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Thoreau Elementary

Summary:

Thoreau Elementary is a public elementary school in Madison, Wisconsin, serving 415 students in grades PK-5. The school is part of the Madison Metropolitan School District, which is ranked 330 out of 428 districts in the state and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Thoreau Elementary has consistently performed better than the district and state averages in core academic subjects like English Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Science. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, 59.65% of Thoreau's 5th-grade students scored proficient or better in ELA, compared to 51.07% for the district and 53.75% for the state. However, the school's performance for certain student subgroups, such as African American, Hispanic, English Language Learners, and low-socioeconomic status students, is significantly lower and often in the bottom quarter of Wisconsin elementary schools. This stark disparity in student achievement suggests the need for targeted interventions to ensure equitable outcomes for all learners.

Another area of concern at Thoreau Elementary is the high and increasing chronic absenteeism rate, which rose from 9.4% in 2018-2019 to 29.1% in 2022-2023. This is notably higher than the district average of 31.3% at nearby Huegel Elementary and 12.0% at Van Hise Elementary. Addressing the root causes of chronic absenteeism should be a priority for the school and district. Despite these challenges, Thoreau Elementary's overall academic performance suggests the potential for improvement, and the school could become a higher-performing institution by leveraging its strengths and implementing targeted strategies to support all student subgroups.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

 3870 Nakoma Rd
       Madison, WI  53711-3096

(608) 204-6940

District: Madison Metropolitan School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
460th of 1,061 Wisconsin Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $15,078 Help


Students who attend Thoreau Elementary usually attend:

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

Student/teacher ratio:  11.5 Help
Number of students:  398

Racial breakdown:

White:
50.0%
Hispanic:
26.9%
African American:
14.6%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  35.4% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Thoreau Elementary ranks better than 56.6% of elementary schools in Wisconsin. It also ranks 7th among 29 ranked elementary schools in the Madison Metropolitan School District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 61.53. (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 Student population at Thoreau Elementary is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (50%), Hispanic (26.9%), African American (14.6%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 35.4% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Thoreau Elementary is 11.5, which is the 16th best among 29 elementary schools in the Madison Metropolitan School District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Thoreau Elementary employs 34.4 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Thoreau Elementary is $15,078. 21 elementary schools in the Madison Metropolitan School District spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Thoreau Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Thoreau Elementary 460th of 1061 Wisconsin public elementary schools. (See Thoreau 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:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Madison Metropolitan School District:

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


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Rank History for Thoreau Elementary

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Rank History for all students at Thoreau Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 24.40 522nd 633 17.5%
2005 30.81 493rd 632 22.0%
2006 39.74 531st 712 25.4%
2007 40.10 521st 689 24.4%
2008 52.87 606th 1021 40.6%
2009 37.65 797th 1030 22.6%
2010 26.13 887th 1045 15.1%
2011 27.65 890th 1046 14.9%
2012 29.49 881st 1045 15.7%
2013 44.37 706th 1053 33.0%
2014 54.77 537th 1061 49.4%
2015 59.57 491st 1076 54.4%
2016 62.13 405th 1075 62.3%
2017 46.34 639th 1071 40.3%
2018 71.46 257th 1025 74.9%
2019 61.37 411th 1037 60.4%
2021 50.06 581st 1050 44.7%
2022 62.38 408th 1067 61.8%
2023 64.14 395th 1067 63.0%
2024 61.53 460th 1061 56.6%
See the entire list of Wisconsin Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Thoreau Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 37.88 48th 76 36.8%
See the entire list of Best Wisconsin Elementary Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Thoreau Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 55.62 91st 287 68.3%
2019 47.33 127th 275 53.8%
2022 43.80 128th 248 48.4%
2023 29.37 199th 249 20.1%
2024 39.66 157th 269 41.6%
See the entire list of Best Wisconsin Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Thoreau Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 61.16 214th 721 70.3%
2019 41.00 412th 742 44.5%
2021 66.36 169th 746 77.3%
2022 32.24 534th 748 28.6%
2023 42.70 428th 770 44.4%
2024 44.95 416th 790 47.3%
See the entire list of Best Wisconsin Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Thoreau Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 34.62 637th 854 25.4%
2019 23.22 762nd 874 12.8%
2021 14.28 793rd 847 6.4%
2022 18.75 767th 859 10.7%
2023 15.29 799th 871 8.3%
2024 15.74 789th 866 8.9%
See the entire list of Best Wisconsin Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Thoreau Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 57.61 446th 997 55.3%
2019 53.43 507th 1002 49.4%
2021 37.42 687th 1004 31.6%
2022 56.16 466th 1017 54.2%
2023 68.55 303rd 1010 70.0%
2024 67.26 333rd 1011 67.1%
See the entire list of Best Wisconsin Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Thoreau Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 82.00 116th 997 88.4%
2019 68.30 281st 1002 72.0%
2021 66.66 304th 1003 69.7%
2022 67.74 296th 1017 70.9%
2023 58.33 456th 1011 54.9%
2024 55.48 507th 1012 49.9%
See the entire list of Best Wisconsin Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Thoreau Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 50.45 58th 165 64.8%
2019 23.57 136th 161 15.5%
See the entire list of Best Wisconsin Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Thoreau Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 37.12 162nd 271 40.2%
2019 33.56 178th 266 33.1%
2021 40.65 153rd 274 44.2%
2023 37.48 182nd 290 37.2%
2024 42.45 183rd 331 44.7%
See the entire list of Best Wisconsin Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Thoreau Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 90.30 30th 686 95.6%
2019 87.41 44th 718 93.9%
2021 84.22 64th 699 90.8%
2022 89.63 24th 704 96.6%
2023 88.15 37th 715 94.8%
2024 86.70 42nd 727 94.2%
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.

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

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Enrollment information for Thoreau Elementary

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 278 2 5 3 2 n/a n/a 0 290
1989 339 50 5 5 2 n/a n/a 0 401
1990 342 59 5 7 1 n/a n/a 0 414
1991 338 86 7 11 3 n/a n/a 0 445
1992 342 104 69 24 4 n/a n/a 0 543
1993 310 127 113 21 5 n/a n/a 0 576
1994 285 134 123 25 3 n/a n/a 0 570
1995 222 158 96 19 0 n/a n/a 0 495
1996 222 158 96 19 0 n/a n/a 0 495
1997 238 175 68 23 1 n/a n/a 0 505
1998 229 124 65 20 1 n/a n/a 0 439
1999 222 79 69 23 1 n/a n/a 0 394
2000 218 77 63 29 5 n/a n/a 0 392
2001 194 82 26 16 5 n/a n/a 0 323
2002 210 99 25 39 1 n/a n/a 0 374
2003 210 99 25 39 1 n/a n/a 0 374
2004 215 103 24 46 2 n/a n/a 0 390
2005 216 125 29 46 7 n/a n/a 0 423
2006 211 121 27 45 7 n/a n/a 0 411
2007 200 141 29 46 5 n/a n/a 0 421
2008 188 128 22 47 3 n/a n/a 0 388
2009 189 114 18 52 7 n/a n/a 0 380
2010 205 125 21 70 4 n/a n/a 0 425
2011 178 97 15 81 2 0 31 0 404
2012 209 154 11 136 3 0 39 0 552
2013 218 83 8 114 1 0 29 0 453
2014 216 68 12 95 1 0 32 0 424
2015 243 66 9 104 1 0 39 0 462
2016 237 55 13 107 0 0 42 0 454
2017 234 61 7 98 0 0 30 0 430
2018 232 62 13 92 0 0 35 0 434
2019 243 51 15 90 0 0 32 0 431
2020 254 50 15 98 0 0 29 0 446
2021 219 57 8 101 0 0 30 0 415
2022 208 75 7 93 0 0 27 0 410
2023 215 60 6 103 0 0 30 1 415
2024 199 58 4 107 2 0 28 0 398

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 Thoreau Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 290 16.3 17.7 15.5
1989 401 21.8 18.3 17.5
1990 414 24.7 16.7 19.3
1991 445 28.2 15.7 15.5
1992 543 39.3 13.8 15.8
1993 576 40.4 14.3 20.5
1994 570 40.3 14.1 20.4
1995 495 46.8 10.6 21.8
1996 495 46.8 10.6 21.8
1997 505 44.4 11.4 22.6
1998 439 41.1 10.7 21.9
1999 394 40.3 9.8 27.7
2000 392 38.3 10.2 28.3
2001 323 30.9 10.5 29.4
2002 374 34.8 10.7 38.5
2003 374 34.8 10.7 38.5
2004 390 35.0 11.1 42.8
2005 423 35.8 11.8 n/a
2006 411 35.9 11.4 n/a
2007 421 31.3 13.5 49.4
2008 388 31.4 12.4 50
2009 380 28.6 13.3 52.1
2010 425 33.7 12.6 52.2
2011 404 33.0 12.2 53.5
2012 552 37.8 14.6 54.3
2013 453 44.6 10.1 49.7
2014 424 39.3 10.7 46.2
2015 462 n/a n/a 46.3
2016 454 36.0 12.6 43.8
2017 430 36.0 11.9 45.3
2018 434 37.8 11.4 42.9
2019 431 36.6 11.7 43.6
2020 446 35.3 12.6 42.6
2021 415 35.3 11.7 46.5
2022 410 35.1 11.6 41.5
2023 415 35.9 11.5 43.4
2024 398 34.4 11.5 35.4

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 Thoreau Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 290 16.3 17.7 15.5
1989 401 21.8 18.3 17.5
1990 414 24.7 16.7 19.3
1991 445 28.2 15.7 15.5
1992 543 39.3 13.8 15.8
1993 576 40.4 14.3 20.5
1994 570 40.3 14.1 20.4
1995 495 46.8 10.6 21.8
1996 495 46.8 10.6 21.8
1997 505 44.4 11.4 22.6
1998 439 41.1 10.7 21.9
1999 394 40.3 9.8 27.7
2000 392 38.3 10.2 28.3
2001 323 30.9 10.5 29.4
2002 374 34.8 10.7 38.5
2003 374 34.8 10.7 38.5
2004 390 35.0 11.1 42.8
2005 423 35.8 11.8 n/a
2006 411 35.9 11.4 n/a
2007 421 31.3 13.5 49.4
2008 388 31.4 12.4 50
2009 380 28.6 13.3 52.1
2010 425 33.7 12.6 52.2
2011 404 33.0 12.2 53.5
2012 552 37.8 14.6 54.3
2013 453 44.6 10.1 49.7
2014 424 39.3 10.7 46.2
2015 462 n/a n/a 46.3
2016 454 36.0 12.6 43.8
2017 430 36.0 11.9 45.3
2018 434 37.8 11.4 42.9
2019 431 36.6 11.7 43.6
2020 446 35.3 12.6 42.6
2021 415 35.3 11.7 46.5
2022 410 35.1 11.6 41.5
2023 415 35.9 11.5 43.4
2024 398 34.4 11.5 35.4

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 Thoreau Elementary

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $482 (3.3%) $14,287 (96.7%) $14,769
2020 $315 (2.2%) $14,147 (97.8%) $14,463
2021 $470 (3.1%) $14,609 (96.9%) $15,078

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Thoreau 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 411th of 1037 Elementary schoolsRanks 395th of 1067 Elementary schools
 2.6%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 % proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Thoreau Elementary)41.745.3
 3.6%
   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 (Thoreau Elementary)40.857.8
 17%
   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 (Thoreau Elementary)54.360.8
 6.5%
   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 (Thoreau Elementary)46.951.9
 5%
   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 (Thoreau Elementary)61.775
 13.3%
   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 (Thoreau Elementary)59.366
 6.8%
   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 (Thoreau Elementary)49.237.7
 11.5%
   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 (Thoreau Elementary)60.935
 25.9%
   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 Students431415
 3.7%
African American5160
 17.6%
American Indian00
Asian156
 60%
Hispanic90103
 14.4%
Pacific Islander00
White243215
 11.5%
Two or More Races3230
 6.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients43.6%43.4%
 0.2%

Schools Near Thoreau Elementary








Frequently Asked Questions about Thoreau Elementary

Students who attend Thoreau Elementary usually go on to attend:

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

Students at Thoreau Elementary are 50% White, 27% Hispanic, 15% African American, 7% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

In the 2023-24 school year, 398 students attended Thoreau Elementary.

Thoreau Elementary ranks 460th of 1061 Wisconsin elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.


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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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