For the 2025 school year, there are 33 public preschools serving 12,087 students in Madison, WI.
The top ranked public preschools in Madison, WI are Shorewood Hills Elementary School, Winnequah School and Forest Edge Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Madison, WI public preschools have an average math proficiency score of 37% (versus the Wisconsin public pre school average of 41%), and reading proficiency score of 37% (versus the 37% statewide average). Pre schools in Madison have an average ranking of 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of Wisconsin public pre schools.
Minority enrollment is 58% of the student body (majority Hispanic and Black), which is more than the Wisconsin public preschool average of 38% (majority Hispanic and Black).
Best Public Preschools in Madison, WI (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Shorewood Hills Elementary School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
1105 Shorewood Blvd
Madison, WI 53705
(608) 204-1200
Madison, WI 53705
(608) 204-1200
Grades: PK-5
| 382 students
Rank: #22.
Winnequah School
(Math: 65% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
800 Greenway Rd
Madison, WI 53716
(608) 221-7677
Madison, WI 53716
(608) 221-7677
Grades: PK-5
| 642 students
Rank: #33.
Forest Edge Elementary School
(Math: 62% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
4848 Brassica Rd
Madison, WI 53711
(608) 835-4600
Madison, WI 53711
(608) 835-4600
Grades: PK-6
| 401 students
Rank: #44.
Lowell Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
401 Maple Ave
Madison, WI 53704
(608) 204-6600
Madison, WI 53704
(608) 204-6600
Grades: PK-5
| 335 students
Rank: #55.
Stephens Elementary School
(Math: 54% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
120 S Rosa Rd
Madison, WI 53705
(608) 204-1900
Madison, WI 53705
(608) 204-1900
Grades: PK-5
| 482 students
Rank: #66.
Elvehjem Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
5106 Academy Dr
Madison, WI 53716
(608) 204-1400
Madison, WI 53716
(608) 204-1400
Grades: PK-5
| 403 students
Rank: #77.
Crestwood Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
5930 Old Sauk Rd
Madison, WI 53705
(608) 204-1120
Madison, WI 53705
(608) 204-1120
Grades: PK-5
| 287 students
Rank: #88.
Thoreau Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
3870 Nakoma Rd
Madison, WI 53711
(608) 204-6940
Madison, WI 53711
(608) 204-6940
Grades: PK-5
| 398 students
Rank: #99.
Cesar Chavez Elementary School
(Math: 41% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
3502 Maple Grove Dr
Madison, WI 53719
(608) 442-2000
Madison, WI 53719
(608) 442-2000
Grades: PK-5
| 652 students
Rank: #1010.
Muir Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
6602 Inner Dr
Madison, WI 53705
(608) 663-8170
Madison, WI 53705
(608) 663-8170
Grades: PK-5
| 418 students
Rank: #1111.
Emerson Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
2421 E Johnson St
Madison, WI 53704
(608) 204-2000
Madison, WI 53704
(608) 204-2000
Grades: PK-5
| 317 students
Rank: #1212.
Huegel Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
2601 Prairie Rd
Madison, WI 53711
(608) 204-3100
Madison, WI 53711
(608) 204-3100
Grades: PK-5
| 422 students
Rank: #1313.
Gompers Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
1502 Wyoming Way
Madison, WI 53704
(608) 204-4520
Madison, WI 53704
(608) 204-4520
Grades: PK-5
| 220 students
Rank: #1414.
Isthmus Montessori Academy Public
Charter School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
1802 Pankratz St
Madison, WI 53704
(608) 661-8200
Madison, WI 53704
(608) 661-8200
Grades: PK-12
| 220 students
Rank: #15 - 1615. - 16.
Milele Chikasa Anana Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
6323 Woodington Way
Madison, WI 53711
(608) 204-2180
Madison, WI 53711
(608) 204-2180
Grades: PK-5
| 454 students
Rank: #15 - 1615. - 16.
Orchard Ridge Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
5602 Russett Rd
Madison, WI 53711
(608) 204-2320
Madison, WI 53711
(608) 204-2320
Grades: PK-5
| 247 students
Rank: #1717.
Lincoln Elementary School
(Math: 28% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
909 Sequoia Trl
Madison, WI 53713
(608) 204-4900
Madison, WI 53713
(608) 204-4900
Grades: PK-5
| 385 students
Rank: #1818.
Kennedy Elementary School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 27%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
221 Meadowlark Dr
Madison, WI 53714
(608) 204-3420
Madison, WI 53714
(608) 204-3420
Grades: PK-5
| 579 students
Rank: #1919.
Schenk Elementary School
(Math: 26% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
230 Schenk St
Madison, WI 53714
(608) 204-1500
Madison, WI 53714
(608) 204-1500
Grades: PK-5
| 444 students
Rank: #20 - 2120. - 21.
Dr Virginia Henderson Elementary School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
1201 Tompkins Dr
Madison, WI 53716
(608) 204-2400
Madison, WI 53716
(608) 204-2400
Grades: PK-5
| 463 students
Rank: #20 - 2120. - 21.
Hawthorne Elementary School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
3344 Concord Ave
Madison, WI 53714
(608) 204-2500
Madison, WI 53714
(608) 204-2500
Grades: PK-5
| 321 students
Rank: #2222.
Leopold Elementary School
(Math: 20% | Reading: 24%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
2602 Post Rd
Madison, WI 53713
(608) 204-4240
Madison, WI 53713
(608) 204-4240
Grades: PK-5
| 623 students
Rank: #2323.
Sandburg Elementary School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
4114 Donald Dr
Madison, WI 53704
(608) 204-7940
Madison, WI 53704
(608) 204-7940
Grades: PK-5
| 411 students
Rank: #2424.
Lindbergh Elementary School
(Math: 11-19% | Reading: 11-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
4500 Kennedy Rd
Madison, WI 53704
(608) 204-6500
Madison, WI 53704
(608) 204-6500
Grades: PK-5
| 170 students
Rank: #25 - 2625. - 26.
Mendota Elementary School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 10-14%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
4002 School Rd
Madison, WI 53704
(608) 204-7840
Madison, WI 53704
(608) 204-7840
Grades: PK-5
| 280 students
Rank: #25 - 2625. - 26.
Southside Elementary School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 10-14%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
501 E Badger Rd
Madison, WI 53713
(608) 204-1056
Madison, WI 53713
(608) 204-1056
Grades: PK-5
| 357 students
Rank: #2727.
One City Elementary School
Charter School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: ≤10%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1707 W Broadway
Madison, WI 53713
(608) 531-2128
Madison, WI 53713
(608) 531-2128
Grades: PK-5
| 283 students
Rank: n/an/a
Central Wisconsin Center
Alternative School
317 Knutson Dr
Madison, WI 53704
(608) 267-5150
Madison, WI 53704
(608) 267-5150
Grades: PK-12
| n/a students
Rank: n/an/a
305 W Lakeside St
Madison, WI 53715
(608) 204-2292
Madison, WI 53715
(608) 204-2292
Grades: PK-2
| 292 students
Rank: n/an/a
1045 E Dayton St
Madison, WI 53703
(608) 204-4140
Madison, WI 53703
(608) 204-4140
Grades: PK-2
| 211 students
Rank: n/an/a
Mendota Mental Health Institution
Alternative School
301 Troy Dr
Madison, WI 53704
(608) 267-5150
Madison, WI 53704
(608) 267-5150
Grades: PK-12
| 22 students
Rank: n/an/a
502 Caromar Dr
Madison, WI 53711
(608) 204-6700
Madison, WI 53711
(608) 204-6700
Grades: PK-2
| 372 students
Madison, Wisconsin Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Grades
Students
Accelerated Learning Academy High School (Closed 2004)
Alternative School
15 S Brearly St
Madison, WI 53703
(608) 663-1907
Madison, WI 53703
(608) 663-1907
Grades: 9-10
| 42 students
5208 Mckenna Rd
Madison, WI 53716
(608) 556-9682
Madison, WI 53716
(608) 556-9682
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
Dane County Transition School (Closed 2005)
Alternative School
2326 S Park St
Madison, WI 53713
(608) 834-8253
Madison, WI 53713
(608) 834-8253
Grades: 9-12
| 9 students
Diploma Completion High School (Closed 2015)
Alternative School
545 W Dayton St
Madison, WI 53703
(608) 663-1907
Madison, WI 53703
(608) 663-1907
Grades: 11-12
| 42 students
902 Nichols Rd
Madison, WI 53716
(608) 221-7670
Madison, WI 53716
(608) 221-7670
Grades: PK-2
| 247 students
Milestone Democratic School (Closed 2024)
Charter School
2758 Dairy Dr
Madison, WI 53718
(608) 205-8110
Madison, WI 53718
(608) 205-8110
Grades: 6-12
| 84 students
Monona Grove Alternative High School (Closed 2011)
Alternative School
5104 Gordon Ave
Madison, WI 53716
(608) 223-1895
Madison, WI 53716
(608) 223-1895
Grades: 10-12
| n/a students
Sapar Program High School (Closed 2013)
Alternative School
1501 Jenifer St
Madison, WI 53703
(608) 204-4235
Madison, WI 53703
(608) 204-4235
Grades: 7-12
| 11 students
Work & Learning High School (Closed 2013)
Alternative School
545 West Dayton St
Madison, WI 53703
(608) 204-4235
Madison, WI 53703
(608) 204-4235
Grades: 11-12
| 101 students
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked public preschools in Madison, WI?
The top ranked public preschools in Madison, WI include Shorewood Hills Elementary School, Winnequah School and Forest Edge Elementary School.
How many public preschools are located in Madison?
33 public preschools are located in Madison.
What is the racial composition of students in Madison?
Madison public preschools minority enrollment is 58% of the student body (majority Hispanic and Black), which is more than the Wisconsin public preschools average of 38% (majority Hispanic and Black).
Which public preschools in Madison are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public preschools in Madison include: Lincoln Elementary School vs. Leopold Elementary School, Gompers Elementary School vs. Hawthorne Elementary School, Hawthorne Elementary School vs. Gompers Elementary School
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