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Milwaukee School District


At a glance
418thof 432 Wisconsin districts▼ 3
Better than 3% of Wisconsin districts
5225 W Vliet St
Milwaukee, WI 53201-2627
·(414) 475-8002·All Wisconsin district rankings →
Statewide performance 2018–2026
2026: better than 3.2% of districts
154
Schools
65,276
Students
Top rankedReagan College Preparatory High58th of 533 Wisconsin high schools
▲
Biggest riser
Milwaukee French Immersion up 169 spots statewide this year
◉
Smallest classes
Sherman Elementary 8.6 students per teacher
✦
Newly ranked this year
Milwaukee School of Languages and 12 more
SchoolDigger ratings
1★
0★
16 schools without a SchoolDigger rating (too few tested students)
Summary:

The Milwaukee School District includes 150 schools serving elementary, middle, high, and alternative students in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and is rated 418 of 432 districts in the state at the 3rd percentile with 0 stars. Districtwide, the graduation rate is 71.5% vs. Wisconsin’s 92.0%, the dropout rate is 4.0% vs. 1.1%, and chronic absenteeism is 46.2% vs. 17.3%. Forward and ACT proficiency is roughly half the state average in most subjects, with math especially weak: Forward math is 17.7–23.8% proficient and ACT math is 15.8%.

Standout schools show what is possible. HAPA-Hmong American Peace Academy K3-12 posts a 100.0% graduation rate, 10.4% chronic absenteeism, and strong middle-school proficiency. Reagan College Preparatory High ranks in the 89th percentile with 4 stars, while Golda Meir School has a 99.2% graduation rate and 15.5% chronic absenteeism. Among elementary/montessori/immersion options, Fernwood Montessori, Maryland Montessori, Milwaukee German Immersion, Bay View Montessori School, and Whittier Elementary have low absenteeism (3.1%–9.7%) and solid proficiency. By contrast, North Division High, NOVA-Northwest Opportunities Vocational Academy, Lad Lake Synergy School, Sherman Elementary, and Clarke Street Elementary struggle with very low graduation, high absenteeism, or near-zero test scores.

Parents should note that poverty is not destiny: HAPA has 89% free/reduced lunch yet a 100% graduation rate, and Carmen High School of Science and Technology South Campus has 96% FRL but a 93.8% graduation rate. Spending alone does not explain outcomes: Lad Lake Synergy School spends $65,500 per student but graduates 14.2%, while German Immersion spends $16,301 and performs well. Alternative schools vary dramatically, from HAPA and Golda Meir School to Obama School of Career and Technical Education and Wisconsin Conservatory of Lifelong Learning. Middle schools are a clear weak point: all 7 have chronic absenteeism above 50%, with Andrew S Douglas Middle at 85.2% and King International Baccalaureate Middle at 70.5%. Improvement is possible: Reagan, Fernwood Montessori, Maryland Montessori, and Milwaukee French Immersion all improved their state rankings.

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Ranking:
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E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private




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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.

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