Photo: Paul Sableman · CC BY 2.0Madison’s public schools score below 96% of Illinois districts on tests and graduation
In Madison, 7% of tested students are proficient in math, below the Illinois average (26%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Madison, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Illinois, not nationally.
From Illinois state tests taken in spring 2021, when nearly all of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Madison’s schools, in brief
Results trail the state
In spring 2021, 10% of tested students were proficient in reading and 7% in math, against 30% and 26% statewide; nearly all of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓
Graduation
71% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois. Districts ↓
Spending and class size
Granite City Community Unit School District 9 spends $13,631 per student and Madison Community Unit School District 12 $28,189, against $21,567 across Illinois (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓
Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.
What’s behind Madison’s grade
D−: better than 4% of Illinois school districts, #757 of 768 Illinois towns. Both inputs trail the Illinois average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Madison, with each school’s own grade.
Pre-K in Madison · depends on your address
Prather Elementary School
Grades PK–K · 612 students · 17:1 students per teacher · in Granite City
Bernard Long Elem Sch
Grades PK–5 · 337 students · 11:1 students per teacher
Kindergarten in Madison · depends on your address
Prather Elementary School
Grades PK–K · 612 students · 17:1 students per teacher · in Granite City
Bernard Long Elem Sch
Grades PK–5 · 337 students · 11:1 students per teacher
1st grade in Madison · depends on your address
Wilson Elem School
Grades 1–2 · 448 students · 15:1 students per teacher · in Granite City
Maryville Elem School
Grades 1–2 · 395 students · 16:1 students per teacher · in Granite City
Bernard Long Elem Sch
Grades PK–5 · 337 students · 11:1 students per teacher
2nd grade in Madison · depends on your address
Wilson Elem School
Grades 1–2 · 448 students · 15:1 students per teacher · in Granite City
Maryville Elem School
Grades 1–2 · 395 students · 16:1 students per teacher · in Granite City
Bernard Long Elem Sch
Grades PK–5 · 337 students · 11:1 students per teacher
3rd grade in Madison · depends on your address
Frohardt Elem School
Grades 3–4 · 452 students · 16:1 students per teacher · in Granite City
Mitchell Elementary School
Grades 3–4 · 413 students · 15:1 students per teacher · in Granite City
Bernard Long Elem Sch
Grades PK–5 · 337 students · 11:1 students per teacher
4th grade in Madison · depends on your address
Frohardt Elem School
Grades 3–4 · 452 students · 16:1 students per teacher · in Granite City
Mitchell Elementary School
Grades 3–4 · 413 students · 15:1 students per teacher · in Granite City
Bernard Long Elem Sch
Grades PK–5 · 337 students · 11:1 students per teacher
5th grade in Madison · depends on your address
Grigsby Intermediate School
Grades 5–6 · 818 students · 18:1 students per teacher · in Granite City
Bernard Long Elem Sch
Grades PK–5 · 337 students · 11:1 students per teacher
6th grade in Madison · depends on your address
Grigsby Intermediate School
Grades 5–6 · 818 students · 18:1 students per teacher · in Granite City
Madison Jr High School
Grades 6–8 · 124 students · 12:1 students per teacher
7th grade in Madison · depends on your address
Coolidge Junior High Sch
Grades 7–8 · 854 students · 18:1 students per teacher · in Granite City
Madison Jr High School
Grades 6–8 · 124 students · 12:1 students per teacher
8th grade in Madison · depends on your address
Coolidge Junior High Sch
Grades 7–8 · 854 students · 18:1 students per teacher · in Granite City
Madison Jr High School
Grades 6–8 · 124 students · 12:1 students per teacher
9th grade in Madison · depends on your address
Granite City High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,755 students · 20:1 students per teacher · in Granite City
Madison Senior High School
Grades 9–12 · 152 students · 8:1 students per teacher
10th grade in Madison · depends on your address
Granite City High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,755 students · 20:1 students per teacher · in Granite City
Madison Senior High School
Grades 9–12 · 152 students · 8:1 students per teacher
11th grade in Madison · depends on your address
Granite City High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,755 students · 20:1 students per teacher · in Granite City
Madison Senior High School
Grades 9–12 · 152 students · 8:1 students per teacher
12th grade in Madison · depends on your address
Granite City High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,755 students · 20:1 students per teacher · in Granite City
Madison Senior High School
Grades 9–12 · 152 students · 8:1 students per teacher
Madison runs its own schools through grade 12 (Granite City Community Unit School District 9). From grade PK, students attend the Madison Community Unit School District 12, shared with Nameoki and Venice. Its elementary school is in Granite City. Parts of Madison (7% and 3% of its land) are served by East St. Louis School District 189 and Brooklyn Community Unit School District 188 instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
Two districts serve Madison
Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.
Well below the state in reading
Madison vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Illinois towns that share Madison’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Madison | D− | Granite City Community Unit School District 9 PK–12 · Madison Community Unit School District 12 PK–12 |
| Granite City | D− | Granite City Community Unit School District 9 PK–12 · East Alton-Wood River Community High School District 14 9–12 |
| Granite City Township | — | Granite City Community Unit School District 9 |
| Fairmont City | C− | Collinsville Community Unit School District 10 PK–12 · East St. Louis School District 189 PK–12 |
| Venice | D− | Granite City Community Unit School District 9 |
| Venice (city) | D | Venice Community Unit School District 3 PK–8 · Madison Community Unit School District 12 PK–12 |
| Nameoki | D− | Granite City Community Unit School District 9 PK–12 · Madison Community Unit School District 12 PK–12 |
| Brooklyn | — | Brooklyn Community Unit School District 188 |
| Pontoon Beach | D− | Granite City Community Unit School District 9 |
| Hartford | C− | Wood River-Hartford Elementary School District 15 PK–8 · East Alton-Wood River Community High School District 14 9–12 |
5 of the 9 neighbors share Granite City Community Unit School District 9 with Madison for grades PK–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.
Every school in Madison
6 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Illinois’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).
Questions about Madison’s schools
Are Madison’s schools good?
On Illinois’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Madison children attend score below 96% of Illinois’s school districts on tests and graduation, a D− Schools grade, #757 of 768 Illinois towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 2%. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Madison in?
Two districts: Granite City Community Unit School District 9 runs grades PK–12, and Madison Community Unit School District 12 runs grades PK–12, shared with Nameoki and Venice.
Where do Madison kids go to high school?
One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Granite City High School and Madison Senior High School.
What is Madison’s graduation rate?
71% of the class of 2023 in Granite City Community Unit School District 9 graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois.
How much does Madison spend per student?
$13,631 in Granite City Community Unit School District 9 and $28,189 in Madison Community Unit School District 12 (FY2024), against $21,567 across Illinois. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Parents talk
What Madison families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Madison → They have their own page.
School data: state test results (2020–21, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Illinois. Stars are from neighbors.