Shabazz City High Overview &amp; Programs Guide (2026 List)

About Shabazz-City High

Shabazz-City High is a unique public alternative school in Madison, Wisconsin, that serves students in grades 9 through 12. It is one of the seven high schools in the Madison Metropolitan School District and is known as one of the best because it focuses on social justice and seminar-based learning. The school has about 130 students, which creates a supportive environment with a student-to-teacher ratio of about 11:1. Because the school is small, students can really get into a curriculum that focuses on community service and academic inquiry. The school community is made up of people from many different backgrounds. 43% of students are minorities, and 37% are considered economically disadvantaged. In 2026, Shabazz-City High still puts a lot of emphasis on overall growth. To help students transition to college, they set up the ACT and SAT as college entrance exams. This school is known as one of the best for student-led advocacy because it creates a safe, welcoming environment where students can become active citizens.

Academic Performance

Subject Proficiency

Mathematics 0%

Reading 0%

State average proficiency is 0% in Math and 0% in Reading.

15

Full-time Teachers

8 : 1

Student-Teacher Ratio

114

Total Students

$42259

Avg. Teacher Salary

Student Demographics

White 57.02%

Asian 0.88%

Hispanic 17.54%

Black 11.4%

Two+ Races 12.28%

Native Am. 0.88%

White

57.02%

Asian

0.88%

Hispanic

17.54%

Black

11.4%

Two+ Races

12.28%

Native Am.

0.88%

Gender Distribution

Total Students: 114

64.91%

74 Female

35.09%

40 Male

Student Population

114 Students

With a student-teacher ratio of 8 : 1

Minority Enrollment

25%

Percentage of minority students

Students per Counselor

142 : 1

Student to counselor ratio

Shabazz-City High Contact Information

Address

1601 N Sherman Ave, Madison, WI, 53704

View on Map

Phone

(608) 204-2440

Call Now

Website

http://shabazz.madison.k12.wi.us/

Recent News & Updates

New Playground Name

We are so excited to announce the name of our new playground! Following a school-wide and Robinson community vote we narrowed a large list of names down to four. Since our students will be using the playground on a daily basis, we gave them the final vote! 476.....

School Timings

Regular School Hours

All Grades: 8:45 AM to 3:05 PM

Early Dismissal Days

Dismissal Time: 12:15 PM

Note: Doors open at 8:30 AM for student arrival. Please refer to the school calendar for specific early dismissal dates.

After School Activities

Information coming soon

School Session Dates

September to June

School session starts in September 1st week and ends in June 3rd week. For exact dates, please contact the school.

Remarkable Alumni

Being Updated

Map

Latest News

Shabazz-City High School is focusing on its "Social Action Project" series for 2026. In this series, students work with local non-profits to make Madison more environmentally friendly. The school still offers its famous seminar-style classes, which have recently added new topics like modern philosophy and restorative justice. This small school is still a leader in alternative education, putting a lot of emphasis on deep intellectual inquiry and letting students design their own curriculum.

FAQ

Q1. Can students in school get ready for college tests here?

Ans. Shabazz-City High helps students get ready for the ACT and SAT by giving them advice and making it easier for them to take the tests.

Q2. What makes the learning environment unique?

Ans. The school uses a different method, where students learn in small, seminar-style groups.

Q3. Is there a focus on fairness and justice?

Ans. The curriculum often looks at social issues, which helps students become active, informed citizens.

Q4. How do kids in school make friends?

Ans. Frequent retreats and group meetings help students make friends and feel like they belong.

Q5. Are there places to be creative?

Ans. School students can choose from a variety of unique electives that focus on creative writing, media, and social advocacy.

Games & Extracurricular Activities

Sports

Soccer Club Grades 1-3 | Mon/Wed 3:30-4:30pm
Basketball Grades 2-4 | Tue/Thu 3:30-4:45pm
Track & Field Grades 3-5 | Fri 3:30-5:00pm

Arts

Art Club Grades K-2 | Mon 3:00-4:00pm
Drama Club Grades 3-5 | Wed 3:30-5:00pm
Choir Grades 2-5 | Thu 3:15-4:15pm

Clubs

Chess Club Grades 2-5 | Fri 3:15-4:15pm
Garden Club All Grades | Tue 3:15-4:00pm
Robotics Club Grades 3-5 | Thu 3:30-5:00pm

Note: Schedules may change during school holidays. Please contact School for exact Schedule.

Summer Suggested Reading

Horn Book Selections

Vocabulary.com +3 Horn Book +3 What to Read to Your Kids +3

ML

Maggie Lou, Firefox

by Arnolda Dufour Bowes

PS

The Puppets of Spelhorst

by Kate DiCamillo

MLV

The Mona Lisa Vanishes

by Nicholas Day

Vocabulary.com Top Picks

Penguin Random House +10 Vocabulary.com +10 Wikipedia +10

F

Frindle

by Andrew Clements

WR

The Wild Robot

by Peter Brown

JGP

James and the Giant Peach

by Roald Dahl

Penguin Random House Features

Horn Book +2 Penguin Random House +2 The Guardian +2

SLB

The Secret Language of Birds

by Lynne Kelly

S

The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels

by Beth Lincoln

Free Robotics and Stem In-person Workshop in Your Neighbourhood for 7-14 Years Tech Enthusiasts.

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What Parents Say