Milwaukee School of Languages

Milwaukee School of Languages is a 6–12 high school serving 964 students on Milwaukee's west side at 8400 W Burleigh St., part of the Milwaukee School District. It ranks 435th of 533 Wisconsin high schools (18th percentile, 1 star), while the district ranks 418th of 432 statewide (3rd percentile). The school has historically landed between the 8th and 28th percentile, so this year's standing is an improvement over its lowest years but still places it in the bottom fifth of the state.

Against nearby MPS high schools such as James Madison Academic Campus, Marshall High, and ASSATA High, Milwaukee School of Languages stands out: its 87.9% graduation rate tops their 22.5%–81.4% range, its 1.0% dropout rate beats their 1.5%–25.7%, and its 37.6% chronic absenteeism rate is far below their 56.5%–99.0%. Its 10th-grade ACT results also lead that group. The suburban comparison, however, is stark: high schools in Wauwatosa School District and Elmbrook School District, including Brookfield East High, East High, and West High, graduate 95.8%–97.8% of students with near-zero dropout rates, chronic absenteeism of 6.6%–22.6%, and ACT math proficiency of 50.26%–76.55% versus Milwaukee School of Languages' 26.04%.

Math is the clearest academic weakness, with Forward math proficiency in the low 20s and ACT math at 26.04%, roughly half the state's 42.93%. Graduation (87.9%) outpaces readiness: about 40% of students are proficient in ACT ELA and 26.04% in math. Chronic absenteeism climbed from 15.5% in 2020–2021 to 37.6% in 2024–2025 — still below the district's 46.2%, but more than double the state's 17.3%. Subgroup results are uneven: English Language Learner students rank in the 9th percentile and special education students in the 14th percentile statewide, while low-income students rank in the 28th percentile — a notable gap for a school named Milwaukee School of Languages.