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Gaenslen Elementary

Q: Is Gaenslen Elementary a good school?

Gaenslen Elementary ranks in the bottom 0.4% of Wisconsin elementary schools.

Q: How many students attend Gaenslen Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 641 students attended Gaenslen Elementary.

Q: What is the racial makeup of Gaenslen Elementary?

Students at Gaenslen Elementary are 81% African American, 9% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races, 3% White.

Q: What schools do graduates of Gaenslen Elementary attend?

Students who attend Gaenslen Elementary usually go on to attend: Middle : King International Baccalaureate Middle Middle : Lincoln Middle 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 High : Riverside High

Public Grades PK, KG-8

1040^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,044 Wisconsin Elementary Schools

Better than 0% of Wisconsin elementary schools

Summary

Gaenslen Elementary is a public elementary school serving grades PK-8 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with 677 students and a student-teacher ratio of around 13:1. However, this school has consistently ranked among the lowest-performing elementary schools in the state, with significant challenges in academic performance, student engagement, and socioeconomic factors.

Gaenslen Elementary's academic performance is extremely low compared to the state and district averages. In the 2024-2025 school year, the percentage of students proficient or better in English Language Arts and Mathematics ranged from 0-15.79%, far below the Wisconsin state averages of 51-54% and the Milwaukee School District averages of 17-29%. The school also has very high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 17.7% to 50.4% in recent years, and relatively high dropout rates, ranging from 1.2% to 5.6%. Despite the high poverty levels, with around 90-93% of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, the school spends a relatively high amount per student, around $17,000-$19,000 in recent years.

Interestingly, Gaenslen Elementary's performance is significantly worse than the nearby schools in the Milwaukee School District, such as Carver Academy, Riverwest Elementary, and Hartford Avenue Elementary, which have higher academic proficiency rates, lower chronic absenteeism, and better overall performance. The combination of high poverty, high chronic absenteeism, and low academic achievement at Gaenslen Elementary suggests that the school may be facing complex socioeconomic and community-related challenges that go beyond just educational factors.

641

Students ?

11.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$19,592

Per pupil spending ?

88.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1250 E Burleigh St
Milwaukee, WI 53212-2217

(414) 267-5700

District: Milwaukee School District

Students who attend Gaenslen 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...
	Milwaukee School of Languages
	Reagan College Preparatory High
	Riverside High

Racial breakdown:

African American:

81.3%

Hispanic:

9.0%

Two or more races:

5.8%

See top rated Wisconsin elementary schools

Compare Gaenslen Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 4th percentile in 2015 → <1st in 2025

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 12 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Wisconsin average (5% vs 54% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (<1st percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (35% vs 17% Wisconsin)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school5%

District avg23%

Wisconsin avg54%

Elementary school

1,040^th of 1,044

Wisconsin public elementary schools ?

Bottom 1%▼ down 4 pts since 2015

From bottom 4% (2015) to bottom 1% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Wisconsin Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

613^th of 628

Wisconsin public middle schools ?

Bottom 2%▼ down 4 pts since 2015

From bottom 7% (2015) to bottom 2% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Wisconsin Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

102^nd of 106Elementary Schools in the Milwaukee School District

415^th of 426Milwaukee 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
2025	1.3	1040 of 1044	0.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	1.4	1051 of 1061	0.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	2.5	1054 of 1067	1.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	2.4	1059 of 1067	0.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	3.5	1031 of 1050	1.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	1.7	1028 of 1037	0.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	1.5	1013 of 1025	1.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	1.4	1066 of 1071	0.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	3.2	1036 of 1075	3.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	3.4	1032 of 1076	4.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	1.5	1052 of 1061	0.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	1.6	1040 of 1053	1.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	0.1	1042 of 1045	0.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	0.2	1041 of 1046	0.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	0.0	1045 of 1045	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	0.1	1028 of 1030	0.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	0.1	1021 of 1021	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	0.7	686 of 689	0.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	1.3	701 of 712	1.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2005	6.6	587 of 632	7.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2004	0.2	629 of 633	0.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	16.4	137 of 144	4.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	19.3	129 of 137	5.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	22.5	124 of 138	10.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	20.7	128 of 133	3.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	27.8	111 of 141	21.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	17.8	154 of 161	4.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	18.7	157 of 165	4.8%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	1.4	1000 of 1001	0.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	2.3	991 of 1011	2.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	3.5	993 of 1010	1.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	3.5	993 of 1017	2.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	5.3	972 of 1004	3.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	2.1	991 of 1002	1.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	1.9	992 of 997	0.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2022	7.0	295 of 296	0.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	14.5	268 of 274	2.2%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	2.0	988 of 1000	1.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	1.5	1009 of 1012	0.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	2.6	1002 of 1011	0.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	2.6	1009 of 1017	0.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	3.7	986 of 1003	1.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	2.4	991 of 1002	1.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	2.6	976 of 997	2.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	11.3	787 of 802	1.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	14.9	733 of 790	7.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	15.5	720 of 770	6.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	14.9	715 of 748	4.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	17.7	691 of 746	7.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	14.5	722 of 742	2.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	14.0	695 of 721	3.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	2.1	613 of 628	2.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	2.2	619 of 641	3.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	3.5	632 of 640	1.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	3.6	604 of 617	2.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	3.3	601 of 613	2.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	2.4	581 of 594	2.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	2.1	565 of 579	2.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	2.7	590 of 612	3.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	4.9	570 of 609	6.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	6.1	570 of 612	6.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	1.5	577 of 585	1.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	2.0	555 of 569	2.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	0.5	549 of 559	1.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	0.1	547 of 549	0.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	0.1	538 of 539	0.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	0.2	517 of 521	0.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	0.6	509 of 519	1.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	1.4	357 of 366	2.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	0.5	376 of 382	1.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2005	5.4	309 of 332	6.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2004	3.4	309 of 324	4.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	18.3	111 of 117	5.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	21.2	105 of 118	11.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	23.3	118 of 130	9.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	20.8	114 of 125	8.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	24.5	122 of 134	9.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	19.0	121 of 127	4.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	22.0	109 of 123	11.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	6.1	537 of 573	6.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	3.8	554 of 580	4.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	4.2	564 of 579	2.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	4.0	564 of 576	2.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	4.2	558 of 574	2.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	2.6	542 of 557	2.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	2.7	534 of 551	3.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2024	5.1	238 of 239	0.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	6.0	229 of 229	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	7.1	221 of 221	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	6.4	209 of 209	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	7.1	203 of 204	0.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	2.6	504 of 509	1.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	4.2	509 of 520	2.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	5.1	521 of 525	0.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	5.4	519 of 522	0.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	3.3	488 of 489	0.2%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	1.3	571 of 577	1.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	2.3	574 of 585	1.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	3.8	585 of 591	1.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	4.7	559 of 577	3.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	3.9	559 of 572	2.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	3.3	545 of 557	2.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	3.0	537 of 551	2.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	13.6	398 of 414	3.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	16.3	387 of 425	8.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	19.2	405 of 439	7.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	18.0	404 of 421	4.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	20.4	402 of 437	8.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	19.3	374 of 414	9.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	17.0	387 of 417	7.2%	☆☆☆☆☆

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 (2025)5th percentile+4 vs school

Special Education (2025)2nd percentile~ school

Male (2025)1st percentile~ school

Hispanic (2022)<1st percentile~ school

Female (2025)<1st percentile~ school

Middle school

Female (2025)6th percentile+4 vs school

African American (2025)5th percentile+3 vs school

Special Education (2025)4th percentile~ school

Male (2025)1st percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)1st percentile~ school

Hispanic (2024)<1st percentile-3 vs school

By subject vs Wisconsin (2024-2025) ?

Social Studies7%-56 vs state

English Language Arts6%-47 vs state

Science4%-46 vs state

Mathematics4%-50 vs state

★

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Schools Near Gaenslen Elementary

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				Forward Exam English Language Arts (2025)						Forward Exam Mathematics (2025)						Forward Exam Social Studies (2025)		Forward Exam Science (2025)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2021)
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	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	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
Gaenslen Elementary	Public	PK, KG-8	1250 E Burleigh St	Milwaukee	53212	Milwaukee County	Milwaukee School District	No	No	No	Yes	(414) 267-5700	641	55	11.6	88.3%	19 (3.0%)	521 (81.3%)	58 (9.0%)	4 (0.6%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (5.8%)	1.3	1040^th of 1044 public elementary schools	0.4%		1.4	1051^st of 1061 public elementary schools	0.9%	11	3.7	0.0	3.8	2.3	15.8	10.0	5.6	2.2	3.8	0.0	5.2	6.0	6.7	8.0	0.0	8.0	$19,592	$2,455	$17,137
Fratney Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3255 N Fratney St	Milwaukee	53212	Milwaukee County	Milwaukee School District	No	No	No	Yes	(414) 267-1100	459	23	19.8	62.3%	45 (9.8%)	65 (14.2%)	333 (72.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (3.5%)	7.6	954^th of 1044 public elementary schools	8.6%		12.7	935^th of 1061 public elementary schools	11.9%	19	14.6	20.0	27.6				12.3	13.0	20.0				31.1		19.6		$15,670	$2,766	$12,905
Riverwest Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2765 N Fratney St	Milwaukee	53212	Milwaukee County	Milwaukee School District	No	No	No	Yes	(414) 267-4400	244	15	16.2	88.5%	12 (4.9%)	179 (73.4%)	38 (15.6%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (5.3%)	3.1	1006^th of 1044 public elementary schools	3.6%		2.5	1028^th of 1061 public elementary schools	3.1%	22	17.1	13.9	12.1				8.6	5.6	6.1				16.7		8.3		$15,537	$3,748	$11,789
Hartford Avenue Elementary	Public	PK, KG-8	2227 E Hartford Ave	Milwaukee	53211	Milwaukee County	Milwaukee School District	No	No	No	Yes	(414) 906-4700	256	16	15.6	93.0%	4 (1.6%)	214 (83.6%)	13 (5.1%)	3 (1.2%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (8.2%)	3.5	997^th of 1044 public elementary schools	4.5%		1.5	1049^th of 1061 public elementary schools	1.1%	52	9.1	15.8	0.0	8.7	18.2	3.5	8.3	5.3	3.7	17.4	0.0	3.6	21.1	20.7	21.1	0.0	$13,201	$2,093	$11,107
King Junior Elementary	Public	PK, KG-8	3275 N 3rd St	Milwaukee	53212	Milwaukee County	Milwaukee School District	No	No	No	Yes	(414) 267-1500	277	18	15.0	92.1%	0 (0.0%)	243 (87.7%)	20 (7.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (5.1%)	2.8	1010^th of 1044 public elementary schools	3.3%		2	1040^th of 1061 public elementary schools	2.0%	30	11.1	16.7	7.4	19.1	7.1	4.8	5.6	0.0	0.0	4.8	6.7	0.0	20.8	9.5	8.3	4.8	$17,347	$3,705	$13,642
Holmes Elementary	Public	PK, KG-8	2463 N Buffum St	Milwaukee	53212	Milwaukee County	Milwaukee School District	No	No	No	Yes	(414) 267-1300	260	19	13.5	98.5%	2 (0.8%)	234 (90.0%)	12 (4.6%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (3.5%)	13.1	923^rd of 1044 public elementary schools	11.6%		4.9	986^th of 1061 public elementary schools	7.1%	63	44.4	9.5	4.4	8.7	10.0	0.0	72.2	4.8	0.0	0.0	5.0	0.0	42.9	31.3	4.8	6.3	$18,830	$3,751	$15,079
Maryland Montessori	Public	PK, KG-8	2418 N Maryland Ave	Milwaukee	53211	Milwaukee County	Milwaukee School District	No	No	No	Yes	(414) 906-4800	470	23	20.2	24.9%	281 (59.8%)	69 (14.7%)	49 (10.4%)	17 (3.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	53 (11.3%)	67.4	355^th of 1044 public elementary schools	66.0%		63.3	432^nd of 1061 public elementary schools	59.3%	77	70.8	81.6	65.0	68.3	80.0	61.9	45.8	44.7	45.0	56.1	60.0	52.4	84.2	83.3	71.1	73.8	$11,728	$1,898	$9,830
Atwater Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	2100 E Capitol Dr	Shorewood	53211	Milwaukee County	Shorewood School District	No	No	No	Yes	(414) 963-6962	474	33	14.1	24.3%	301 (63.5%)	67 (14.1%)	37 (7.8%)	34 (7.2%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (6.5%)	84.2	104^th of 1044 public elementary schools	90.0%		82.2	131^st of 1061 public elementary schools	87.7%	27	77.4	66.2	78.5	70.3			79.3	72.5	66.7	73.4			84.1		75.4		$14,843	$666	$14,176
LaFollette Elementary	Public	PK, KG-8	3239 N 9th St	Milwaukee	53206	Milwaukee County	Milwaukee School District	No	No	No	Yes	(414) 267-5200	216	11	20.0	94.9%	0 (0.0%)	191 (88.4%)	15 (6.9%)	4 (1.9%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.3%)	1.4	1037^th of 1044 public elementary schools	0.7%		1.4	1052^nd of 1061 public elementary schools	0.8%	15	0.0	10.0	0.0	3.6	0.0	6.3	0.0	10.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	13.3	10.0	6.3	$20,323	$4,533	$15,790
Lake Bluff Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	1600 E Lake Bluff Blvd	Shorewood	53211	Milwaukee County	Shorewood School District	No	No	No	No	(414) 963-6972	531	32	16.4	16.6%	343 (64.6%)	41 (7.7%)	58 (10.9%)	24 (4.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	65 (12.2%)	83.9	110^th of 1044 public elementary schools	89.5%		88.8	47^th of 1061 public elementary schools	95.6%	63	67.6	63.5	76.1	88.7			73.0	67.6	74.6	80.7			89.2		68.9		$13,427	$352	$13,075

Frequently Asked Questions about Gaenslen Elementary

What schools do graduates of Gaenslen Elementary attend?

Students who attend Gaenslen Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : King International Baccalaureate Middle
Middle : Lincoln Middle
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
High : Riverside High

Is Gaenslen Elementary a good school?

Gaenslen Elementary ranks in the bottom 0.4% of Wisconsin elementary schools.

How many students attend Gaenslen Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 641 students attended Gaenslen Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Gaenslen Elementary?

Students at Gaenslen Elementary are 81% African American, 9% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races, 3% White.

What district is Gaenslen Elementary in?

Milwaukee School District

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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.