Summary:
The city of South Milwaukee, Wisconsin is served by one system, South Milwaukee School District, with six schools and about 2,686 students in grades PK–12: South Milwaukee High (920 students), South Milwaukee Middle (610), and four elementaries — Rawson Elementary (371), Blakewood Elementary (314), Lakeview Elementary (274) and E W Luther Elementary (197). The district carries a single shared rating of 341st of 432 Wisconsin districts (1 star), but that one label hides wide differences between buildings.
The elementaries split sharply. E W Luther Elementary is the standout: 73rd percentile and 4 stars, the only 4-star school in the city, with 66.3% composite proficiency versus a 54.8% elementary state average, the lowest chronic absenteeism (14.0%) and the lowest free/reduced lunch rate (43.2%). Blakewood Elementary is also above the state at 56.8% (3 stars). The other three lag well behind. Rawson Elementary ranks in the 21st percentile (1 star) with 39.1% proficiency, the highest poverty (61.5%) and the highest elementary absenteeism (27.2%). Lakeview Elementary is a puzzle: low absenteeism (15.9%, better than the state) yet 1 star, with strong 3rd-grade scores but very weak 5th-grade scores. South Milwaukee Middle has been 1 star for three straight years and scores below the state in all 16 reported test areas.
South Milwaukee High is the city's biggest mover, gaining roughly 10 composite points on the ACT and rising from 0 to 2 stars — but it also has 39.4% chronic absenteeism, a 2.3% dropout rate and 87.6% graduation versus 92.0% statewide. Money doesn't explain the differences: spending ranges from $14,609 to $16,872 per student while proficiency composites span about 27 points. Across the elementaries, poverty and results track closely in the same direction.
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