K-12 Education

The Madison Region prides itself on the breadth and depth of our public and private K-12 education resources. With students who consistently perform above state and national averages, school districts across the region are recognized for their strong curriculum and attention to students. In 2007, Forbes Magazine ranked the Madison Region the second best place in the country to educate a child.

In the 2010-2011 school year, nearly 83 percent of third graders from the region’s 15 largest school districts met or exceeded third grade reading standards, compared to the Wisconsin state figure of 80.1 percent reading at third grade proficiency. Many educators view third grade as a critical school year for student reading, since it marks the transition from learning to read to reading to learn.

In the Madison Region, K-12 math and science proficiency is on the rise. Tenth grade math and science performance improved in the majority of our largest school districts between 2008-2009 and 2010-2011, performing well above state averages. With job growth occurring in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math, a strong foundation in these subjects is important for next generation workers.

The region continues to boast a strong high school graduation rate, with almost 92 percent of 12th graders in the region’s 15 largest school districts graduating during the 2009-2010 school year. This compares favorably to the state average of 89.9 percent.

Sources: 2011 Advance Now Competitive Assessment and Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction