- Enrollment
- 2,222
- Students per teacher
- 17.4:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Madison, WI
Thoreau Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Thoreau Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 42/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 550852000964
👥 S:T ratio 54
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 1
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Thoreau Elementary earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 74% of Wisconsin schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Wisconsin schools.
- #20 of 33
- schools in Madison · Resource Index
- 42
- Resource Index · Typical
- 11.5:1
- small classes for Wisconsin
- 38.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Thoreau Elementary has class sizes smaller than 74% of Wisconsin schools. Computed live against every Wisconsin school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Thoreau Elementary ranks #20 of 33 schools in Madison, WI.
School address
District: Madison Metropolitan School District · Wisconsin
NCES ID 550852000964 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-17 students YoY
Thoreau Elementary held near 398 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-17 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 35.9 → 34.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-17 students YoY 550852000964 · Madison, WI Other · SMALL · TRAD
403 enr · 11.5:1 · 38.8% lunch · RII 42
Nearest enrollment peer: West High (2,222 students)
Thoreau Elementary held near 398 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-17 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 35.9 → 34.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Wisconsin schools → · Find another →
Thoreau Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- West High
West High
2,222 students
- Vel Phillips M
Vel Phillips Memorial High
2,004 students
- East High
East High
1,643 students
- Lafollette Hig
Lafollette High
1,541 students
- Hamilton Middl 790
Hamilton Middle
790 students
- This school 403
Thoreau Elementary
403 students
What this shows Thoreau Elementary reports 403 students on the CCD universe file.
How Thoreau Elementary compares
Thoreau Elementary held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Wisconsin and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Wisconsin | Wisconsin avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 11.5:1 | ▼ 20% | 14.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 38.8% | ▲ 1% | 38.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 403 | top 33% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.5:1
Leaner classes than 79% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
403
Bigger than 48% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
38.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 1% above the Wisconsin average of 38.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
11.5:1
students per teacher
- 20% below state mean
Top 26% in Wisconsin - lower ratio than 74% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
39.7%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$17,411
per pupil, district-wide
- above Wisconsin avg of $15,645
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 51.4%
Hispanic or Latino 25.7%
African American 14.0%
Two or More 7.2%
Asian 1.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Largest group: White at 51.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 64.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 64.5, Thoreau Elementary is more mixed than the Wisconsin school average of 35.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Madison Metropolitan School District reports $17,411 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Thoreau Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| West High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Vel Phillips Memorial High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| East High | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lafollette High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hamilton Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Thoreau Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,004
- Students per teacher
- 16.3:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 1,643
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
- Enrollment
- 1,541
- Students per teacher
- 16.4:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 790
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
Similar other schools in Madison
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Cesar Chavez Elementary
Standard public school
631 students 13.4:1 students per teacher
Leopold Elementary
Standard public school
626 students 10.6:1 students per teacher
4k Pk Off Site
Standard public school
619 students 13.2:1 students per teacher
Kennedy Elementary
Standard public school
582 students 16.2:1 students per teacher
Dr Virginia Henderson Elementary School
Standard public school
462 students 10.5:1 students per teacher
Milele Chikasa Anana Elementary School
Standard public school
455 students 13:1 students per teacher
Nationwide other schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~403 students)
Frequently asked questions about Thoreau Elementary
How many students attend Thoreau Elementary?
Thoreau Elementary has 403 students enrolled. It is a public school in Madison, WI. CCD year-over-year: 415 (2022-23) → 398 (2023-24), nearly flat (-17).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Thoreau Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Thoreau Elementary is 11.5:1, which is 20% lower than the Wisconsin average of 14.4:1 and 27% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Thoreau Elementary?
38.8% of students at Thoreau Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Wisconsin average of 38.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Thoreau Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Thoreau Elementary is White at 51.4% of enrollment, in Madison, WI. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 64.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Thoreau Elementary?
Thoreau Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 42/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Thoreau Elementary rank among schools in Madison?
By Resource Investment Index, Thoreau Elementary ranks #20 of 33 schools in Madison, WI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Madison on the city page.
What other schools are in Madison Metropolitan School District?
Besides Thoreau Elementary, Madison Metropolitan School District also operates West High (2,222 students), Vel Phillips Memorial High (2,004 students), and East High (1,643 students). See the Madison Metropolitan School District district page for the complete list.