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Cottage Grove Village Hall - panoramioPhoto: Corey Coyle · CC BY 3.0
B
Schools in Cottage Grove · Monona Grove School District, Deerfield Community School District

Cottage Grove’s public schools outscore 57% of Wisconsin districts

The grade covers the two public school districts serving Cottage Grove, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. In Cottage Grove, 43% of tested students read at a proficient level, above the Wisconsin average (38%). Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Wisconsin, not nationally.

#199of 362 Wisconsin townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Wisconsin state tests taken in spring 2022, when 95% 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.

Reading proficiency
43%
▲ 5 pts vs WI 38%
2021–22
Math proficiency
39%
▼ 0 pts vs WI 39%
2021–22
Graduate on time
93%
▲ 2 pts vs WI 90%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$17.6K
▲ 7% vs WI $16.5K
FY2024 · Monona Grove
Students per teacher
12.2
WI 13.6 · smaller classes
Schools in town
0
3,532 students on the public path
In brief

Cottage Grove’s schools, in brief

Above the state in reading, below in math

Reading proficiency is 43% and math 39% across both districts in spring 2022, against 38% and 39% statewide; 93% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 90%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

Monona Grove spends $17,565 per student and Deerfield $15,875, against $16,459 across Wisconsin (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Cottage Grove’s grade

B Test scoresC+ Graduation

B: better than 57% of Wisconsin school districts, #199 of 362 Wisconsin towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Wisconsin average; test scores are the stronger of the two.

Wisconsin school districts we grade (441)Better than 57%
Lower resultsHigher results
Wisconsin towns with similar household incomes (1307)Better than 61%
Towns in Dane County (32)Better than 19%
C+B+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 2,070 test results and a graduating class of 269 could put Cottage Grove anywhere from C+ to B+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 95% of Cottage Grove’s students in the tested grades sat them (2,071 in math, 2,068 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Cottage Grove, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–63 schoolsDepends on your addressC+ to B+
7–82 middle schoolsDepends on your addressB to B+
9–122 high schoolsDepends on your addressB− to B+

Cottage Grove runs its own schools through grade 12 (Monona Grove School District). From grade PK, students attend the Deerfield Community School District, shared with Deerfield and Deerfield. Its school is in Monona. Parts of Cottage Grove (16%, 5% and 2% of its land) are served by Stoughton Area, Marshall and McFarland instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Cottage Grove

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Monona Grove School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 7 schools · 3,672 students, up 7% since 2020–21 · 12.3 per teacher (WI 13.6)
$17,565WI $16,459 · FY2024
B
Deerfield Community School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 3 schools · 730 students · 11.6 per teacher (WI 13.6)
$15,875WI $16,459 · FY2024
B
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading · PK–12, Monona Grove School District43%
State average 38.1% · 1672 students tested
Math · PK–12, Monona Grove School District40%
State average 38.7% · 1675 students tested
Reading · PK–12, Deerfield Community School District44%
State average 38.1% · 396 students tested
Math · PK–12, Deerfield Community School District33%
State average 38.7% · 396 students tested

Cottage Grove vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Wisconsin towns that share Cottage Grove’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Cottage GroveBMonona Grove PK–12 · Deerfield PK–12
Cottage Grove (village)BMonona Grove
MadisonCMadison Metropolitan
McFarlandDMcFarland
Sun PrairieBSun Prairie Area PK–12 · Marshall PK–12
DeerfieldBDeerfield
Pleasant SpringsBStoughton Area
MedinaC+Marshall

Every school in Cottage Grove

7 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Wisconsin’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

Also serving Cottage Grovein other towns
Winnequah School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Monona
B+
602 students12:1Rate it →
Deerfield Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Deerfield
C+
409 students12:1Rate it →
Taylor Prairie Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–K
264 students13:1Rate it →
Glacial Drumlin School
Middle · Grades 6–8
B+
766 students12:1Rate it →
Deerfield Middle
Middle · Grades 7–8 · Deerfield
B
114 students11:1Rate it →
Monona Grove High
High · Grades 9–12 · Monona
B+
1,170 students14:1Rate it →
Deerfield High
High · Grades 9–12 · Deerfield
B−
207 students12:1Rate it →

Questions about Cottage Grove’s schools

Are Cottage Grove’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of Wisconsin: the public schools Cottage Grove children attend outscore 57% of Wisconsin’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade, #199 of 362 Wisconsin towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 61%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Cottage Grove in?

Two districts: Monona Grove School District runs grades PK–12, and Deerfield Community School District runs grades PK–12, shared with Deerfield and Deerfield.

Where do Cottage Grove kids go to high school?

One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Monona Grove High and Deerfield High.

What is Cottage Grove’s graduation rate?

93% of the class of 2023 in Monona Grove School District graduated in four years, against 90% across Wisconsin.

How much does Cottage Grove spend per student?

$17,565 in Monona Grove School District and $15,875 in Deerfield Community School District (FY2024), against $16,459 across Wisconsin. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Cottage Grove families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Cottage Grove → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, 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 Wisconsin. Stars are from neighbors.