Madison schools vs Chicagoland schools (Middleton, Cross Plains: homes, school districts, live)

[Karicancook]

Hey everyone,
We are looking to move from Chicago (city) to the suburbs, mainly for the schools but also for the green space. We are not finding much in our price range in towns with good schools, so are considering the Madison area (we both like it). I know the Great Schools rankings have to be taken with a grain of salt, but looking at homes in districts where the schools are ranking 8 or below is a nonstarter for my husband (the towns we're looking at near here are 10's for all schools). Can anyone help us figure out if the Madison schools are comparable to schools in towns like St.Charles, Barrington, or Elmhurst, IL? It's hard to get real info from the Great Schools data. Also, are schools in Madison districted like the suburbs? Or is it an application process like the Chicago Public Schools? I know there are great public schools in Chicago but the process of navigating the system and getting into them is onerous. Thanks!!

[damba]

You are districted in madison based on where you live, including surrounding towns.

Middleton/Cross Plains would be somewhat comparable to the quality of the school districts you have mentioned, perhaps better on average.