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Dane County

Wisconsin · Public K-12

Dane County serves about 78,525 K-12 students across 169 public schools, an average of roughly 465 students per campus. By grade band, the county runs 95 elementary, 36 middle, and 34 high schools.

7-year change in Dane County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
78,422
+1,097 (+1%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
163
+4 (+3%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
60%
was 65%
% Hispanic
16%
was 13%
% Black
10%
was 9%
% Asian
6%
was 6%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Residents
572,674
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
169
21 districts
Enrollment
78,525
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$89,975
Above Wisconsin avg
Free/reduced lunch
31.6%
Below Wisconsin avg
Elementary
95
35,556 students
Middle
36
17,272 students
High
34
25,456 students
Combined / other
4
241 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Madison Metropolitan School District
25,155 students · 21 districts in Dane County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Dane County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".

County residents
White
77%
Hispanic
8%
Black
5%
Asian
6%
Two or more
9%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
59%
Hispanic
16%
Black
10%
Asian
6%
Two or more
8%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
55.3%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
4.9%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
2.4%
civilian labor
Median age
36
19.7% under 18

Test scores in Dane County

Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 112 schools ranked. Wisconsin state average: 53.1%.

See all 112 schools in Dane County ranked by score →

All schools (169)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Middleton HighMiddletonHigh09-122,303·
West HighMadisonHigh09-122,222·
Vel Phillips Memorial High SchoolMadisonHigh09-122,004·
Verona Area HighVeronaHigh09-121,820·
East HighMadisonHigh09-121,643·
Wisconsin Virtual Academy High (WIVA)McfarlandHigh09-121,566·
LaFollette HighMadisonHigh09-121,541·
Wisconsin Virtual Academy K-8 (WIVA)McfarlandElementaryPK-081,393·
Sun Prairie East HighSun PrairieHigh09-121,340·
Oregon HighOregonHigh09-121,339·
Waunakee HighWaunakeeHigh09-121,335·
Sun Prairie West HighSun PrairieHigh09-121,325·
Kromrey MiddleMiddletonMiddle05-081,230·
Monona Grove HighMononaHigh09-121,170·
De Forest HighDeforestHigh09-121,137·
Harvest Intermediate SchoolDeforestMiddle04-06966·
Glacier Creek MiddleCross PlainsMiddle05-08924·
Stoughton HighStoughtonHigh09-12834·
Hamilton MiddleMadisonMiddle06-08790·
Badger Ridge MiddleVeronaMiddle06-08776·
Glacial Drumlin SchoolCottage GroveMiddle06-08766·
Mount Horeb HighMount HorebHigh09-12745·
McFarland HighMcfarlandHigh09-12727·
Prairie View MiddleSun PrairieMiddle06-08699·
Waunakee MiddleWaunakeeMiddle07-08667·
Waunakee IntermediateWaunakeeMiddle05-06661·
Sugar Creek ElementaryVeronaElementaryKG-05645·
Cesar Chavez ElementaryMadisonElementaryPK-05631·
Leopold ElementaryMadisonElementaryPK-05626·
4K PK Off SiteMadisonElementaryPK-PK619·
Oregon MiddleOregonMiddle07-08613·
De Forest MiddleDe ForestMiddle07-08602·
Winnequah SchoolMononaElementaryPK-05602·
Kennedy ElementaryMadisonElementaryPK-05582·
Patrick Marsh MiddleSun PrairieMiddle06-08581·
Sennett MiddleMadisonMiddle06-08570·
River Bluff MiddleStoughtonMiddle06-08569·
Central Heights MiddleSun PrairieMiddle06-08560·
Belleville ElementaryBellevilleElementaryPK-06550·
Waunakee Heritage ElementaryWaunakeeElementaryPK-04537·
Indian Mound MiddleMcfarlandMiddle06-08534·
Waunakee Prairie ElementaryWaunakeeElementaryKG-04531·
Cherokee Heights MiddleMadisonMiddle06-08526·
Windsor ElementaryWindsorElementaryKG-03526·
Mount Horeb IntermediateMount HorebElementary03-05508·
Mount Horeb MiddleMount HorebMiddle06-08503·
Waubesa IntermediateMcfarlandElementary03-05489·
Toki MiddleMadisonMiddle06-08487·
Token Springs ElementarySun PrairieElementaryPK-05472·
Granite Ridge SchoolCottage GroveElementary03-05470·
Rome Corners IntermediateOregonMiddle05-06463·
Dr Virginia Henderson Elementary SchoolMadisonElementaryPK-05462·
Ezekiel Gillespie Middle SchoolMadisonMiddle06-08462·
Glacier Edge ElementaryVeronaElementaryKG-05462·
Olson ElementaryVeronaElementaryPK-05462·
Milele Chikasa Anana Elementary SchoolMadisonElementaryPK-05455·
Conrad Elvehjem Primary SchoolMcfarlandElementaryPK-02449·
Pope Farm ElementaryMiddletonElementaryPK-04448·
Stephens ElementaryMadisonElementaryPK-05447·
Forest Edge Elementary SchoolFitchburgElementaryPK-06446·
Fox Prairie ElementaryStoughtonElementaryKG-05443·
Northside ElementarySun PrairieElementaryPK-05439·
Arboretum ElementaryWaunakeeElementaryPK-04435·
O'Keeffe MiddleMadisonMiddle06-08434·
Westside ElementarySun PrairieElementaryPK-05434·
Royal Oaks ElementarySun PrairieElementaryPK-05433·
Destinations Career Academy of Wisconsin HighMcfarlandHigh09-12423·
Netherwood Knoll ElementaryOregonElementaryPK-04419·
Core Knowledge Charter SchoolVeronaElementaryKG-08417·
Huegel ElementaryMadisonElementaryPK-05417·
Elvehjem ElementaryMadisonElementaryPK-05415·
Whitehorse MiddleMadisonMiddle06-08415·
Sandhill ElementaryStoughtonElementaryKG-05411·
Sandburg ElementaryMadisonElementaryPK-05410·
Deerfield ElementaryDeerfieldElementaryPK-06409·
Eastside ElementarySun PrairieElementaryPK-05408·
Stoner Prairie ElementaryFitchburgElementaryKG-05407·
Thoreau ElementaryMadisonElementaryPK-05403·
Meadow View ElementarySun PrairieElementaryPK-05401·
Sherman MiddleMadisonMiddle06-08400·
Cambridge ElementaryCambridgeElementaryPK-05399·
Van Hise ElementaryMadisonElementaryKG-05396·
Creekside ElementarySun PrairieElementaryPK-05394·
Schenk ElementaryMadisonElementaryKG-05394·
Lincoln ElementaryMadisonElementaryPK-05393·
Wisconsin Heights ElementaryMazomanieElementaryPK-05391·
Eagle Point ElementaryDeforestElementaryKG-03389·
Country View ElementaryVeronaElementaryKG-05382·
Muir ElementaryMadisonElementaryPK-05377·
Midvale ElementaryMadisonElementaryPK-02372·
Shorewood Hills ElementaryMadisonElementaryPK-05368·
Hawthorne ElementaryMadisonElementaryPK-05360·
Sauk Trail ElementaryMiddletonElementaryPK-04360·
Savanna Oaks MiddleFitchburgMiddle06-08360·
Horizon ElementarySun PrairieElementaryPK-05345·
Southside Elementary SchoolMadisonElementaryPK-05336·
West Middleton ElementaryVeronaElementaryPK-04334·
C H Bird ElementarySun PrairieElementaryPK-05333·
Prairie View ElementaryOregonElementaryPK-04330·
Lowell ElementaryMadisonElementaryPK-05329·

Cities in Dane County

Madison56 schoolsSun Prairie16 schoolsVerona12 schoolsMcfarland9 schoolsMiddleton9 schoolsOregon7 schoolsWaunakee7 schoolsMonona6 schoolsMount Horeb6 schoolsStoughton6 schoolsDeforest5 schoolsFitchburg5 schoolsCottage Grove4 schoolsDeerfield4 schoolsMarshall4 schoolsBelleville3 schoolsCambridge3 schoolsMazomanie3 schoolsCross Plains2 schoolsDe Forest1 schoolWindsor1 school

About Dane County

Dane County is a large Wisconsin county of about 572,674 residents, home to 169 public schools and roughly 78,525 students.

In context, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $89,975, about 55% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the federal-poverty share is near 5%. That income level is 22% above the Wisconsin median.

In terms of grade levels, Dane County spans 95 elementary schools (35,556 students), 36 middle schools (17,272), 34 high schools (25,456), and 4 combined or other schools.

Madison Metropolitan School District dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 25,155 students on its own.

Over the past 7-year window. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment held roughly steady: 77,325 students in SY 2017-18 versus 78,422 in SY 2024-25. Dane County now counts 163 public schools, up from 159 in SY 2017-18. The White share of public-school enrollment fell from 65% to 60%.

In the discussion threads here, the community for Dane County discusses sports rivalries, cross-district programs, and shared facilities. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.

Frequently asked questions

How many public schools are in Dane County?
Dane County, Wisconsin has 169 public K-12 schools serving approximately 78,525 students.
How many high schools are in Dane County?
Dane County, Wisconsin has 34 public high schools, serving approximately 25,456 students.
How many middle schools are in Dane County?
Dane County, Wisconsin has 36 public middle schools, serving approximately 17,272 students.
How many elementary schools are in Dane County?
Dane County, Wisconsin has 95 public elementary schools, serving approximately 35,556 students.
What is the largest school district in Dane County?
Madison Metropolitan School District is the largest school district in Dane County, serving approximately 25,155 students. The county contains 21 school districts overall.
What is the population of Dane County?
Dane County, Wisconsin has a population of approximately 572,674, with a median age of 36. About 19.7% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Dane County?
Median household income in Dane County is $89,975, above the Wisconsin average of $73,469. About 4.9% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Dane County?
Approximately 55.3% of adults 25 and older in Dane County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Dane County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 31.6% of students in Dane County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is lower than the Wisconsin county average of 41.4%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Dane County schools?
Across Dane County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 13.8 to 1.

Dane County school rankings

Largest schoolsAll rankings →
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data