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Cooper Elementary

Public Grades PK, KG-8
739th
SchoolDigger Rank ?
of 1,039 Wisconsin Elementary Schools
Better than 29% of Wisconsin elementary schools
Summary

Cooper Elementary is a PK–8 school of 447 students on Milwaukee's south side, part of the Milwaukee School District. It currently ranks 739th of 1,039 Wisconsin schools (29th percentile, 1 star), but its profile is more nuanced. Chronic absenteeism is just 9.4%, far below the district's 46.2% and close to suburban levels. Reading proficiency is about 55%, essentially at the state average and roughly 28 points above the district average. Math is about 46%, about 8 points below the state but 25 points above the district.

Compared to nearby district schools like Morgandale Elementary, Ideal, Victory Elementary, and Garland Elementary, Cooper leads in most subjects. However, Whittier Elementary, 1.7 miles away, outperforms Cooper with similar poverty and attendance, ranking 74th percentile. Cooper spends $18,999 per student, more than suburban Edgewood Elementary, Cedar Hills Elementary, and Elm Dale Elementary, which all score higher. Despite a 49% spending increase since 2019–20, Cooper's rank has fallen from the 73rd percentile in 2018–19 to 29th in 2025–26.

The decline is broad: ELA fell in 3 of 6 grades, math in 4 of 6, and 8th-grade social studies dropped from 84.9% to 58.8%. Subgroup results are sharply split: one student group ranks 2nd of 150 schools statewide, while special education and low-income students are at the 25th and 24th percentiles. The clearest opportunity is Whittier Elementary, a demographically similar peer operating 45 percentile points higher. Parents should note that Cooper has strong fundamentals but is at its lowest statewide rank on record.

447
Students ?
18.1
Student/teacher ratio ?
$18,999
Per pupil spending ?
55.5%
Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?
 5143 S 21st St
       Milwaukee, WI  53221-3533

(414) 304-6300

District: Milwaukee School District


Students who attend Cooper Elementary usually attend:

Middle:    King International Baccalaureate Middle
    Lincoln Middle
    Roosevelt Middle
High:    Audubon Technology and Communication High
    Bradley Technology High
    King International
    Milwaukee High School of the Arts
    More...
Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
35.1%
White:
30.0%
African American:
17.9%
more
 See top rated Wisconsin elementary schools

 Compare Cooper Elementary to nearby elementary schools!
At a glance
▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 69th percentile in 2016 → 29th in 2026
Strengths
✓Among the top-ranked schools in Milwaukee School District
Worth a look
!Test scores below the Wisconsin average (48% vs 55% meeting standards)
!Ranking has slipped — down 40 percentile points since 2016
!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing
Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?
This school48%
District avg25%
Wisconsin avg55%
Elementary school
739th of 1,039
Wisconsin public elementary schools ?
Bottom 29%▼ down 41 pts since 2016
From top 31% (2016) to bottom 29% (2026)
See the entire ranking list of Wisconsin Elementary Schools →
★★★★★
SchoolDigger rating ?
Middle school
410th of 643
Wisconsin public middle schools ?
Bottom 36%▼ down 21 pts since 2016
From top 43% (2016) to bottom 36% (2026)
See the entire ranking list of Wisconsin Middle Schools →
★★★★★
SchoolDigger rating ?
9th of 105Elementary Schools in the Milwaukee School District
418th 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

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankWisconsin percentileRating
202637.9739 of 103928.9%★☆☆☆☆
202545.7644 of 104438.3%★★☆☆☆
202445.7674 of 106136.5%★★☆☆☆
202356.3510 of 106752.2%★★★☆☆
202262.1420 of 106760.6%★★★☆☆
202142.8675 of 105035.7%★★☆☆☆
201970.5275 of 103773.5%★★★★☆
201863.0379 of 102563.0%★★★☆☆
201763.8383 of 107164.2%★★★☆☆
201667.3328 of 107569.5%★★★☆☆
201560.9458 of 107657.4%★★★☆☆
201431.9858 of 106119.1%★☆☆☆☆
201333.7825 of 105321.7%★☆☆☆☆
201226.3898 of 104514.1%★☆☆☆☆
201148.8690 of 104634.0%★★☆☆☆
201030.6865 of 104517.2%★☆☆☆☆
200937.3798 of 103022.5%★☆☆☆☆
200843.0744 of 102127.1%★☆☆☆☆
200760.4338 of 68950.9%★★★☆☆
200650.7449 of 71236.9%★★☆☆☆
200567.6242 of 63261.7%★★★☆☆
200439.6457 of 63327.8%★☆☆☆☆

African American

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankWisconsin percentileRating
202692.72 of 15098.7%★★★★★
202567.729 of 14479.9%★★★★☆
202185.29 of 14193.6%★★★★★

Asian

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankWisconsin percentileRating
202434.976 of 12338.2%★★☆☆☆
202365.839 of 11666.4%★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankWisconsin percentileRating
202647.1114 of 24553.5%★★★☆☆
202559.467 of 25573.7%★★★★☆
202446.2130 of 26951.7%★★★☆☆
202179.720 of 22291.0%★★★★★

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankWisconsin percentileRating
202640.7677 of 98631.3%★★☆☆☆
202554.2513 of 100148.8%★★☆☆☆
202456.7497 of 101150.8%★★★☆☆
202350.8556 of 101045.0%★★☆☆☆
202256.7461 of 101754.7%★★★☆☆
202144.6613 of 100438.9%★★☆☆☆
201966.3327 of 100267.4%★★★☆☆
201853.6498 of 99750.1%★★★☆☆

Hispanic

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankWisconsin percentileRating
202649.2166 of 34752.2%★★★☆☆
202558.6110 of 32265.8%★★★☆☆
202459.6114 of 33165.6%★★★☆☆
202372.563 of 29078.3%★★★★☆
202283.034 of 29688.5%★★★★☆
202163.967 of 27475.5%★★★★☆
201964.272 of 26672.9%★★★★☆
201867.261 of 27177.5%★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankWisconsin percentileRating
202631.2644 of 84824.1%★☆☆☆☆
202541.6557 of 87036.0%★★☆☆☆
202450.8433 of 86650.0%★★★☆☆
202361.2283 of 87167.5%★★★☆☆
202259.8307 of 85964.3%★★★☆☆
202141.2532 of 84737.2%★★☆☆☆
201973.5140 of 87484.0%★★★★☆
201867.5190 of 85477.8%★★★★☆

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankWisconsin percentileRating
202636.7708 of 98928.4%★☆☆☆☆
202540.0674 of 100032.6%★★☆☆☆
202440.1677 of 101233.1%★★☆☆☆
202359.4436 of 101156.9%★★★☆☆
202264.2343 of 101766.3%★★★☆☆
202141.8657 of 100334.5%★★☆☆☆
201972.7220 of 100278.0%★★★★☆
201870.3263 of 99773.6%★★★★☆

Special Education

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankWisconsin percentileRating
202629.1590 of 79125.4%★☆☆☆☆
202535.2531 of 80233.8%★★☆☆☆
202431.1565 of 79028.5%★☆☆☆☆
202357.5267 of 77065.3%★★★☆☆
202256.5256 of 74865.8%★★★☆☆
202132.7518 of 74630.6%★★☆☆☆
201947.3348 of 74253.1%★★★☆☆
201855.0283 of 72160.7%★★★☆☆

White

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankWisconsin percentileRating
202639.8453 of 69735.0%★★☆☆☆
202558.6305 of 71857.5%★★★☆☆
202460.4285 of 72760.8%★★★☆☆
202363.9226 of 71568.4%★★★☆☆
202262.1250 of 70464.5%★★★☆☆
202142.9424 of 69939.3%★★☆☆☆
201984.865 of 71890.9%★★★★★
201876.5116 of 68683.1%★★★★☆
Middle school ranking
Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankWisconsin percentileRating
202643.2410 of 64336.2%★★☆☆☆
202567.0210 of 62866.6%★★★☆☆
202466.9199 of 64169.0%★★★☆☆
202350.1321 of 64049.8%★★☆☆☆
202245.5360 of 61741.7%★★☆☆☆
202125.2499 of 61318.6%★☆☆☆☆
201979.082 of 59486.2%★★★★☆
201885.740 of 57993.1%★★★★★
201756.1255 of 61258.3%★★★☆☆
201657.8259 of 60957.5%★★★☆☆
201552.1334 of 61245.4%★★☆☆☆
201419.1503 of 58514.0%★☆☆☆☆
201315.6507 of 56910.9%★☆☆☆☆
201220.7500 of 55910.6%★☆☆☆☆
201125.3480 of 54912.6%★☆☆☆☆
201029.7459 of 53914.8%★☆☆☆☆
200939.1419 of 52119.6%★☆☆☆☆
200832.3438 of 51915.6%★☆☆☆☆
200740.6284 of 36622.4%★☆☆☆☆
200620.3326 of 38214.7%★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankWisconsin percentileRating
202678.011 of 16993.5%★★★★★

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankWisconsin percentileRating
202652.3301 of 57247.4%★★☆☆☆
202553.2305 of 57346.8%★★☆☆☆
202455.0286 of 58050.7%★★★☆☆
202352.1287 of 57950.4%★★★☆☆
202235.2404 of 57629.9%★★☆☆☆
202116.8494 of 57413.9%★☆☆☆☆
201972.9113 of 55779.7%★★★★☆
201879.666 of 55188.0%★★★★☆

Hispanic

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankWisconsin percentileRating
202655.389 of 23662.3%★★★☆☆
202586.221 of 23791.1%★★★★★
202478.335 of 23985.4%★★★★☆
202352.598 of 22957.2%★★★☆☆
202246.4110 of 22150.2%★★★☆☆
202129.4176 of 22521.8%★☆☆☆☆
201972.335 of 20983.3%★★★★☆
201894.45 of 20497.5%★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankWisconsin percentileRating
202644.7298 of 51341.9%★★☆☆☆
202573.184 of 50983.5%★★★★☆
202472.485 of 52083.7%★★★★☆
202368.9101 of 52580.8%★★★★☆
202259.2170 of 52267.4%★★★☆☆
202130.4393 of 49921.2%★☆☆☆☆
201981.130 of 48793.8%★★★★★
201887.314 of 48997.1%★★★★★

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankWisconsin percentileRating
202637.1404 of 57529.7%★★☆☆☆
202573.6130 of 57777.5%★★★★☆
202474.4119 of 58579.7%★★★★☆
202349.1307 of 59148.1%★★☆☆☆
202257.5236 of 57759.1%★★★☆☆
202136.7398 of 57230.4%★★☆☆☆
201983.247 of 55791.6%★★★★★
201887.730 of 55194.6%★★★★★

Special Education

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankWisconsin percentileRating
202620.5381 of 43913.2%★☆☆☆☆
202569.687 of 41479.0%★★★★☆
202459.8131 of 42569.2%★★★☆☆
202360.2109 of 43975.2%★★★★☆
202243.7221 of 42147.5%★★☆☆☆
202121.1383 of 43712.4%★☆☆☆☆
201964.294 of 41477.3%★★★★☆

White

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankWisconsin percentileRating
202659.6148 of 39162.1%★★★☆☆
202554.9181 of 39954.6%★★★☆☆
202459.3161 of 40760.4%★★★☆☆
202343.8230 of 41244.2%★★☆☆☆
202254.8162 of 39759.2%★★★☆☆
202134.9279 of 39329.0%★☆☆☆☆
201978.647 of 38287.7%★★★★☆
201885.924 of 37593.6%★★★★★
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
African American (2026)99th percentile+70 vs school
English Language Learner (2026)53rd percentile+25 vs school
Hispanic (2026)52nd percentile+23 vs school
Asian (2024)38th percentile~ school
White (2026)35th percentile+6 vs school
Female (2026)31st percentile~ school
Male (2026)28th percentile~ school
Special Education (2026)25th percentile-3 vs school
Low Socio Economic Status (2026)24th percentile-5 vs school
Middle school
English Language Learner (2026)93rd percentile+57 vs school
Hispanic (2026)62nd percentile+26 vs school
White (2026)62nd percentile+26 vs school
Female (2026)47th percentile+11 vs school
Low Socio Economic Status (2026)42nd percentile+6 vs school
Male (2026)30th percentile-6 vs school
Special Education (2026)13th percentile-23 vs school
By subject vs Wisconsin (2025-2026) ?
English Language Arts54%~ state avg
Social Studies54%-11 vs state
Mathematics44%-9 vs state
Science37%-16 vs state

4.0
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What people are saying
by a principal
Tuesday, October 16, 2018

Open Quote The Cooper staff brings out the best in all those who enter its hallowed halls. The joyful school climate is coupled with creative, individualized, research based instruction that is student directed and engaging. Close Quote




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Frequently Asked Questions about Cooper Elementary

Cooper Elementary ranks 739th of 1039 Wisconsin elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

In the 2024-25 school year, 447 students attended Cooper Elementary.

Students at Cooper Elementary are 35% Hispanic, 30% White, 18% African American, 9% Asian, 7% Two or more races.

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Latest Wisconsin data All new data »
2025–26 ACT & Forward Exam scoresOct 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.

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