Wingra School

Motivated to Learn! My daughter loves Wingra School. Each morning she is motivated to get to school. Each afternoon she's excited to talk about the new thing she discovered or a new perspective on a familiar topic. I am happy to send her to Wingra School and know that her teachers, all the teachers (and staff), are engaged in the learning process of each child. I have seen my young child relish learning math; get excited about scientific inquiry; and request that she read to me. Without a doubt, Wingra School was the right choice for our family and we have had a wonderful learning experience there.
—Submitted by a parent

Wingra is a wonderful learning community. The students and teachers are so engaged in the learning process. We have 2 children at Wingra and they are both thriving. The teachers are really invested in each child's academic and emotional growth. Wingra is a fantastic and joyful place to learn and grow.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is a great school academically because they teach you how to think independently and think about a certain object in a different way than you would have ever thought about. You have the independence of learning but also have a teacher help you but you don't have to stress about the subject at all. Socially the school needs more help in. A lot of the students are supportive of each other and care about each other but some of the students talk behind each others back and for some people thats really hurtful. I think the teachers need to step in more to prevent that from happening. Overall, this school is a great school.
—Submitted by a student

Our son loves school! Never has he expressed anything negative about Wingra. (He's in his 4th year.) What impressed me upon my first visits to Wingra was the true spirit of joy in the halls and classrooms. The kids feel confident and comfortable at their school. They each have an investment in themselves developed by the self-direction, communication and involvement in learning offered by the Wingra environment . The teachers are first-rate, continuing to learn about education, esp.Progressive Education, as they guide their students through the wonder of learning. I echo the comments and ratings offered by other parents of Wingra students listed in prior reviews. Wingra is turning out enthusiastic students with a confidence more rare than common in the youth of today. We appreciate that students are not "going for the grade", but instead understand concepts, research and methods to solve problems. It's a small school with limited funds, space, and facilities, limiting things like specialized sciences and athletics as compared to other schools. But small isn't always a drawback; we all know each other, we're like family. But best of all; the kids are learning!
—Submitted by a parent

There is such a deep committment to nurtering the children encouraging creativity, community service and spirit, de-emphasis on competitioin and testing, recognition that each child is a unique and special individual, no grading, just teaching, observing, interacting, evaluating the children as whole people.

Wingra is fantastic! Our kids love every day there. Best teachers in Madison by far! Don't be discouraged by the tuition - there is financial aid. Wonderful art, music, and PE teachers. Hot lunch program needs more choice - catered in. Weird foods. Should get Milios or Subway. Basically no homework! Director of Ed. is SUPERB. Interesting parents from all over Madison and surrounding areas.
—Submitted by a parent

I so wanted Wingra to work out for my son. I believe in the values of the school and appreciate the approach they take to education, but they are not able to handle any kids with any sort of learning disability. My son started 1st grade at Wingra and it was immediately apparent that the teachers thought him dumb and/or spoiled. After three months of complete failure we had to pull him out of Wingra and he is now prospering at MMSD where they can provide some special education supports. I understand they don't have the funding to support special education, but it really bothers me that the attitude was that my son was a problem rather than just not a good fit. His self esteem suffered drastically because of the attitude the teachers had towards him.
—Submitted by a parent

Dedicated teachers, progressive education, dedicated administration

Wingra takes the time and effort to be creative with their lessons and to look at each child individually. It's such a positive place.
—Submitted by a parent

The teachers are all so very kind and skillful.
—Submitted by a parent

Wingra is one amazing school! Our daughter is excited to go to school every day...she, and each & every person there is valued as an individual, supported & nurtured as they grow into amazing people ~ with all of their creativity & enthusiasm for growth strengthened thru-out the wingra journey! Wingra is a school where each individual really feels like family ~ and participates like family too! (:
—Submitted by a parent

Wingra allows ever student to grow and learn, the teachers are the best trained teachers in the city when it comes to assessing children and their developmental levels.
—Submitted by a parent

Wingra is a fantastic school and promotes every child to thrive in their own unique way! I really wish I had the opportunity attend when I was younger!
—Submitted by a parent

Wingra has been a great place for my children to learn 'outside of the box' and encouraged to develop mentally, physicially, and emotionally!
—Submitted by a parent

I love Wingra because my kids are thrilled to go there every day. Wingra values each child individually but the collective is emphasized as well and there is a tremendous sense of community. Instead of grades and tests that measure children against each other based on a particular standard, children are evaluated and supported based on their individual strengths and weaknesses. Children are excited about learning and the curriculum has real-life relevance. The kids are taught how to learn -- how to find information they need, and how to think critically about issues. They also learn time management and have a measure of control over their learning that invests them with ownership. They make wonderful use of the tremendous resources our community has to offer such as the natural areas, our wonderful public libraries, our public transportation system, local arts groups, etc. As a result of that, I think the kids see themselves as part of the bigger community they live in. I wish every kid could have a school like Wingra.
—Submitted by a parent

Wingra School is like a family. Older kids help younger kids; younger kids climb into older kids' laps at all-school events. Respect for everyone is paramount. The students are responsible and creative. The teachers are incredibly dedicated. The parents are all very involved.

I love all of WI schools, some more than others. Wingra School shows dedication to excellent above and beyond.

I really like this school!!! I like choosing what i get to do at each worktime everyday. There is a sense of family at wingra to. Everyone is really close there! PE is so much fun to, we have a great gym teacher there!!! The teachers there are really really nice. At wingra, we don't get a lot of homework which is really nice. I Recommend going to wingra.
—Submitted by a student