Columbus
Columbus, WI · Education
GazetteXtra
Janesville elementary, middle school district students make continued gains in test scores
JANESVILLE — Janesville School District elementary and middle-school students showed continued educational gains in 2025-26, with the district’s third-, fourth- and fifth-graders grades outscoring state averages in math and reading, while some of its middle schoolers showed gains in both subjects, according to state Department of Public Instruction data. The assessments are considered in school and district report cards, and are a part of state and federal accountability programs. Students in grades 3-8 take the Forward Exam for English language arts and math. On the Forward Exam, students in grades 3-5 scored higher than the state average in reading and math. Students in grades 3-8 were 54.2% proficient in English language arts, according to DPI data. That’s a climb of more than two percentage points from 2024-25, when the grades were at 52%. The grades were 49.4% proficient in 2023-24. In 2025-26, the state average for English language arts was 53.8%. Reading proficiency in grades 3-5 was 7% higher than the state average. Fourth grade had a gain of more than 8 percentage points. In math, students in grades 3-5 scored 7% above the state average. Fourth-graders who took the Forward science and social studies saw gains in both areas,
wmtv15news.com
QUIZ: Test your UW-Madison history knowledge
MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – Think you know everything about University of Wisconsin-Madison? Test your knowledge with our interactive quiz. WMTV will have special coverage of the UW-Madison homecoming parade Friday, starting at 5:45 p.m.
GazetteXtra
Football: Madison Memorial clears 250 rushing yards in win over Janesville Parker
JANESVILLE — Madison Memorial used a stout red zone defense and a relentless rushing attack to forge a 20-12 victory over Janesville Parker Friday night at Monterey Stadium. The Spartans (6-1, 4-1 Big Eight) rushed 39 times and collected 259 rushing yards. Spartans senior quarterback Sam Aparicio produced 170 rushing yards on 26 carries. The Vikings (2-5, 2-3 Big Eight) made it to the red zone four times but only came away with six points from those trips. The Vikings’ lone TD of the game came from Keyondre Johnson’s blocked punt, which he scooped up and ran back for the score. The Spartans punted from their own 27. Johnson ran behind one of his own guys, using a play they call Superman, to get the block. The Spartans returned the favor, getting a block of their own on the next extra point. Parker coach Joe Flister said the game was a tough one. He added that he was proud of the way the Vikings battled for four quarters. “That’s a really good Madison Memorial team, and we’re right there,” Flister said. “We didn’t make enough plays in the first half; we made two field goals. We took a shot on
spectrumnews1.com
Wisconsin students barred from performance, again
WATERTOWN, Wis. — Months after the Watertown Unified School District school board barred the high school wind symphony from performing "A Mother of a Revolution," the interim superintendent has now blocked plans for the high school's spring production of "Flashdance." "The policy that really impacted my decision is the...
SwimInfo
Michigan Lands First 2028 Verbal From Wisconsin State Champion Max Garbacz
Michigan Lands First 2028 Verbal From Wisconsin State Champion Max Garbacz. NEW COMMIT: The University of Michigan has secured its first public verbal commitment for Fall 2028 from Madison, Wisc. native Max Garbacz. Garbacz, who is among the top recruits in the Class of 2032, is a Junior National qualifier who excels in backstroke and IM.
GazetteXtra
Football: Milton's comeback bid comes up short against Sun Prairie East
MILTON — While the final result was 21-18 in favor of Sun Prairie East, it would be hard to argue that the Milton Red Hawks didn’t leave it all out on the field on Friday night during their Badger Large Conference matchup with the Cardinals. The Red Hawks (3-4, 3-2 Badger Large) found themselves down two possessions heading into the fourth quarter against the Cardinals (4-3, 3-2 Badger Large), but were able to score a late touchdown and even have a two-minute drill opportunity to tie or win the game. However, Milton came up just short in their comeback attempt, seeing their three-game win streak snapped in the process. “These kids have shown tremendous resolve the entire season, not only on a week-by-week basis but even over the course of a game” Milton head coach Jeff Spiwak said. “You could see right up through that final minute that we weren’t going to quit.” The Milton defense, much like last week’s low-scoring affair against DeForest, came out ready to play against the Cardinals by forcing an early punt out of Sun Prairie East. The Red Hawk offense followed it up with a lengthy 14-play, 80-yard drive that resulted in a one-yard
wmtv15news.com
dailydodge.com
Beaver Dam Football Uses Strong Start, Tough Defense To Beat Sauk Prairie 28-7
The Beaver Dam High School football team moved one step closer to a Badger Small Conference championship Friday night with a 28-7 victory over Sauk Prairie. The win improves the Golden Beavers to 6-1 overall and 5-0 in the Badger Small. Sauk Prairie falls to 3-4 overall and 2-3 in conference play.
captimes.com
Madison schools see big spike in students refusing Chromebooks
The Cap Times is an independent newsroom serving Madison and Wisconsin. Sign up for the Morning Update to receive news in your inbox each morning. This school year, the number of students in the Madison school district whose families opted them out of using school-issued laptops more than quadrupled as parents increasingly raise concerns about screen time in classrooms.
veronapress.com
Verona High School Class of 1957 reunion
Nine of the 15 surviving members of the Verona High School Class of 1957 gathered at the Mount Vernon Park in August to celebrate their 69th Class Reunion. Forty one students in the Class of 57, 25 boys and 16 girls, graduated from the old Original High School Building on Marietta Street, back when they were known as the Verona Indians. That School Building, of course, has long since given way to Senior Housing, in which a couple class members recently called home.
oregonobserver.com
Volleyball: Liza Studebaker collects 500th kill as Oregon tops Milton
Senior outside hitter Liza Studebaker recorded her 500th career kill as the Oregon volleyball team tipped Milton in four sets 23-25, 25-15, 25-18, 25-22 in a Badger Large Conference match on Tuesday, Sept. 29, at Oregon High School. Senior setter Rylee Anderson posted a double-double with 39 assists and 14...
dailydodge.com
Beaver Dam Travels To Sauk Prairie Friday Night
The Beaver Dam High School football team takes its four-game winning streak on the road Friday night when the Golden Beavers visit Sauk Prairie in a Badger Small Conference matchup. Beaver Dam enters the game with a 5-1 overall record and a perfect 4-0 mark in conference play. The Golden...
wmtv15news.com
oregonobserver.com
Boys soccer: Oregon can't capitalize on chances in loss to No. 4 DeForest
Oregon coach Chris Mitchell doesn’t think the scoreboard is telling the whole story. The Oregon boys soccer team dropped a Badger Large Conference showdown to fourth-ranked DeForest 1-0 on Tuesday, Sept. 29, at DeForest Area High School. Oregon (5-4-1, 3-2 Badger Large) outshot DeForest 18-10 and had nine shots...