Bethune Academy

Bethune Academy is an elementary school in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, serving 525 students in grades PK-8. The school is part of the Milwaukee School District, which is ranked 415 out of 426 districts in the state and has a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Bethune Academy consistently ranks in the bottom 10% of Wisconsin elementary schools, with low academic performance across all grade levels and subject areas. In 2024-2025, only 18.33% of 3rd graders were proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to 21.92% for the district and 52.14% for the state. The school's mathematics proficiency rates are particularly low, with only 5.45% of 4th graders and 6.25% of 8th graders performing at or above grade level. Bethune Academy also faces challenges with high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 17.7% to 50.4%, and relatively high dropout rates, ranging from 1.3% to 5.6% in recent years.

While Bethune Academy spends more per student than some nearby schools, such as Woodlands School - State Street Campus and Milwaukee College Preparatory School - 36th Street Campus, its academic outcomes remain consistently poor. This suggests that factors beyond just funding, such as curriculum, instruction, and school leadership, may be contributing to the school's challenges. Interestingly, some nearby schools, like Milwaukee College Preparatory School - 36th Street Campus and Westside Academy, perform significantly better academically, indicating that there may be opportunities for Bethune Academy to learn from their successful practices.