State Report Cards Highlight Continued Growth in MMSD Schools

In November, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) released its annual report cards for the 2024-25 school year, and we have a lot to celebrate.

A majority of schools met, exceeded or significantly exceeded expectations. All four comprehensive high schools – East, La Follette, Vel Phillips Memorial and West – exceeded expectations, earning four stars. 

MMSD has also made meaningful progress in overall growth, which measures student progress on statewide tests, improving by 2.9% and scoring the same or better than 91.8% of other Wisconsin school districts. The community's hard work and dedication to supporting and engaging students in learning is making a difference. 

Other than Growth, DPI has asked districts to not compare other results shared in the 2024-25 report card to previous years, as DPI updated how scores are calculated this year. 

“MMSD continues to make meaningful progress in our students’ academic growth,” Superintendent Joe Gothard said. “Our district’s dedicated staff are committed to finding ways to strengthen teaching and learning and supporting all of our scholars.” 

MMSD is, by far, the largest and most diverse district in Dane County, serving more than 25,000 students (16,559 more than the second-largest Dane County district, Sun Prairie Area). Of those students:

• 46.1% are identified as economically disadvantaged (compared to 9.3% in Waunakee Area Community and 17.2% in Middleton-Cross Plains Area school districts)
• 21.4% are English learners (compared to 14.1% in Verona Area and 2.6% in Oregon school districts).

MMSD high school students also outpaced their statewide peers in terms of participation in: 

• Advanced Placement courses (30.8%, vs. 20.3%)
• Art and design (32.8%, vs. 27.0%)    
• Dance (1.2%, vs. 0.4%) and theater courses (3.3%, vs. 1.8%)

MMSD’s overall scores were as follows: 

• Achievement: 61.0
• Growth: 76.5
• Target Group Outcomes: 63.7
• On-Track to Graduation: 73.4 

For a complete listing of ratings/scores and demographic information for all Dane County districts, please reference the table at the bottom of this page.

Across Dane County, two school districts earned five stars, 11 earned four stars, and two (including MMSD) received three stars. Numerical scores ranged from 69.8 to 84.6. 

"We are encouraged by the demonstrated growth that this report shows, particularly as we move further past the pandemic and our scholars progress in fully readjusting to in-classroom learning," Dr. Carlettra Stanford, assistant superintendent of schools and learning said. "With a strong educational foundation and support and guidance from our world-class educators, our Madison students will continue to learn, grow and thrive."

In total, two MMSD schools achieved ratings of “Significantly Exceeds Expectations”; 19 “Exceeds Expectations”; 19 “Meets Expectations”; six “Meets Few Expectations”; and one “Fails to Meet Expectations.” Six schools participated in the Alternate Rating process, five of which scored “Satisfactory” progress, with one scoring “Needs Improvement.”

Report cards are released each fall under state law, as part of Wisconsin’s school accountability system. Schools and districts receive a star rating, from one to five stars, based on their overall score. Ratings are determined across four priority areas identified by the Department of Public Instruction: achievement, growth, target group outcomes, and on-track to graduation. 

All MMSD report cards are available to view on the State Report Cards page of the MMSD website.

Dane County Districts – High School Ratings 2024-25:

Dane County Districts – Overall State Report Cards 2024-25:
(use scrollbar to see additional table data)

Note: Data from DPI School & District Report Cards