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Best Public Preschools in Madison, WI (2026)
Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Madison Public Preschools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 31 public preschools serving 11,923 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 38% (versus the Wisconsin public pre school average of 42%), and reading proficiency score of 37% (versus the 36% 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 59% of the student body (majority Hispanic and Black), which is more than the Wisconsin public preschool average of 39% (majority Hispanic and Black).

Best Public Preschools in Madison, WI (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Shorewood Hills Elementary School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
1105 Shorewood Blvd
Madison, WI 53705
(608) 204-1200
Gr: PK-5 | 368 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 52%
Rank: #22.
Winnequah School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
800 Greenway Rd
Madison, WI 53716
(608) 221-7677
Gr: PK-5 | 602 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
Rank: #33.
Forest Edge Elementary School
(Math: 59% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
4848 Brassica Rd
Madison, WI 53711
(608) 835-4600
Gr: PK-6 | 446 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 28%
Rank: #4 - 54. - 5.
Crestwood Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
5930 Old Sauk Rd
Madison, WI 53705
(608) 204-1120
Gr: PK-5 | 293 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: #4 - 54. - 5.
Stephens Elementary School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
120 S Rosa Rd
Madison, WI 53705
(608) 204-1900
Gr: PK-5 | 447 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 58%
Rank: #66.
Lowell Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
401 Maple Ave
Madison, WI 53704
(608) 204-6600
Gr: PK-5 | 329 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 49%
Rank: #7 - 87. - 8.
Elvehjem Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
5106 Academy Dr
Madison, WI 53716
(608) 204-1400
Gr: PK-5 | 415 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 47%
Rank: #7 - 87. - 8.
Thoreau Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
3870 Nakoma Rd
Madison, WI 53711
(608) 204-6940
Gr: PK-5 | 403 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 49%
Rank: #99.
Cesar Chavez Elementary School
(Math: 41% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
3502 Maple Grove Dr
Madison, WI 53719
(608) 442-2000
Gr: PK-5 | 631 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 53%
Rank: #1010.
Muir Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
6602 Inner Dr
Madison, WI 53705
(608) 663-8170
Gr: PK-5 | 377 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 68%
Rank: #1111.
Emerson Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
2421 E Johnson St
Madison, WI 53704
(608) 204-2000
Gr: PK-5 | 297 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 57%
Rank: #1212.
Huegel Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
2601 Prairie Rd
Madison, WI 53711
(608) 204-3100
Gr: PK-5 | 417 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 48%
Rank: #1313.
Isthmus Montessori Academy Public
Charter School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
1802 Pankratz St
Madison, WI 53704
(608) 661-8200
Gr: PK-12 | 210 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
Rank: #1414.
Lincoln Elementary School
(Math: 37% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
909 Sequoia Trl
Madison, WI 53713
(608) 204-4900
Gr: PK-5 | 393 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 62%
Rank: #15 - 1615. - 16.
Gompers Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
1502 Wyoming Way
Madison, WI 53704
(608) 204-4520
Gr: PK-5 | 217 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 52%
Rank: #15 - 1615. - 16.
Orchard Ridge Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
5602 Russett Rd
Madison, WI 53711
(608) 204-2320
Gr: PK-5 | 265 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 60%
Rank: #1717.
Milele Chikasa Anana Elementary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
6323 Woodington Way
Madison, WI 53711
(608) 204-2180
Gr: PK-5 | 455 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
Rank: #1818.
Nuestro Mundo
Charter School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
902 Nichols Rd
Madison, WI 53716
(608) 204-1076
Gr: PK-5 | 311 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 74%
Rank: #1919.
Kennedy Elementary School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 27%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
221 Meadowlark Dr
Madison, WI 53714
(608) 204-3420
Gr: PK-5 | 582 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 70%
Rank: #2020.
Dr Virginia Henderson Elementary School
(Math: 30% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
1201 Tompkins Dr
Madison, WI 53716
(608) 204-2400
Gr: PK-5 | 462 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 74%
Rank: #2121.
Hawthorne Elementary School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
3344 Concord Ave
Madison, WI 53714
(608) 204-2500
Gr: PK-5 | 360 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 82%
Rank: #2222.
Sandburg Elementary School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
4114 Donald Dr
Madison, WI 53704
(608) 204-7940
Gr: PK-5 | 410 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 81%
Rank: #2323.
Leopold Elementary School
(Math: 17% | Reading: 24%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
2602 Post Rd
Madison, WI 53713
(608) 204-4240
Gr: PK-5 | 626 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 80%
Rank: #2424.
Mendota Elementary School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 10-14%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
4002 School Rd
Madison, WI 53704
(608) 204-7840
Gr: PK-5 | 282 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 84%
Rank: #2525.
Lindbergh Elementary School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 11-19%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
4500 Kennedy Rd
Madison, WI 53704
(608) 204-6500
Gr: PK-5 | 180 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 82%
Rank: #2626.
Southside Elementary School
(Math: 6-9% | Reading: 10-14%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
501 E Badger Rd
Madison, WI 53713
(608) 204-1056
Gr: PK-5 | 336 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 87%
Rank: #2727.
One City Elementary School
Charter School
(Math: 6-9% | Reading: ≤10%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1707 W Broadway
Madison, WI 53713
(608) 531-2128
Gr: PK-5 | 328 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 91%
Rank: n/an/a
4k Pk Off Site
4711 Pflaum Rd
Madison, WI 53718
(608) 204-6561
Gr: PK | 619 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 56%
Rank: n/an/a
Franklin Elementary School
305 W Lakeside St
Madison, WI 53715
(608) 204-2292
Gr: PK-2 | 308 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: n/an/a
Lapham Elementary School
1045 E Dayton St
Madison, WI 53703
(608) 204-4140
Gr: PK-2 | 182 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: n/an/a
Midvale Elementary School
502 Caromar Dr
Madison, WI 53711
(608) 204-6700
Gr: PK-2 | 372 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 56%

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?
31 public preschools are located in Madison.
What is the racial composition of students in Madison?
Madison public preschools minority enrollment is 59% of the student body (majority Hispanic and Black), which is more than the Wisconsin public preschools average of 39% (majority Hispanic and Black).
Which public preschools in Madison are often viewed compared to one another?

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