.8	96.3	89.8	83.7	≥ 95%		$18,912	$498	$18,414
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%)	46.7	637^th of 1039 public elementary schools	38.7%		48.7	603^rd of 1044 public elementary schools	42.2%	34	46.3	47.7	55.6	55.6	40.9	55.6	54.6	40.9	90%		$23,727	$492	$23,236
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%)	39.7	726^th of 1039 public elementary schools	30.1%		32.5	789^th of 1044 public elementary schools	24.4%	63	40.4	49.3	60.0	42.1	36.6	55.0	49.3	43.7	90%		$21,201	$1,075	$20,126

Frequently Asked Questions about Thoreau Elementary

What district is Thoreau Elementary in?

Madison Metropolitan School District

How many students attend Thoreau Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 403 students attended Thoreau Elementary.

Is Thoreau Elementary a good school?

Thoreau Elementary ranks 545^th of 1039 Wisconsin elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Thoreau Elementary?

Students at Thoreau Elementary are 51% White, 26% Hispanic, 14% African American, 7% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

What schools do graduates of Thoreau Elementary attend?

Students who attend Thoreau Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Cherokee Heights Middle
Middle : James Wright Middle
High : West High

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Latest Wisconsin data All new data »

2018–19 through 2025–26 immunization rates (updated)Oct 20, 2026

2016–17 through 2017–18 immunization rates (updated)Oct 19, 2026

2025–26 ACT & Forward Exam scoresOct 1, 2026

2021–22 through 2024–25 school spending dataJul 16, 2026

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.