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Leopold Elementary

Summary:

Leopold Elementary is a public elementary school located in Madison, Wisconsin, serving grades PK-5 with a total enrollment of 624 students. The school is part of the Madison Metropolitan School District, which is ranked 330 out of 428 districts in Wisconsin and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Leopold Elementary consistently ranks in the bottom 20% of Wisconsin elementary schools, with significantly lower academic performance compared to the district and state averages across all grade levels and subject areas. For example, in 2023-2024, the percentage of students proficient or better in English Language Arts ranged from 19.77% to 41.33%, compared to the district's 45.27%-51.07% and the state's 52.07%-53.75%. The school's performance is particularly low for Hispanic and English Language Learner students, ranking in the bottom 10-30% of Wisconsin elementary schools for these subgroups. Additionally, Leopold Elementary has experienced a significant increase in chronic absenteeism, rising from 18.7% in 2019-2020 to 40.0% in 2022-2023, much higher than the district and state averages.

Despite the higher per-student spending at Leopold Elementary compared to nearby schools like Randall Elementary School and Van Hise Elementary, the academic performance remains significantly lower, suggesting that the allocation and utilization of resources may need to be re-evaluated. Targeted interventions and support programs tailored to the specific needs of the student population at Leopold Elementary, which has a high percentage of students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds, could be crucial in addressing the academic and attendance challenges faced by the school.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

 2602 Post Rd
       Madison, WI  53713-3599

(608) 204-4240

District: Madison Metropolitan School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
930th of 1,061 Wisconsin Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $15,747 Help


Students who attend Leopold Elementary usually attend:

Middle:    Cherokee Heights Middle
    James Wright Middle
High:    West High

Student/teacher ratio:  10.5 Help
Number of students:  624

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
42.3%
African American:
24.2%
White:
22.6%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  59% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Leopold Elementary ranks worse than 87.7% of elementary schools in Wisconsin. It also ranks 27th among 29 ranked elementary schools in the Madison Metropolitan School District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 13.44. (See more...)
Help
Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Leopold Elementary has the largest elementary school student body size in the Madison Metropolitan School District. Student population at Leopold Elementary is diverse. Racial makeup is: Hispanic (42.3%), African American (24.2%), White (22.6%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 59% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Leopold Elementary is 10.5, which is the 11th best among 29 elementary schools in the Madison Metropolitan School District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Leopold Elementary employs 59 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Leopold Elementary is $15,747, which is the 16th highest among 29 elementary schools in the Madison Metropolitan School District.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Leopold Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Leopold Elementary 930th of 1061 Wisconsin public elementary schools. (See Leopold Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


English Language Learner students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Madison Metropolitan School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Madison Metropolitan School District 330th of 428 Wisconsin school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for Leopold Elementary.

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Rank History for Leopold Elementary

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Leopold Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 18.93 540th 633 14.7%
2005 26.65 513th 632 18.8%
2006 27.10 588th 712 17.4%
2007 24.89 579th 689 16.0%
2008 25.34 876th 1021 14.2%
2009 16.03 936th 1030 9.1%
2010 11.54 971st 1045 7.1%
2011 16.40 956th 1046 8.6%
2012 16.73 942nd 1045 9.9%
2013 20.57 917th 1053 12.9%
2014 16.14 936th 1061 11.8%
2015 6.34 999th 1076 7.2%
2016 7.63 983rd 1075 8.6%
2017 6.75 983rd 1071 8.2%
2018 11.29 924th 1025 9.9%
2019 9.08 942nd 1037 9.2%
2021 13.91 917th 1050 12.7%
2022 18.39 914th 1067 14.3%
2023 18.15 902nd 1067 15.5%
2024 13.44 930th 1061 12.3%
See the entire list of Wisconsin Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Leopold Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 22.86 274th 287 4.5%
2019 18.71 260th 275 5.5%
2022 24.48 221st 248 10.9%
2023 18.82 239th 249 4.0%
2024 14.02 265th 269 1.5%
See the entire list of Best Wisconsin Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Leopold Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 17.43 656th 721 9.0%
2019 20.15 654th 742 11.9%
2021 17.49 697th 746 6.6%
2022 24.45 620th 748 17.1%
2023 29.05 571st 770 25.8%
2024 27.89 604th 790 23.5%
See the entire list of Best Wisconsin Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Leopold Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 3.15 854th 854 0.0%
2019 3.09 874th 874 0.0%
2021 6.85 842nd 847 0.6%
2022 5.18 852nd 859 0.8%
2023 3.89 869th 871 0.2%
2024 2.67 861st 866 0.6%
See the entire list of Best Wisconsin Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Leopold Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 11.55 900th 997 9.7%
2019 8.91 924th 1002 7.8%
2021 15.84 879th 1004 12.5%
2022 23.66 832nd 1017 18.2%
2023 28.94 779th 1010 22.9%
2024 15.02 878th 1011 13.2%
See the entire list of Best Wisconsin Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Leopold Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 14.54 884th 997 11.3%
2019 12.19 896th 1002 10.6%
2021 15.73 871st 1003 13.2%
2022 16.50 876th 1017 13.9%
2023 16.46 866th 1011 14.3%
2024 14.43 883rd 1012 12.7%
See the entire list of Best Wisconsin Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Leopold Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 21.64 146th 165 11.5%
2019 21.40 141st 161 12.4%
2021 30.26 107th 141 24.1%
2022 42.71 65th 133 51.1%
2023 39.63 68th 138 50.7%
2024 28.10 103rd 137 24.8%
See the entire list of Best Wisconsin Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Leopold Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 13.80 269th 271 0.7%
2019 10.27 264th 266 0.8%
2021 20.28 254th 274 7.3%
2022 12.51 294th 296 0.7%
2023 12.08 285th 290 1.7%
2024 10.52 322nd 331 2.7%
See the entire list of Best Wisconsin Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Leopold Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 71.46 150th 686 78.1%
2019 61.42 271st 718 62.3%
2021 56.91 287th 699 58.9%
2022 80.33 93rd 704 86.8%
2023 62.73 239th 715 66.6%
2024 51.85 364th 727 49.9%
See the entire list of Best Wisconsin Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Leopold Elementary Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 
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Data source: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 2)
0%

33%

0%

0%

67%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Wednesday, November 14, 2018

Open Quote Pretty good school. The surrounding area isn't great, but the school response to that has been good/great.

I notice a lot of comments about bullying, but that's a problem in all schools. Teach your kids not to bully and not to tolerate bullying!

There are many high quality teachers on staff but also a few that need to go.

Overall, my daughter has had a good experience at this school in the dual language immersion program. Close Quote


by a parent
Wednesday, March 21, 2018

Open Quote High crime area, constant police activity near school. My son has special needs and because there is no real fencing around the play area, he is able to run off of school grounds. My daughter is performing below grade level for reading and writing and there are no resources to help her meet basic requirements. Bullying, violence and lack of accountability are the norm. Close Quote


by a parent
Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Open Quote Unsafe school for students no consequences for behavior and lacking enough staff to enforce any change. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Leopold Elementary

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 410 114 35 10 2 n/a n/a 0 571
1989 416 94 42 10 2 n/a n/a 0 564
1990 443 98 53 11 5 n/a n/a 0 610
1991 435 94 70 17 1 n/a n/a 0 617
1992 432 98 26 19 0 n/a n/a 0 575
1993 451 90 33 18 2 n/a n/a 0 594
1994 444 93 37 17 3 n/a n/a 0 594
1995 411 111 57 26 1 n/a n/a 0 606
1996 411 111 57 26 1 n/a n/a 0 606
1997 388 136 43 30 2 n/a n/a 0 599
1998 382 137 46 35 4 n/a n/a 0 604
1999 388 136 48 40 1 n/a n/a 0 613
2000 336 170 48 57 2 n/a n/a 0 613
2001 345 184 44 97 5 n/a n/a 0 675
2002 303 136 32 124 5 n/a n/a 0 600
2003 303 136 32 124 5 n/a n/a 0 600
2004 311 166 30 130 3 n/a n/a 0 640
2005 291 188 29 155 4 n/a n/a 0 667
2006 275 200 36 162 5 n/a n/a 0 678
2007 262 218 28 188 3 n/a n/a 0 699
2008 245 246 32 189 4 n/a n/a 0 716
2009 217 249 34 184 5 n/a n/a 0 689
2010 205 223 27 212 4 n/a n/a 0 671
2011 200 222 20 239 5 0 22 0 708
2012 164 211 16 248 3 0 25 0 667
2013 157 187 19 248 6 0 39 0 656
2014 165 208 17 269 5 0 49 0 713
2015 157 203 18 251 0 0 47 0 676
2016 152 185 19 265 0 0 46 0 667
2017 158 179 27 270 0 0 51 0 685
2018 171 208 21 274 0 0 53 0 727
2019 163 189 24 262 0 0 49 0 687
2020 156 204 23 237 0 0 62 0 682
2021 151 178 28 244 0 0 45 0 646
2022 150 157 29 240 0 0 49 0 625
2023 141 151 19 264 0 0 48 1 624

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Leopold Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 571 30.9 18.4 15.6
1989 564 34.6 16.3 27.3
1990 610 36.5 16.7 25.1
1991 617 41.6 14.8 16.9
1992 575 38.0 15.1 16
1993 594 39.6 15.0 20.5
1994 594 39.4 15.1 20.4
1995 606 38.4 15.8 21.8
1996 606 38.4 15.8 21.8
1997 599 42.0 14.3 22.5
1998 604 46.3 13.0 21.9
1999 613 48.4 12.7 27.7
2000 613 48.1 12.7 28.2
2001 675 52.4 12.9 29.5
2002 600 52.0 11.5 43.7
2003 600 52.0 11.5 43.7
2004 640 54.7 11.7 45
2005 667 55.4 12.0 n/a
2006 678 60.5 11.2 n/a
2007 699 52.2 13.4 57.7
2008 716 52.6 13.6 61.2
2009 689 56.4 12.2 67.5
2010 671 56.5 11.8 67.8
2011 708 55.6 12.7 70.8
2012 667 54.2 12.3 71.5
2013 656 60.6 10.8 73.5
2014 713 66.5 10.7 73.8
2015 676 n/a n/a 73.2
2016 667 70.0 9.5 70.3
2017 685 65.7 10.4 62.6
2018 727 66.7 10.8 58.3
2019 687 67.4 10.1 66.2
2020 682 63.9 10.6 60.6
2021 646 61.6 10.4 69.3
2022 625 56.0 11.1 62.9
2023 624 59.0 10.5 59

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Leopold Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 571 30.9 18.4 15.6
1989 564 34.6 16.3 27.3
1990 610 36.5 16.7 25.1
1991 617 41.6 14.8 16.9
1992 575 38.0 15.1 16
1993 594 39.6 15.0 20.5
1994 594 39.4 15.1 20.4
1995 606 38.4 15.8 21.8
1996 606 38.4 15.8 21.8
1997 599 42.0 14.3 22.5
1998 604 46.3 13.0 21.9
1999 613 48.4 12.7 27.7
2000 613 48.1 12.7 28.2
2001 675 52.4 12.9 29.5
2002 600 52.0 11.5 43.7
2003 600 52.0 11.5 43.7
2004 640 54.7 11.7 45
2005 667 55.4 12.0 n/a
2006 678 60.5 11.2 n/a
2007 699 52.2 13.4 57.7
2008 716 52.6 13.6 61.2
2009 689 56.4 12.2 67.5
2010 671 56.5 11.8 67.8
2011 708 55.6 12.7 70.8
2012 667 54.2 12.3 71.5
2013 656 60.6 10.8 73.5
2014 713 66.5 10.7 73.8
2015 676 n/a n/a 73.2
2016 667 70.0 9.5 70.3
2017 685 65.7 10.4 62.6
2018 727 66.7 10.8 58.3
2019 687 67.4 10.1 66.2
2020 682 63.9 10.6 60.6
2021 646 61.6 10.4 69.3
2022 625 56.0 11.1 62.9
2023 624 59.0 10.5 59

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Leopold Elementary

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $1,012 (6.7%) $14,108 (93.3%) $15,120
2020 $1,020 (6.9%) $13,750 (93.1%) $14,770
2021 $1,146 (7.3%) $14,602 (92.7%) $15,747

Data source: Wisconsin Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Leopold Elementary

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
Ranks 942nd of 1037 Elementary schoolsRanks 902nd of 1067 Elementary schools
 6.3%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 % proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Leopold Elementary)9.514
 4.5%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Madison Metropolitan School District)35.334.9
 0.4%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Wisconsin)39.537.9
 1.6%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Leopold Elementary)17.910.6
 7.2%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Madison Metropolitan School District)45.840.3
 5.5%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Wisconsin)50.548.8
 1.7%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Leopold Elementary)18.936.7
 17.8%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Madison Metropolitan School District)41.944.9
 3%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Wisconsin)43.945.8
 1.9%
4th Grade Mathematics (Leopold Elementary)2030.4
 10.4%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Madison Metropolitan School District)45.942.2
 3.7%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Wisconsin)46.246.5
 0.2%
4th Grade Social Studies (Leopold Elementary)25.341.8
 16.5%
   4th Grade Social Studies (Madison Metropolitan School District)50.156.6
 6.6%
   4th Grade Social Studies (Wisconsin)53.459.7
 6.4%
4th Grade Science (Leopold Elementary)19.835.4
 15.7%
   4th Grade Science (Madison Metropolitan School District)48.250.5
 2.4%
   4th Grade Science (Wisconsin)53.952.1
 1.8%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Leopold Elementary)20.219.7
 0.4%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Madison Metropolitan School District)38.538.2
 0.3%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Wisconsin)40.939.2
 1.7%
5th Grade Mathematics (Leopold Elementary)2211.7
 10.3%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Madison Metropolitan School District)4541.5
 3.5%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Wisconsin)47.848.4
 0.5%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
Total Students687624
 9.2%
African American189151
 20.1%
American Indian00
Asian2419
 20.8%
Hispanic262264
 0.8%
Pacific Islander00
White163141
 13.5%
Two or More Races4948
 2%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients66.2%59%
 7.3%

Schools Near Leopold Elementary








Frequently Asked Questions about Leopold Elementary

Students who attend Leopold Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Cherokee Heights Middle
Middle : James Wright Middle
High : West High

Students at Leopold Elementary are 42% Hispanic, 24% African American, 23% White, 8% Two or more races, 3% Asian.

In the 2022-23 school year, 624 students attended Leopold Elementary.

Leopold Elementary ranks in the bottom 12.3% of Wisconsin elementary schools.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.




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