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Northside Elementary

Q: Is Northside Elementary a good school?

Northside Elementary ranks 166 th of 1039 Wisconsin elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-4

166^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,039 Wisconsin Elementary Schools

Better than 84% of Wisconsin elementary schools

Summary

Northside Elementary is a PK–4 school in Middleton, WI, serving 307 students as part of the Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District. Once ranked among Wisconsin’s top 1–4% of elementary schools, Northside is now a 4-star school at the 84th percentile statewide (2025-26), still above average but no longer elite. Its 2025-26 Forward Exam proficiency is above the state in every tested subject, yet below its own district in ELA and math, while exceeding the district in social studies (85.07%) and science (73.13%).

Within Middleton, Northside ranks 4th of 5 elementary schools by statewide rank percentile, ahead only of Sauk Trail Elementary. Pope Farm Elementary, Sunset Ridge Elementary, and Elm Lawn Elementary generally outperform Northside in ELA and math. Northside is competitive in social studies, close to Pope Farm’s 85.56% and Sunset Ridge’s 85.25%, and above Elm Lawn’s 81.43%. Nearby, Waunakee Heritage Elementary (Waunakee Community School District) posts higher ELA and math scores but similar science, while Northside leads in social studies. Northside’s chronic absenteeism (10.3%) is better than the district (15.4%) and state (17.3%), but higher than Pope Farm (6.3%), Sunset Ridge (8.8%), and Elm Lawn (7.1%). Its free/reduced lunch rate has risen to 19.54%, and per-student spending is $17,823.

The clearest red flag is the low-socioeconomic-status subgroup: its effectiveness rank fell from the 60th percentile in 2023-24 to 37th in 2024-25 and just 14th (1 star) in 2025-26, even as the school’s FRL rate grew. Math is the most visible academic weakness, with 3rd-grade math at 70% and 4th-grade math at 67.16%, both below district levels. Still, Northside remains a strong choice: it outperforms many Madison schools such as Crestwood Elementary, Stephens Elementary, and Muir Elementary, and holds its own against Van Hise Elementary. It has strong outcomes for special education and English language learner students in the latest year. The takeaway: Northside is still above state averages with standout science and social studies, but its rank decline, math gap, and low-SES results are worth watching.

307

Students ?

12.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$17,823

Per pupil spending ?

19.5%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

≥ 95%

Kindergartners meeting all minimum immunization requirements (2025-26)

3620 High Rd
Middleton, WI 53562-1099

(608) 829-9130

District: Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District

Students who attend Northside Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Kromrey Middle
High:	Middleton High

Racial breakdown:

White:

62.2%

Hispanic:

15.0%

Two or more races:

10.4%

See top rated Wisconsin elementary schools

Compare Northside Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 97th percentile in 2016 → 84th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Wisconsin average (72% vs 55% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 16% of Wisconsin elementary schools

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 13 percentile points since 2016

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

!Near the bottom of Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District's ranking

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school72%

District avg74%

Wisconsin avg55%

166^th of 1,039

Wisconsin public elementary schools ?

Top 16%▼ down 13 pts since 2016

From top 3% (2016) to top 16% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Wisconsin Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

6^th of 7Elementary Schools in the Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District

46^th of 432Middleton-Cross Plains Area 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	79.6	166 of 1039	84.0%	★★★★☆
2025	79.8	162 of 1044	84.5%	★★★★☆
2024	90.0	38 of 1061	96.4%	★★★★★
2023	93.5	19 of 1067	98.2%	★★★★★
2022	89.8	45 of 1067	95.8%	★★★★★
2021	84.2	109 of 1050	89.6%	★★★★☆
2019	91.2	33 of 1037	96.8%	★★★★★
2018	92.0	23 of 1025	97.8%	★★★★★
2017	94.2	13 of 1071	98.8%	★★★★★
2016	90.3	37 of 1075	96.6%	★★★★★
2015	89.5	17 of 1076	98.4%	★★★★★
2014	91.8	6 of 1061	99.4%	★★★★★
2013	84.3	64 of 1053	93.9%	★★★★★
2012	69.9	281 of 1045	73.1%	★★★★☆
2011	72.3	222 of 1046	78.8%	★★★★☆
2010	73.3	212 of 1045	79.7%	★★★★☆
2009	72.1	236 of 1030	77.1%	★★★★☆
2008	74.5	193 of 1021	81.1%	★★★★☆
2007	80.5	75 of 689	89.1%	★★★★☆
2006	79.6	96 of 712	86.5%	★★★★☆
2005	82.9	45 of 632	92.9%	★★★★★
2004	62.0	291 of 633	54.0%	★★★☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2023	94.3	4 of 116	96.6%	★★★★★
2022	93.9	4 of 110	96.4%	★★★★★
2021	94.7	1 of 106	99.1%	★★★★★
2019	94.4	3 of 122	97.5%	★★★★★
2018	86.6	19 of 107	82.2%	★★★★☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	71.5	36 of 245	85.3%	★★★★☆
2025	16.9	252 of 255	1.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	96.0	4 of 287	98.6%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	80.5	134 of 986	86.4%	★★★★☆
2025	74.9	222 of 1001	77.8%	★★★★☆
2023	95.3	9 of 1010	99.1%	★★★★★
2022	91.4	25 of 1017	97.5%	★★★★★
2021	85.8	78 of 1004	92.2%	★★★★★
2019	87.0	49 of 1002	95.1%	★★★★★
2018	87.6	43 of 997	95.7%	★★★★★

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	55.6	138 of 347	60.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	33.3	219 of 322	32.0%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	21.7	732 of 848	13.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	42.1	550 of 870	36.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	57.6	344 of 866	60.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	45.8	485 of 859	43.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	32.9	619 of 847	26.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	73.5	138 of 874	84.2%	★★★★☆
2018	75.6	106 of 854	87.6%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	75.7	206 of 989	79.2%	★★★★☆
2025	81.2	140 of 1000	86.0%	★★★★☆
2024	90.7	25 of 1012	97.5%	★★★★★
2023	92.1	18 of 1011	98.2%	★★★★★
2022	86.1	75 of 1017	92.6%	★★★★★
2021	78.2	153 of 1003	84.7%	★★★★☆
2019	92.7	19 of 1002	98.1%	★★★★★
2018	93.1	17 of 997	98.3%	★★★★★

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2022	81.6	6 of 77	92.2%	★★★★★
2019	85.7	8 of 76	89.5%	★★★★★

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	73.7	133 of 791	83.2%	★★★★☆
2025	84.3	57 of 802	92.9%	★★★★★
2024	92.3	27 of 790	96.6%	★★★★★
2023	67.8	179 of 770	76.8%	★★★★☆
2022	73.4	119 of 748	84.1%	★★★★☆
2021	80.5	66 of 746	91.2%	★★★★★
2019	68.0	161 of 742	78.3%	★★★★☆
2018	83.6	54 of 721	92.5%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	84.9	59 of 697	91.5%	★★★★★
2025	87.3	41 of 718	94.3%	★★★★★
2024	90.9	19 of 727	97.4%	★★★★★
2023	89.9	27 of 715	96.2%	★★★★★
2022	85.5	46 of 704	93.5%	★★★★★
2021	74.1	140 of 699	80.0%	★★★★☆
2019	92.6	19 of 718	97.4%	★★★★★
2018	92.0	19 of 686	97.2%	★★★★★

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)

Asian (2023)97th percentile~ school

Multi-racial (2022)92nd percentile-4 vs school

White (2026)92nd percentile+8 vs school

Female (2026)86th percentile~ school

English Language Learner (2026)85th percentile~ school

Special Education (2026)83rd percentile~ school

Male (2026)79th percentile-5 vs school

Hispanic (2026)60th percentile-24 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)14th percentile-70 vs school

By subject vs Wisconsin (2025-2026) ?

Social Studies85%+20 vs state

Science73%+20 vs state

Mathematics69%+15 vs state

English Language Arts68%+15 vs state

★

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Schools Near Northside 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
Northside Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	3620 High Rd	Middleton	53562	Dane County	Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District	No	No	No	No	(608) 829-9130	307	25	12.4	19.5%	191 (62.2%)	7 (2.3%)	46 (15.0%)	28 (9.1%)	2 (0.7%)	1 (0.3%)	32 (10.4%)	79.6	166^th of 1039 public elementary schools	84.0%		79.8	162^nd of 1044 public elementary schools	84.5%	4	65.7	70.2		70.0	67.2		85.1	73.1	≥ 95%		$17,823	$795	$17,029
Sauk Trail Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	2205 Branch St	Middleton	53562	Dane County	Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District	No	No	No	Yes	(608) 829-9190	360	39	9.1	41.9%	164 (45.6%)	38 (10.6%)	100 (27.8%)	30 (8.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (7.8%)	58.4	469^th of 1039 public elementary schools	54.9%		60.6	451^st of 1044 public elementary schools	56.8%	18	47.8	57.7		55.2	56.0		71.4	60.0	88%		$21,050	$1,275	$19,774
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%)	85.3	87^th of 1039 public elementary schools	91.6%		89.7	34^th of 1044 public elementary schools	96.7%	53	71.6	75.7		75.7	80.0		81.4	77.1	91%		$17,665	$787	$16,878
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%)	75.8	231^st of 1039 public elementary schools	77.8%		78.1	190^th of 1044 public elementary schools	81.8%	41	69.2	64.3	78.1	73.1	64.3	68.8	69.1	64.3	≥ 95%		$22,675	$724	$21,951
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%)	43.9	672^nd of 1039 public elementary schools	35.3%		55.8	514^th of 1044 public elementary schools	50.8%	158	41.8	51.3	58.5	50.9	40.0	51.2	53.9	47.5	86%		$22,618	$1,392	$21,225
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
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
Pope Farm Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	816 Schewe Rd	Middleton	53562	Dane County	Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District	No	No	No	No	(608) 826-7700	448	32	13.8	7.8%	231 (51.6%)	13 (2.9%)	16 (3.6%)	161 (35.9%)	4 (0.9%)	1 (0.2%)	21 (4.7%)	89.2	47^th of 1039 public elementary schools	95.5%		92	17^th of 1044 public elementary schools	98.4%	30	80.6	81.1		84.7	77.8		85.6	75.6	≥ 95%		$15,433	$403	$15,030
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
Sunset Ridge Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	8686 Airport Rd	Middleton	53562	Dane County	Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District	No	No	No	No	(608) 829-9300	309	26	11.6	9.1%	221 (71.5%)	7 (2.3%)	22 (7.1%)	38 (12.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (6.5%)	85.5	84^th of 1039 public elementary schools	91.9%		84	108^th of 1044 public elementary schools	89.7%	24	73.4	70.5		76.6	82.0		85.3	75.0	95%		$17,785	$403	$17,381

Frequently Asked Questions about Northside Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Northside Elementary?

Students at Northside Elementary are 62% White, 15% Hispanic, 10% Two or more races, 9% Asian, 2% African American.

What district is Northside Elementary in?

Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District

Is Northside Elementary a good school?

Northside Elementary ranks 166^th of 1039 Wisconsin elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Northside Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 307 students attended Northside Elementary.

What schools do graduates of Northside Elementary attend?

Students who attend Northside Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Kromrey Middle
High : Middleton 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.