Education in Madison

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Madison Metropolitan School District

The Madison Metropolitan School District is Wisconsin's second largest school district, with about 25,000 students in 45 schools. The district covers approximately 65 square miles, including all or part of the cities of Madison, Fitchburg and Monona, the villages of Maple Bluff and Shorewood Hills, and the towns of Blooming Grove, Burke, Madison, Middleton and Westport. Find out more about individual schools.

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University of Wisconsin

The University of Wisconsin was founded in 1848, and the first class met on February 5, 1849 in North Hall, a building that you can still visit today. The University included 560 acres overlooking Lake Mendota. It is a world-famous, state-supported institution that now has 900 acres with over 350 buildings and more than 40,000 students from around the globe.

Bascom Hall is on top of Bascom Hill and is one of the best-known campus buildings.

A statue of Abraham Lincoln sits in front of Bascom Hall, looking down Bascom Hill toward State Street and the State Capitol.

The Carillon Tower is located at the top of Bascom Hill on Observatory Drive. It has more than 56 bells that ring out in concert on summer Sundays. Some of the bells weigh more than 5,000 pounds.

This building houses the library of the Wisconsin Historical Society, the home of one of the most extensive collections of American and Wisconsin historical items in the world. It is located on the Library Mall of the University of Wisconsin campus.

The Memorial Union is the place where students, staff and Union members gather for refreshments, theater presentations, recreation, art exhibits, lounging, and conversation. It is one of the most popular buildings on campus.

The "Old Red Gym" is a red-brick building on the shore of Lake Mendota that was first built for use as a gymnasium and convention hall, but it has since been used for other things. Today it houses the Multicultural Student Center and other student organizations.

The Elvehjem Museum of Art was dedicated and opened in 1970. It features classic and modern art from around the world. There are over 2,000 pieces to look at. Art lectures and concerts are also held here. Special exhibits feature displays from art centers in other parts of the country and the world. It is free and open to the public.

The University provides sports entertainment for all ages to enjoy. Madison is the home of the University of Wisconsin Badgers. The newest athletic center is the Kohl Center, where the UW basketball and hockey teams play.

Bucky Badger is the mascot for University of Wisconsin sports teams.

This structure, called the Memorial Arch, reminds today's Madisonians that during the Civil War, Camp Randall was a training ground for the Union Army and also a hospital and stockade for Confederate prisoners. Today the land is part of the University of Wisconsin, and the name "Camp Randall" is usually associated with the UW's football stadium.

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Other Colleges in Madison

Madison Area Technical College is another college located in Madison. It offers adults the opportunity to take classes that will get them ready for various jobs or provide them with new skills to be used in leisure-time activities.

Edgewood College is a private liberal arts college in the City of Madison located near the Vilas Zoo on Lake Wingra.