Beta You're viewing our redesigned school page. Prefer the classic layout?

New rankings! SchoolDigger recently updated its Wisconsin rankings with newly released test scores for the 2025-26 school year.

Be the first to know when we post new rankings!

Wisconsin Conservatory of Lifelong Learning

Q: Is Wisconsin Conservatory of Lifelong Learning a good school?

Wisconsin Conservatory of Lifelong Learning ranks in the bottom 3.5% of Wisconsin alternative schools.

Q: How many students attend Wisconsin Conservatory of Lifelong Learning?

In the 2024-25 school year, 286 students attended Wisconsin Conservatory of Lifelong Learning.

Q: What is the racial makeup of Wisconsin Conservatory of Lifelong Learning?

Students at Wisconsin Conservatory of Lifelong Learning are 88% African American, 5% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races, 2% Asian, 2% White.

Public, Alternative Grades PK, KG-12

1003^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,039 Wisconsin Alternative Schools

Better than 3% of Wisconsin alternative schools

Summary

Wisconsin Conservatory of Lifelong Learning (WCLL) is a public alternative school in the Milwaukee School District, located at 1017 N 12th St in central Milwaukee, serving 286 students in grades PK–12 — one of the smallest schools in its comparison set, with two much larger schools, Milwaukee Academy of Science and Golda Meir School, less than a mile away.

On nearly every academic measure, WCLL trails its peers. Its 39.2% graduation rate is the lowest in the comparison group — 32 points below its district (71.5%) and far behind nearby Golda Meir School (99.2%) and Milwaukee Academy of Science (93.5%). Chronic absenteeism is 87.9%, meaning nearly 9 in 10 students are chronically absent — about 1.9 times the district rate and over 5 times the state rate, and higher than every other school in the group with reported data. About 93% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, the highest among its MPS peers. Test proficiency sits near the floor: 0% proficient on the 10th-grade ACT in ELA, math, and science, and 0% at several Forward Exam grades, including 7th and 8th grade ELA and math.

Yet WCLL is the best-resourced school among its MPS peers, spending $24,208 per student (up about 53% since 2020-21) with a 13:1 student-teacher ratio in 2024-25 — the smallest classes in the set, though that ratio was 26.2 the year before, suggesting volatility. The clearest bright spot is graduation, which climbed from 20.6% in 2021-22 to 39.2% in 2024-25. Poverty alone does not explain the results: HAPA-Hmong American Peace Academy K3-12, with a similar low-income rate (89%), posts math proficiency of 46–71% and just 10.4% chronic absenteeism. With small cohorts, a handful of students can swing percentages widely, so treat test figures as directional.

286

Students ?

13.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$24,208

Per pupil spending ?

93.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1017 N 12th St
Milwaukee, WI 53233-1307

(414) 304-6800

District: Milwaukee School District

Racial breakdown:

African American:

87.8%

Hispanic:

4.9%

Two or more races:

2.8%

See top rated Wisconsin elementary schools

Compare Wisconsin Conservatory of Lifelong Learning to nearby alternative schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — <1st percentile in 2022 → 1st in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Wisconsin average (6% vs 53% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (3rd percentile)

!Graduation rate below the Wisconsin average (39% vs 92%)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school6%

District avg24%

Wisconsin avg53%

Elementary school

1,003^rd of 1,039

Wisconsin public elementary schools ?

Bottom 3%▬ steady since 2016

See the entire ranking list of Wisconsin Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

639^th of 643

Wisconsin public middle schools ?

Bottom 1%▼ down 4 pts since 2016

From bottom 5% (2016) to bottom 1% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Wisconsin Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

High school

526^th of 533

Wisconsin public high schools ?

Bottom 1%

See the entire ranking list of Wisconsin High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

5^th of 6Alternative Schools in the Milwaukee School District

418^th of 432Milwaukee School District among Wisconsin districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	2.9	1003 of 1039	3.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	1.3	1039 of 1044	0.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	1.1	1058 of 1061	0.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	2.3	1060 of 1067	0.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	2.0	1065 of 1067	0.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	3.0	1038 of 1050	1.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	1.5	1032 of 1037	0.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	1.7	1007 of 1025	1.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	2.1	1049 of 1071	2.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	3.1	1039 of 1075	3.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	1.0	1072 of 1076	0.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	4.4	1009 of 1061	4.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	4.5	1011 of 1053	4.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	10.4	968 of 1045	7.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	12.8	970 of 1046	7.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	13.8	961 of 1045	8.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	4.8	991 of 1030	3.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	13.8	932 of 1021	8.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	16.9	612 of 689	11.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	21.4	604 of 712	15.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	29.6	499 of 632	21.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	10.4	578 of 633	8.7%	☆☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2024	11.7	136 of 137	0.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	28.4	122 of 165	26.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2024	1.2	1010 of 1011	0.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	2.7	1006 of 1010	0.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	2.4	1016 of 1017	0.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	4.2	982 of 1004	2.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	1.7	1001 of 1002	0.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	2.0	986 of 997	1.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2024	2.0	1003 of 1012	0.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	2.4	1006 of 1011	0.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	2.3	1013 of 1017	0.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	4.0	978 of 1003	2.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	2.5	989 of 1002	1.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	3.0	971 of 997	2.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2019	16.3	687 of 742	7.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	13.9	699 of 721	3.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	1.2	639 of 643	0.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	1.2	627 of 628	0.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	1.0	638 of 641	0.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	3.1	638 of 640	0.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	2.8	616 of 617	0.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	2.8	611 of 613	0.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	1.7	592 of 594	0.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	1.6	573 of 579	1.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	3.2	583 of 612	4.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	3.4	580 of 609	4.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	1.6	601 of 612	1.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	1.8	571 of 585	2.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	4.4	534 of 569	6.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	34.4	467 of 559	16.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	23.3	487 of 549	11.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	25.6	468 of 539	13.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	16.8	469 of 521	10.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	28.3	449 of 519	13.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	20.7	314 of 366	14.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	18.6	329 of 382	13.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	6.0	308 of 332	7.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2004	12.8	294 of 324	9.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	11.5	125 of 125	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	19.0	134 of 134	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	14.8	120 of 123	2.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	1.2	573 of 573	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	1.1	580 of 580	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	3.4	576 of 579	0.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	3.2	575 of 576	0.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	3.4	570 of 574	0.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	1.8	554 of 557	0.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	2.2	542 of 551	1.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	0.9	577 of 577	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	2.1	577 of 585	1.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	3.8	584 of 591	1.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	3.4	576 of 577	0.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	3.3	571 of 572	0.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	2.5	554 of 557	0.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	2.1	547 of 551	0.7%	☆☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	11.3	436 of 439	0.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	18.5	422 of 439	3.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	20.2	407 of 437	6.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	16.5	411 of 414	0.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	17.0	385 of 417	7.7%	☆☆☆☆☆

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	2.2	526 of 533	1.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	3.8	443 of 466	4.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	1.0	441 of 462	4.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	4.5	435 of 457	4.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	3.8	430 of 452	4.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	3.4	425 of 445	4.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	10.8	419 of 450	6.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	2.5	420 of 438	4.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	0.8	420 of 437	3.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	7.3	256 of 281	8.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	3.6	273 of 292	6.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2005	5.4	267 of 287	7.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2004	1.6	262 of 275	4.7%	☆☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Elementary school

Special Education (2019)7th percentile+7 vs school

Male (2024)1st percentile~ school

African American (2024)1st percentile~ school

Female (2024)<1st percentile~ school

Middle school

Special Education (2026)1st percentile~ school

Female (2025)<1st percentile~ school

Male (2025)<1st percentile~ school

African American (2026)<1st percentile~ school

By subject vs Wisconsin (2025-2026) ?

Social Studies12%-47 vs state

Science8%-45 vs state

English Language Arts7%-47 vs state

Mathematics4%-50 vs state

★

No ratings yet

Be the first to rate Wisconsin Conservatory of Lifelong Learning and help other families decide.

Rate Wisconsin Conservatory of Lifelong Learning

Have first-hand experience? A quick rating - and a sentence or two about what stands out (teachers, academics, safety, communication) - helps other families know what to expect.

Takes about a minute. We email you a link to verify your review - your address is never shown publicly.

Tap a star to rate

Reviews

No written reviews yet. If you know this school, be the first to share what stands out.

Schools Near Wisconsin Conservatory of Lifelong Learning

Load more schools when map is moved

Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking ()				Ranking ()				ACT English Language Arts (2026)	ACT Mathematics (2026)	ACT Science (2026)	Forward Exam English Language Arts (2026)						Forward Exam Mathematics (2026)						Forward Exam Social Studies (2026)			Forward Exam Science (2026)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score ()	Statewide Rank ()	State Percentile ()	SchoolDigger Rating ()	Average Standard Score ()	Statewide Rank ()	State Percentile ()	Rank Change from Previous Year	ACT English Language Arts 10th Grade	ACT Mathematics 10th Grade	ACT Science 10th Grade	Forward Exam English Language Arts 3rd Grade	Forward Exam English Language Arts 4th Grade	Forward Exam English Language Arts 5th Grade	Forward Exam English Language Arts 6th Grade	Forward Exam English Language Arts 7th Grade	Forward Exam English Language Arts 8th Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 3rd Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 4th Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 5th Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 6th Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 7th Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 8th Grade	Forward Exam Social Studies 4th Grade	Forward Exam Social Studies 8th Grade	Forward Exam Social Studies 10th Grade	Forward Exam Science 4th Grade	Forward Exam Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Wisconsin Conservatory of Lifelong Learning	Public, Alternative	PK, KG-12	1017 N 12th St	Milwaukee	53233	Milwaukee County	Milwaukee School District	No	No	No	Yes	(414) 304-6800	286	22	13.0	93.4%	5 (1.7%)	251 (87.8%)	14 (4.9%)	6 (2.1%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.8%)								(n/a)	0.0	0.0	0.0	7.7	20.0	10.0	6.7	0.0	0.0	0.0	10.0	0.0	6.7	0.0	6.3	20.0	6.3	12.5	20.0	0.0	$24,208	$2,929	$21,278
Milwaukee Academy of Science	Public, Charter, Alternative	PK, KG-12	2000 W Kilbourn Ave	Milwaukee	53233	Milwaukee County	Milwaukee Science Education Consortium Inc	Yes	No	No	Yes	(414) 933-0302	1,711	97	17.5	91.9%	6 (0.4%)	1,608 (94.0%)	46 (2.7%)	10 (0.6%)	11 (0.6%)	1 (0.1%)	29 (1.7%)								(n/a)	8.9	2.5	5.1	13.6	10.3	11.9	24.0	19.5	15.5	15.7	5.5	7.0	22.6	22.8	21.4	15.9	30.1	13.8	6.2	12.6
Golda Meir School	Public, Alternative	3-12	1615 N Martin Luther King Dr	Milwaukee	53212	Milwaukee County	Milwaukee School District	No	No	No	Yes	(414) 758-2500	1,192	63	18.8	47.4%	221 (18.5%)	667 (56.0%)	178 (14.9%)	46 (3.9%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	78 (6.5%)								(n/a)	55.5	36.8	44.5	64.8	52.5	48.8	70.0	81.8	76.7	63.4	43.8	36.1	58.7	83.5	50.0	61.3	75.0	53.1	48.8	63.8	$17,173	$2,368	$14,805
Milwaukee Virtual School	Public, Charter, Alternative	PK, KG-12	921 W Meinecke	Milwaukee	53206	Milwaukee County	Milwaukee School District	Yes	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(414) 252-0300	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)	15.6	9.4	19.4	0.0	66.7	0.0	28.6	40.0	37.5	0.0	0.0	0.0	14.3	0.0	25.0	66.7	25.0	9.1	0.0	33.3
MacDowell Montessori School K3-12	Public, Alternative	PK, KG-12	6415 W Mount Vernon Ave	Milwaukee	53213	Milwaukee County	Milwaukee School District	No	No	No	Yes	(414) 935-1400	823	51	16.2	55.7%	211 (25.6%)	435 (52.9%)	89 (10.8%)	15 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.2%)	71 (8.6%)								(n/a)	19.2	13.5	7.7	30.9	46.2	44.4	51.9	50.0	46.2	33.8	13.5	20.4	29.4	31.3	25.6	50.0	53.9	30.2	26.9	35.9	$19,293	$2,442	$16,851
Dr Howard Fuller Collegiate Academy	Public, Charter, Alternative	PK, KG-12	4030 N 29th St	Milwaukee	53216	Milwaukee County	Dr Howard Fuller Collegiate Academy Inc	Yes	No	No	Yes	(414) 873-4014	608	10	60.8	78.9%	2 (0.3%)	584 (96.1%)	14 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.2%)								(n/a)	6.1	2.6	4.4	14.0	19.4	14.3	7.5	20.0	11.7	18.6	11.1	10.7	9.0	17.3	13.0	22.2	22.1	16.8	11.1	7.8
Obama School of Career and Technical Education	Public, Alternative	PK, KG-12	5075 N Sherman Blvd	Milwaukee	53209	Milwaukee County	Milwaukee School District	No	No	No	Yes	(414) 393-4900	1,294	43	30.0	84.0%	48 (3.7%)	993 (76.7%)	179 (13.8%)	26 (2.0%)	4 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	44 (3.4%)								(n/a)	8.9	2.2	4.6	0.0	0.0	6.7	0.0	7.1	28.6	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	4.8	7.7	14.3	7.3	0.0	15.0	$13,791	$2,337	$11,453
Vel R Phillips School	Public, Alternative	3-12	10201 W Watertown Plank Rd	Wauwatosa	53226	Milwaukee County	Wauwatosa School District	No	No	No	No	(414) 257-4857	139	29	4.7		3 (2.2%)	107 (77.0%)	18 (12.9%)	2 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (6.5%)								(n/a)																		40.0			$31,612	$624	$30,988
HAPA-Hmong American Peace Academy K3-12	Public, Charter, Alternative	PK, KG-12	4601 N 84th St	Milwaukee	53225	Milwaukee County	Milwaukee School District	Yes	No	No	Yes	(414) 383-4944	1,974	75	26.3	89.0%	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.1%)	41 (2.1%)	1,905 (96.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (1.3%)								(n/a)	48.3	36.4	40.6	44.4	52.4	50.4	48.8	53.5	60.6	64.6	66.7	46.2	51.2	64.9	71.2	57.1	72.9	46.3	45.2	55.3	$22,123	$4,794	$17,329
Wauwatosa Virtual Academy	Public, Virtual, Charter, Alternative	3-12	12121 W North Ave	Wauwatosa	53226	Milwaukee County	Wauwatosa School District	Yes	No	Yes	No	(414) 773-1000	91	4	22.7	22.0%	27 (29.7%)	37 (40.7%)	13 (14.3%)	4 (4.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (11.0%)								(n/a)	16.7	16.7	8.3																		$17,354	$166	$17,188

Frequently Asked Questions about Wisconsin Conservatory of Lifelong Learning

How many students attend Wisconsin Conservatory of Lifelong Learning?

In the 2024-25 school year, 286 students attended Wisconsin Conservatory of Lifelong Learning.

What district is Wisconsin Conservatory of Lifelong Learning in?

Milwaukee School District

What is the racial makeup of Wisconsin Conservatory of Lifelong Learning?

Students at Wisconsin Conservatory of Lifelong Learning are 88% African American, 5% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races, 2% Asian, 2% White.

Is Wisconsin Conservatory of Lifelong Learning a good school?

Wisconsin Conservatory of Lifelong Learning ranks in the bottom 3.5% of Wisconsin alternative schools.

Rate Wisconsin Conservatory of Lifelong Learning!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Compare to nearby schools

WIWisconsin Alternative School Rankings

WIWisconsin District Rankings

Schools in Milwaukee, WI

Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Wisconsin Conservatory of Lifelong Learning!

Latest Wisconsin data All new data »

2025–26 ACT & Forward Exam scoresNewOct 1, 2026

2021–22 through 2024–25 school spending dataJul 16, 2026

2024–25 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesMar 5, 2026

2024–25 ACT & Forward Exam scoresSep 25, 2025

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.