Lincoln Middle

Lincoln Middle is a public middle school in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, serving 309 students in grades 6–8 as part of the Milwaukee School District, which itself ranks near the bottom of Wisconsin districts.

Lincoln Middle ranks among the lowest-performing schools in the state: in 2025–2026 it placed 628th of 643 schools (2nd percentile) with 0 stars, and it has never risen above the 6th percentile in the past decade. Proficiency is well below both district and state averages, and math is the clearest crisis — 2025–2026 math proficiency ranged from 1.2% to 5.15%, and 6th grade math was 0% in 2024–2025. ELA is stronger but still under 15%. Nearby MPS results are mixed: Audubon Technology and Communication Middle outperformed Lincoln in every subject, while Roosevelt Middle was similar or lower, and Andrew S Douglas Middle and King International Baccalaureate Middle trailed in many subjects. Schools outside the district — Deer Creek Intermediate, Carmen Middle School South, West Milwaukee Intermediate, and United Community Center Acosta Middle School — generally did better, while Whitefish Bay Middle and Shorewood Intermediate reached 80–90% proficiency.

Attendance is a major barrier: 64.5% of students were chronically absent in 2024–2025, versus 46.2% districtwide and 17.3% statewide; only Andrew S Douglas and King IB were higher nearby, while Whitefish Bay (3.2%) and Shorewood (5.0%) were far lower. About 93.2% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Lincoln spends $22,756 per student — more than several higher-performing neighbors — with a student–teacher ratio of 15.5. Group effectiveness rankings are lowest for low-income students (1st percentile) and male students (0th percentile), and English learners fell from the 38th percentile in 2023–2024 to the 9th. A bright spot: the dropout rate was 1.3%, below the district's 4.0%. The data points to attendance, math instruction, and targeted support for the lowest-ranked groups as the most urgent priorities.