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Waunakee Prairie Elementary

Q: Is Waunakee Prairie Elementary a good school?

Waunakee Prairie Elementary ranks 184 th of 1044 Wisconsin elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-4

184^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,044 Wisconsin Elementary Schools

Better than 82% of Wisconsin elementary schools

Summary

Waunakee Prairie Elementary is a public elementary school serving grades PK-4 in the Waunakee Community School District, located in Waunakee, Wisconsin. With 524 students, the school consistently ranks in the top 20% of Wisconsin elementary schools, performing significantly above state averages in core academic subjects.

Waunakee Prairie Elementary's academic performance is impressive, with 3rd and 4th-grade students scoring well above the state averages in English Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Science. Compared to other schools in the Waunakee Community School District, the school performs on par or slightly better in most subject areas. However, the school's performance for its low socioeconomic status (SES) student subgroup is less impressive, ranking in the bottom half of Wisconsin elementary schools in this category.

While the school's overall performance is commendable, there are some areas of concern. Waunakee Prairie Elementary has seen a significant increase in chronic absenteeism, rising from 6.3% in 2020-2021 to 19.5% in 2022-2023, which is notably higher than the district's average. Additionally, when compared to schools in the Madison Metropolitan School District, Waunakee Prairie Elementary significantly outperforms its peers, highlighting the disparities in educational outcomes between the two districts.

531

Students ?

12.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,039

Per pupil spending ?

5.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

700 N Madison St
Waunakee, WI 53597-1054

(608) 849-2200

District: Waunakee Community School District

Students who attend Waunakee Prairie Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Waunakee Intermediate
	Waunakee Middle
High:	Waunakee High

Racial breakdown:

White:

82.9%

Hispanic:

6.2%

Two or more races:

5.1%

See top rated Wisconsin elementary schools

Compare Waunakee Prairie Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 65th percentile in 2015 → 82nd in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Wisconsin average (71% vs 55% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 18% of Wisconsin elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 17 percentile points since 2015

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school71%

District avg74%

Wisconsin avg55%

184^th of 1,044

Wisconsin public elementary schools ?

Top 18%▲ up 18 pts since 2015

From top 35% (2015) to top 18% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Wisconsin Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 3Elementary Schools in the Waunakee Community School District

34^th of 426Waunakee Community 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	78.6	184 of 1044	82.4%	★★★★☆
2024	85.3	83 of 1061	92.2%	★★★★★
2023	81.7	138 of 1067	87.1%	★★★★☆
2022	79.3	159 of 1067	85.1%	★★★★☆
2021	80.0	151 of 1050	85.6%	★★★★☆
2019	82.0	119 of 1037	88.5%	★★★★☆
2018	81.1	128 of 1025	87.5%	★★★★☆
2017	76.6	191 of 1071	82.2%	★★★★☆
2016	75.9	207 of 1075	80.7%	★★★★☆
2015	64.5	379 of 1076	64.8%	★★★☆☆
2014	78.2	147 of 1061	86.1%	★★★★☆
2013	83.3	75 of 1053	92.9%	★★★★★
2012	82.1	46 of 1045	95.6%	★★★★★
2011	81.3	72 of 1046	93.1%	★★★★★
2010	83.0	60 of 1045	94.3%	★★★★★
2009	73.2	216 of 1030	79.0%	★★★★☆
2008	79.0	106 of 1021	89.6%	★★★★☆
2007	87.8	19 of 689	97.2%	★★★★★
2006	86.0	32 of 712	95.5%	★★★★★
2005	80.9	67 of 632	89.4%	★★★★☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2023	90.7	15 of 116	87.1%	★★★★☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2023	51.5	97 of 249	61.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	69.5	38 of 248	84.7%	★★★★☆
2019	92.7	8 of 275	97.1%	★★★★★
2018	93.6	10 of 287	96.5%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	76.3	197 of 1001	80.3%	★★★★☆
2024	82.3	97 of 1011	90.4%	★★★★★
2023	82.3	117 of 1010	88.4%	★★★★☆
2022	79.8	140 of 1017	86.2%	★★★★☆
2021	82.1	120 of 1004	88.0%	★★★★☆
2019	81.4	109 of 1002	89.1%	★★★★☆
2018	80.1	136 of 997	86.4%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	93.1	14 of 322	95.7%	★★★★★
2023	90.0	21 of 290	92.8%	★★★★★
2022	75.0	52 of 296	82.4%	★★★★☆
2021	93.7	10 of 274	96.4%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2024	85.4	45 of 866	94.8%	★★★★★
2023	39.9	572 of 871	34.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	42.0	528 of 859	38.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	41.0	536 of 847	36.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	63.8	240 of 874	72.5%	★★★★☆
2018	79.6	78 of 854	90.9%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	78.1	177 of 1000	82.3%	★★★★☆
2024	85.8	70 of 1012	93.1%	★★★★★
2023	79.5	151 of 1011	85.1%	★★★★☆
2022	76.6	187 of 1017	81.6%	★★★★☆
2021	74.3	202 of 1003	79.9%	★★★★☆
2019	80.2	131 of 1002	86.9%	★★★★☆
2018	79.5	135 of 997	86.5%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2019	79.1	11 of 76	85.5%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	72.1	145 of 802	81.9%	★★★★☆
2024	91.2	34 of 790	95.7%	★★★★★
2023	90.2	28 of 770	96.4%	★★★★★
2021	76.6	95 of 746	87.3%	★★★★☆
2019	77.4	95 of 742	87.2%	★★★★☆
2018	70.9	125 of 721	82.7%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	72.2	186 of 718	74.1%	★★★★☆
2024	78.5	111 of 727	84.7%	★★★★☆
2023	71.0	172 of 715	75.9%	★★★★☆
2022	69.3	176 of 704	75.0%	★★★★☆
2021	67.0	203 of 699	71.0%	★★★★☆
2019	74.0	142 of 718	80.2%	★★★★☆
2018	71.8	149 of 686	78.3%	★★★★☆

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)

Hispanic (2025)96th percentile+13 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2024)95th percentile+3 vs school

Asian (2023)87th percentile~ school

Multi-racial (2019)86th percentile-3 vs school

Male (2025)82nd percentile~ school

Special Education (2025)82nd percentile~ school

Female (2025)80th percentile~ school

White (2025)74th percentile-8 vs school

English Language Learner (2023)61st percentile-26 vs school

By subject vs Wisconsin (2024-2025) ?

Social Studies78%+14 vs state

Mathematics71%+16 vs state

English Language Arts68%+16 vs state

Science68%+17 vs state

4.0

2 ratings · 2 written reviews

5★1

4★0

3★1

2★0

1★0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Friday, October 8, 2021

Academics are excellent. However, diversity is greatly lacking and there is a lot of passive racism from some of the teachers and Kaminsky, the principal. For example, teachers single out parents of color over white parents and will “scold”
Them for things like where they stand at pick up. But when a white parent does the same thing, they are allowed and even have friendly waves from same teacher that scolded minority parent. Close Quote

by a parent
Thursday, February 28, 2013

The best elementary school in the district. The teachers are exceptional. The administration is solid. We had to go here instead of one of the other elementary schools when we moved here because of overcrowding and I am so grateful.

There are things that I would consider changing here in Waunakee to make it more cutting edge and a more progressive district, but nothing really here at this school. They rock! Close Quote

Schools Near Waunakee Prairie 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
Waunakee Prairie Elementary	Public	K-4	700 N Madison St	Waunakee	53597	Dane County	Waunakee Community School District	No	No	No	Yes	(608) 849-2200	531	44	12.2	5.3%	440 (82.9%)	11 (2.1%)	33 (6.2%)	19 (3.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (5.1%)	78.6	184^th of 1044 public elementary schools	82.4%		85.3	83^rd of 1061 public elementary schools	92.2%	101	61.0	75.5		65.4	75.7		77.6	68.2	$14,039	$314	$13,725
Waunakee Heritage Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	6271 Woodland Drive	Waunakee	53597	Dane County	Waunakee Community School District	No	No	No	Yes	(608) 849-2030	537	45	11.9	15.6%	405 (75.4%)	5 (0.9%)	78 (14.5%)	11 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	36 (6.7%)	84.6	98^th of 1044 public elementary schools	90.6%		73.8	255^th of 1061 public elementary schools	76.0%	157	73.8	82.4		67.3	73.8		89.3	68.9	$13,784	$322	$13,462
Arboretum Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	1350 Arboretum Dr	Waunakee	53597	Dane County	Waunakee Community School District	No	No	No	No	(608) 849-1800	435	32	13.5	3.2%	367 (84.4%)	4 (0.9%)	18 (4.1%)	19 (4.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (6.2%)	83.4	121^st of 1044 public elementary schools	88.4%		88.8	45^th of 1061 public elementary schools	95.8%	76	80.0	76.3		65.6	70.4		82.7	72.5	$12,811	$245	$12,565
Lindbergh Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4500 Kennedy Rd	Madison	53704	Dane County	Madison Metropolitan School District	No	No	No	Yes	(608) 204-6500	180	18	9.8	77.2%	32 (17.8%)	57 (31.7%)	36 (20.0%)	18 (10.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (20.6%)	8.9	948^th of 1044 public elementary schools	9.2%		13.7	928^th of 1061 public elementary schools	12.5%	20	20.0	26.9	10.5	20.0	15.4	21.1	34.6	26.9	$18,334	$1,271	$17,064
Mendota Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4002 School Rd	Madison	53704	Dane County	Madison Metropolitan School District	No	No	No	Yes	(608) 204-7840	282	29	9.5	72.7%	46 (16.3%)	139 (49.3%)	40 (14.2%)	10 (3.5%)	3 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	44 (15.6%)	21.3	866^th of 1044 public elementary schools	17.0%		28.9	821^st of 1061 public elementary schools	22.6%	45	14.3	37.0	30.0	19.1	38.5	37.9	53.9	44.4	$15,399	$1,285	$14,115
Gompers Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1502 Wyoming Way	Madison	53704	Dane County	Madison Metropolitan School District	No	No	No	Yes	(608) 204-4520	217	24	9.0	49.3%	103 (47.5%)	43 (19.8%)	37 (17.1%)	7 (3.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (12.4%)	43.4	675^th of 1044 public elementary schools	35.3%		31.1	804^th of 1061 public elementary schools	24.2%	129	50.0	66.7	35.9	46.4	50.0	23.7	66.7	50.0	$15,566	$973	$14,594
Yahara Elementary	Public	K-3	234 N Lexington Pkwy	DeForest	53532	Dane County	De Forest Area School District	No	No	No	Yes	(608) 842-6400	329	27	12.2	15.5%	269 (81.8%)	5 (1.5%)	28 (8.5%)	10 (3.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (5.2%)								(n/a)	52.9			58.8					$13,526	$408	$13,119
Windsor Elementary	Public	K-3	4352 Windsor Rd	Windsor	53598	Dane County	De Forest Area School District	No	No	No	No	(608) 842-6300	526	38	14.0	14.1%	418 (79.5%)	14 (2.7%)	29 (5.5%)	19 (3.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	45 (8.6%)								(n/a)	67.6			71.2					$11,706	$180	$11,527
Lake View Elementary	Public	K-5	1802 Tennyson Ln	Madison	53704	Dane County	Madison Metropolitan School District	No	No	No	Yes	(608) 204-4040	292	33	8.9	73.6%	26 (8.9%)	53 (18.2%)	81 (27.7%)	103 (35.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (9.6%)	23	853^rd of 1044 public elementary schools	18.3%		16.2	913^th of 1061 public elementary schools	13.9%	60	31.1	50.0	19.6	21.7	34.0	27.7	60.0	26.0	$18,068	$1,210	$16,859
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%)	79.8	162^nd of 1044 public elementary schools	84.5%		90	38^th of 1061 public elementary schools	96.4%	124	78.3	72.1		64.5	62.3		82.4	70.6	$12,066	$503	$11,563

Frequently Asked Questions about Waunakee Prairie Elementary

How many students attend Waunakee Prairie Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 531 students attended Waunakee Prairie Elementary.

Is Waunakee Prairie Elementary a good school?

Waunakee Prairie Elementary ranks 184^th of 1044 Wisconsin elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What district is Waunakee Prairie Elementary in?

Waunakee Community School District

What schools do graduates of Waunakee Prairie Elementary attend?

Students who attend Waunakee Prairie Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Waunakee Intermediate
Middle : Waunakee Middle
High : Waunakee High

What is the racial makeup of Waunakee Prairie Elementary?

Students at Waunakee Prairie Elementary are 83% White, 6% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races, 4% Asian, 2% 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.