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Emerson Elementary

Q: Is Emerson Elementary a good school?

Emerson Elementary ranks in the bottom 1.1% of Wisconsin elementary schools.

Q: How many students attend Emerson Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 187 students attended Emerson Elementary.

Q: What is the racial makeup of Emerson Elementary?

Students at Emerson Elementary are 84% African American, 5% Two or more races, 4% White, 3% Asian, 3% Hispanic.

Q: What schools do graduates of Emerson Elementary attend?

Students who attend Emerson Elementary usually go on to attend: Middle : King International Baccalaureate Middle Middle : Lincoln Middle Middle : Morse Mid Middle : Roosevelt Middle High : Audubon Technology and Communication High High : Bradley Technology High High : King International High : Milwaukee High School of the Arts High : Milwaukee School of Languages High : Reagan College Preparatory High

Public Grades PK, KG-5

1028^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,039 Wisconsin Elementary Schools

Better than 1% of Wisconsin elementary schools

Summary

Emerson Elementary is a public PK–5 school at 9025 W Lawrence Ave in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, enrolling 187 students in the Milwaukee School District — the smallest campus among the nearby schools compared here.

Emerson's academic results sit at the very bottom of the state. In 2025–2026 it ranked 1,028th of 1,039 Wisconsin elementary schools (1st percentile) with 0 stars, and it has never earned a star, landing between the 1st and 8th percentile every year on record. Proficiency on the Forward Exam is far below both district and state levels: 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade ELA came in at 7.69%, 11.11%, and 8%, while math was 3.85%, 3.57%, and 0%. Grade 5 math has been 0% proficient for three years in a row, and 4th grade science and social studies were both 11.11%. Attendance is a major barrier — 57.1% of students were chronically absent in 2024–2025, compared with 46.2% district-wide and 17.3% statewide, and the rate has stayed above 53% for five consecutive years. About 84.49% of students qualified for free or reduced lunch. Measured effectiveness for student groups such as special education and low-income students is also extremely low, at the 0th–1st percentile.

The most striking finding is a resource paradox: Emerson spends $27,326 per student — more than any nearby school — and has a low student-teacher ratio of 12.9, yet outcomes remain at the bottom. Several nearby Milwaukee schools rank higher, including Craig Montessori School (11th percentile, 13.3% chronic absenteeism), Ninety-Fifth Street Elementary (11th), Parkview Elementary (17th), and Bryant Elementary (8th). One mile away, Milwaukee German Immersion ranks in the 85th percentile with 4 stars and 7.6% chronic absenteeism, and Madison Elementary in the Wauwatosa School District ranks at the 23rd percentile with 10.5% absenteeism — though these schools serve different student populations. For families, the priority areas are clear: attendance, math instruction, and support for special education and low-income students.

187

Students ?

12.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$27,326

Per pupil spending ?

84.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

9025 W Lawrence Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53225-5038

(414) 393-4300

District: Milwaukee School District

Students who attend Emerson Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	King International Baccalaureate Middle
	Lincoln Middle
	Morse Mid
	Roosevelt Middle
High:	Audubon Technology and Communication High
	Bradley Technology High
	King International
	Milwaukee High School of the Arts
	More...
	Milwaukee School of Languages
	Reagan College Preparatory High

Racial breakdown:

African American:

84.0%

Two or more races:

4.8%

White:

4.3%

See top rated Wisconsin elementary schools

Compare Emerson Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 8th percentile in 2016 → 1st in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Wisconsin average (7% vs 55% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (1st percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (57% vs 17% Wisconsin)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school7%

District avg23%

Wisconsin avg55%

1,028^th of 1,039

Wisconsin public elementary schools ?

Bottom 1%▼ down 7 pts since 2016

From bottom 8% (2016) to bottom 1% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Wisconsin Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

96^th of 105Elementary 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)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	1.9	1028 of 1039	1.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	2.9	1008 of 1044	3.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	4.1	1000 of 1061	5.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	4.1	1024 of 1067	4.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	4.3	1007 of 1067	5.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	4.1	1014 of 1050	3.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	2.8	1008 of 1037	2.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	4.0	972 of 1025	5.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	6.2	989 of 1071	7.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	7.2	987 of 1075	8.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	11.4	969 of 1076	9.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	4.6	1006 of 1061	5.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	2.9	1023 of 1053	2.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	5.4	991 of 1045	5.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	10.6	978 of 1046	6.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	6.8	998 of 1045	4.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	4.3	994 of 1030	3.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	23.6	889 of 1021	12.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	21.8	602 of 712	15.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	22.9	524 of 632	17.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	34.8	482 of 633	23.9%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	11.0	148 of 150	1.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	25.1	117 of 144	18.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	34.5	84 of 138	39.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	40.6	69 of 133	48.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	41.1	74 of 141	47.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	23.0	140 of 161	13.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	3.2	959 of 986	2.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	4.4	957 of 1001	4.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	3.7	968 of 1011	4.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	6.5	949 of 1010	6.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	4.8	968 of 1017	4.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	3.6	994 of 1004	1.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	2.9	979 of 1002	2.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	5.5	944 of 997	5.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	4.1	842 of 848	0.7%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	2.1	979 of 989	1.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	3.2	970 of 1000	3.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	6.1	945 of 1012	6.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	4.2	973 of 1011	3.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	5.6	958 of 1017	5.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	8.3	924 of 1003	7.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	4.3	964 of 1002	3.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	5.5	946 of 997	5.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	10.3	788 of 791	0.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	13.3	758 of 802	5.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	11.7	760 of 790	3.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	11.7	762 of 770	1.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	13.9	729 of 748	2.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	20.3	649 of 746	13.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	16.7	683 of 742	8.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	20.7	622 of 721	13.7%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Female (2026)3rd percentile~ school

African American (2026)1st percentile~ school

Male (2026)1st percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)1st percentile~ school

Special Education (2026)<1st percentile~ school

By subject vs Wisconsin (2025-2026) ?

Social Studies11%-54 vs state

Science11%-42 vs state

English Language Arts9%-44 vs state

Mathematics3%-51 vs state

★

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Schools Near Emerson Elementary

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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 (2026)				Ranking (2025)				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 (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	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 Science 4th Grade	Forward Exam Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Emerson Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	9025 W Lawrence Ave	Milwaukee	53225	Milwaukee County	Milwaukee School District	No	No	No	Yes	(414) 393-4300	187	14	12.9	84.5%	8 (4.3%)	157 (84.0%)	6 (3.2%)	6 (3.2%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (4.8%)	1.9	1028^th of 1039 public elementary schools	1.1%		2.9	1008^th of 1044 public elementary schools	3.4%	20	7.7	11.1	8.0				3.9	3.6	0.0				11.1		11.1		$27,326	$4,270	$23,056
Madison Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	9925 W Glendale Ave	Wauwatosa	53225	Milwaukee County	Wauwatosa School District	No	No	No	Yes	(414) 773-1400	257	23	11.3	31.5%	91 (35.4%)	80 (31.1%)	24 (9.3%)	32 (12.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (11.7%)	30	802^nd of 1039 public elementary schools	22.8%		48	617^th of 1044 public elementary schools	40.9%	185	48.9	27.6	42.9				60.0	6.9	31.0				51.7		20.7		$17,168	$584	$16,583
Grantosa Drive Elementary	Public	PK, KG-8	4850 N 82nd St	Milwaukee	53218	Milwaukee County	Milwaukee School District	No	No	No	Yes	(414) 393-4400	506	28	17.9	91.7%	7 (1.4%)	447 (88.3%)	14 (2.8%)	16 (3.2%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (3.8%)	4.9	975^th of 1039 public elementary schools	6.2%		2.5	1014^th of 1044 public elementary schools	2.9%	39	23.7	7.0	12.8	6.4	11.1	13.2	34.2	4.7	10.3	14.9	13.3	11.3	14.0	24.5	2.3	20.8	$19,924	$2,808	$17,117
Craig Montessori School	Public	PK, KG-8	7667 W Congress St	Milwaukee	53218	Milwaukee County	Milwaukee School District	No	No	No	Yes	(414) 393-4200	220	13	17.0	60.9%	7 (3.2%)	182 (82.7%)	9 (4.1%)	2 (0.9%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (8.6%)	11.1	925^th of 1039 public elementary schools	11.0%		6	965^th of 1044 public elementary schools	7.6%	40	18.8	35.0	16.7	31.3	50.0	18.2	12.5	30.0	16.7	18.8	18.8	27.3	35.0	27.3	25.0	18.2	$20,311	$2,695	$17,616
Engleburg Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	5100 N 91st St	Milwaukee	53225	Milwaukee County	Milwaukee School District	No	No	No	Yes	(414) 616-5600	286	20	14.2	87.4%	5 (1.7%)	222 (77.6%)	17 (5.9%)	21 (7.3%)	1 (0.3%)	4 (1.4%)	16 (5.6%)	6.4	963^rd of 1039 public elementary schools	7.3%		4.6	983^rd of 1044 public elementary schools	5.8%	20	21.1	17.7	7.1				23.7	20.6	7.1				34.3		11.8		$23,799	$3,019	$20,780
Ninety-Fifth Street Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3707 N 94th St	Milwaukee	53222	Milwaukee County	Milwaukee School District	No	No	No	Yes	(414) 393-4100	428	21	20.5	79.9%	43 (10.0%)	261 (61.0%)	53 (12.4%)	30 (7.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	41 (9.6%)	10.3	928^th of 1039 public elementary schools	10.7%		9.6	943^rd of 1044 public elementary schools	9.7%	15	23.7	28.6	29.2				33.9	14.3	10.4				34.9		19.1		$17,878	$2,477	$15,401
Milwaukee German Immersion	Public	PK, KG-5	3778 N 82nd St	Milwaukee	53222	Milwaukee County	Milwaukee School District	No	No	No	Yes	(414) 393-5600	549	25	22.3	27.3%	284 (51.7%)	136 (24.8%)	46 (8.4%)	8 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	75 (13.7%)	80.1	157^th of 1039 public elementary schools	84.9%		81.6	137^th of 1044 public elementary schools	86.9%	20	67.2	73.5	74.2				56.3	75.0	72.7				82.4		72.1		$16,301	$2,173	$14,128
Parkview Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	10825 W Villard Ave	Milwaukee	53225	Milwaukee County	Milwaukee School District	No	No	No	Yes	(414) 393-2700	335	21	16.3	84.2%	6 (1.8%)	152 (45.4%)	19 (5.7%)	135 (40.3%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (6.3%)	19.7	865^th of 1039 public elementary schools	16.7%		14.6	910^th of 1044 public elementary schools	12.8%	45	25.6	26.9	30.6				33.3	36.5	26.5				53.9		34.6		$19,487	$2,496	$16,991
Lancaster Elementary	Public	PK, KG-8	4931 N 68th St	Milwaukee	53218	Milwaukee County	Milwaukee School District	No	No	No	Yes	(414) 393-5500	316	17	18.5	90.5%	1 (0.3%)	281 (88.9%)	16 (5.1%)	4 (1.3%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (3.8%)	2	1026^th of 1039 public elementary schools	1.3%		2.4	1019^th of 1044 public elementary schools	2.4%	7	4.6	0.0	19.2	4.2	9.1	5.9	0.0	0.0	11.5	0.0	6.3	2.9	4.8	8.8	0.0	11.4	$19,056	$2,713	$16,343
Bryant Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	8718 W Thurston Ave	Milwaukee	53225	Milwaukee County	Milwaukee School District	No	No	No	Yes	(414) 393-6500	212	18	11.5	91.0%	1 (0.5%)	178 (84.0%)	13 (6.1%)	11 (5.2%)	3 (1.4%)	1 (0.5%)	5 (2.4%)	6.9	958^th of 1039 public elementary schools	7.8%		8.6	950^th of 1044 public elementary schools	9.0%	8	12.5	28.6	11.1				8.3	23.8	7.4				33.3		28.6		$24,988	$3,021	$21,967

Frequently Asked Questions about Emerson Elementary

How many students attend Emerson Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 187 students attended Emerson Elementary.

Is Emerson Elementary a good school?

Emerson Elementary ranks in the bottom 1.1% of Wisconsin elementary schools.

What district is Emerson Elementary in?

Milwaukee School District

What is the racial makeup of Emerson Elementary?

Students at Emerson Elementary are 84% African American, 5% Two or more races, 4% White, 3% Asian, 3% Hispanic.

What schools do graduates of Emerson Elementary attend?

Students who attend Emerson Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : King International Baccalaureate Middle
Middle : Lincoln Middle
Middle : Morse Mid
Middle : Roosevelt Middle
High : Audubon Technology and Communication High
High : Bradley Technology High
High : King International
High : Milwaukee High School of the Arts
High : Milwaukee School of Languages
High : Reagan College Preparatory High

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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.