MADISON, Wis.—Six Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) schools have earned top rankings among Wisconsin public elementary, middle and high schools in the latest U.S. News & World Report annual school rankings, with several ranking ahead of the highest-placed schools in nearby communities.

At the elementary level, Shorewood Hills Elementary School ranked No. 6 statewide out of 1,265 public elementary schools, the highest placement in Dane County. Two other MMSD elementary schools also ranked among the state’s top 100: Van Hise Elementary School at No. 26, and Randall Elementary School at No. 95.

MMSD’s Velma B. Hamilton Middle School ranked No. 19 among 840 Wisconsin public middle schools, while Georgia O’Keeffe Middle School ranked No. 91. Hamilton’s placement was ahead of the highest-ranked schools in Verona (No. 75), Middleton (No. 53), Waunakee (No. 40) and Sun Prairie (No. 319). It also came in ahead of the best-ranked Milwaukee middle school, whose highest placement was No. 69.

West High School also ranked No. 38 out of 616 public high schools, putting it ahead of the highest-placing schools in Verona (No. 120), Monona (No. 119), Sun Prairie (No. 101), Green Bay (No. 256) and Racine (No. 185).

“These rankings reflect the commitment our educators bring to their work and the effort our students put into learning every day,” said Dr. Carlettra Stanford, MMSD assistant superintendent of schools and learning. “We’re proud to see our schools recognized for their academic performance, while remaining focused on creating learning environments where every student is challenged and prepared for what comes next.”

U.S. News & World Report uses different criteria to evaluate schools at each level. Elementary and middle school rankings are based primarily on student performance in reading and math, while high school rankings consider factors including college readiness, state assessment results, graduation rates, curriculum breadth and the performance of underserved students.

The rankings do not capture every dimension of a school’s quality or the experiences of its students. School culture, student belonging, relationships with educators and the many ways schools support individual learners are also important parts of the educational experience.

To view the state report cards of these schools and others within the district’s portfolio, please visit the MMSD website.

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About the Madison Metropolitan School District

The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) is the second-largest school district in Wisconsin, serving more than 25,000 students across 52 schools. The district’s vision is that MMSD will be a learning community where all students are valued, challenged, supported and inspired to reach their dreams. With more than 7,000 teachers and staff, MMSD is committed to ensuring the district’s goals and core values are held at the center of its efforts, so students can learn, belong and thrive. For more information, visit mmsd.org.