Schools & Education
Public education is provided by Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD). The district manages 46 campuses comprised of: 30 elementary schools, 11 intermediate schools and five high schools. Despite being one of the largest school districts in the state, MMSD maintains a relatively low student-to-teacher ratio of 12.5. Anchored by a high level of community support, safe campuses and a very qualified teaching staff, MMSD has a strong reputation for fostering strong academic performance among its students. As an example, the district produces more than six times the number of National Merit Scholar Semifinalists relative to other districts of comparable size.
Madison is also well known for its universities. The University of Wisconsin-Madison, Edgewood College, Madison Area Technical College and Herzing College provide students with many options for post-high school academics and training.
The University of Wisconsin is the largest of these, with an enrollment of about 40,000. Established in 1848, the university has a long-running reputation for program excellence. In the 2003-2004 school year, the university awarded 6,156 bachelor’s degrees, 1,968 master’s degrees, 627 doctoral degrees and 631 professional certificates.
Edgewood College is an independent liberal arts school with an enrollment of 2,400. Edgewood offers more than 40 undergraduate programs and five master’s programs; the primary areas of focus are education, religious studies, nursing administration, and marriage/family therapy.
Madison Area Technical College (MATC) is a two-year, community college serving the greater Madison area. Available programs of study include agricultural and animal sciences, applied engineering, graphic design, marketing, nursing and more. MATC also partners with the several four-year institutions in the area to allow graduating students to transfer seamlessly into a bachelor’s degree program.
Herzing College offers two- and four-year programs in CAD drafting, electronics/telecommunications, computer network technology and technology management. Herzing’s specialty is providing flexible and complete programs that allowing working students to obtain the professional training they need quickly and efficiently. More than 35,000 students have graduated from Herzing’s Madison campus since 1965.