Summary:
ZIP code 53705 in Madison, Wisconsin, has five elementary schools — Stephens Elementary, Van Hise Elementary, Muir Elementary, Shorewood Hills Elementary, and Crestwood Elementary — all serving pre-K or kindergarten through grade 5 and all part of the Madison Metropolitan School District. Together they enroll 1,881 students. Although the district ranks 321 out of 432 statewide with 1 star, these individual schools vary widely, so parents should look school by school.
Shorewood Hills Elementary is the standout: it ranks 6 out of 1,039 statewide, in the 99th percentile with 5 stars, and its three-year trend is 98 → 99 → 99. Its 2025–26 proficiency is very high, including ELA and math grade 5 at 96.3. Van Hise Elementary is also a 5-star, top-10% school (79th out of 1,039) with strong scores and the lowest free/reduced lunch rate (16.67%) and lowest spending ($16,268). Crestwood Elementary is a 4-star school at the 78th percentile and has improved from 61st to 82nd to 78th. By contrast, Stephens Elementary (39th percentile, 2 stars) and Muir Elementary (35th percentile, 2 stars) score lower, though both have some subjects above district and state.
Chronic absenteeism tracks closely with achievement: Shorewood Hills Elementary (10.9%) and Van Hise Elementary (10.7%) are well below the state’s 17.3%, while Muir Elementary is 29.6%. Free/reduced lunch also matters, but not completely: Shorewood Hills Elementary and Crestwood Elementary have nearly identical rates (24.18% and 24.23%), yet Shorewood Hills Elementary’s overall proficiency average is about 89.1 versus Crestwood Elementary’s 68.9. Higher spending and smaller classes do not guarantee results — Stephens Elementary spends the most ($23,727) but ranks 39th, and Van Hise Elementary spends the least yet ranks 92nd. Muir Elementary declined from 51st to 35th percentile, while Crestwood Elementary remains a positive trend.
Thank you for your feedback!