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South Milwaukee High

Q: Is South Milwaukee High a good school?

South Milwaukee High ranks in the bottom 7.0% of Wisconsin high schools.

Q: How many students attend South Milwaukee High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 920 students attended South Milwaukee High.

Q: What is the racial makeup of South Milwaukee High?

Students at South Milwaukee High are 56% White, 27% Hispanic, 8% African American, 7% Two or more races.

Q: What schools feed into South Milwaukee High?

South Milwaukee High is fed by the following schools: Elementary : Blakewood Elementary Elementary : E W Luther Elementary Elementary : Lakeview Elementary Elementary : Rawson Elementary Middle : South Milwaukee Middle

Public Grades 9-12

401^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 431 Wisconsin High Schools

Better than 7% of Wisconsin high schools

Summary

South Milwaukee High is a public high school serving 979 students in grades 9-12 in the South Milwaukee School District, which is ranked 359 out of 426 districts in Wisconsin and rated 1 star out of 5 by SchoolDigger.

South Milwaukee High consistently underperforms compared to the state average and nearby schools like Franklin High and Reagan College Preparatory High on standardized tests. In the 2024-2025 school year, only 19.23% of 10th graders were proficient or better in ACT English Language Arts, compared to the state average of 48.62%. The school also has a high chronic absenteeism rate, ranging from 17.7% to 37.9% in recent years, which is significantly higher than the state average. Additionally, South Milwaukee High struggles to effectively serve certain student subgroups, such as English Language Learners, with only 12.2% of these students being proficient or better in ACT English Language Arts, compared to the state average of 26.22%.

Despite relatively high spending per student (around $13,000-$15,000 in recent years), South Milwaukee High's academic outcomes remain poor, suggesting the need for a comprehensive review and improvement plan. The school's performance has declined over the years, with its statewide ranking dropping from 303 out of 400 high schools in 2018-2019 to 401 out of 431 high schools in 2024-2025. This underscores the significant challenges the school faces in improving academic performance, graduation rates, and attendance, as well as serving disadvantaged student populations effectively.

920

Students ?

13.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,355

Per pupil spending ?

46.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

801 15th Ave
South Milwaukee, WI 53172

(414) 766-5100

District: South Milwaukee School District

Feeder schools for South Milwaukee High:

Elementary:	Blakewood Elementary
	E W Luther Elementary
	Lakeview Elementary
	Rawson Elementary
Middle:	South Milwaukee Middle

Racial breakdown:

White:

56.2%

Hispanic:

27.4%

African American:

7.9%

See top rated Wisconsin high schools

Compare South Milwaukee High to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 26th percentile in 2015 → 7th in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Wisconsin average (25% vs 46% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (7th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (39% vs 17% Wisconsin)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school25%

District avg25%

Wisconsin avg46%

401^st of 431

Wisconsin public high schools ?

Bottom 7%▼ down 19 pts since 2015

From bottom 26% (2015) to bottom 7% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Wisconsin High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

359^th of 426South Milwaukee 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
2025	10.8	401 of 431	7.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	9.3	411 of 431	4.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	18.8	371 of 415	10.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	10.7	377 of 391	3.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	23.2	317 of 390	18.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	31.2	303 of 400	24.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	22.7	356 of 410	13.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	20.8	360 of 410	12.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	29.8	315 of 408	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	44.3	346 of 466	25.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	41.2	337 of 462	27.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	54.0	255 of 457	44.2%	★★☆☆☆
2012	64.6	176 of 452	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2011	66.0	161 of 445	63.8%	★★★☆☆
2010	65.7	176 of 450	60.9%	★★★☆☆
2009	59.4	214 of 438	51.1%	★★★☆☆
2008	52.8	282 of 437	35.5%	★★☆☆☆
2007	60.1	165 of 281	41.3%	★★☆☆☆
2006	62.1	142 of 292	51.4%	★★★☆☆
2005	50.5	206 of 287	28.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	65.8	102 of 275	62.9%	★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2019	60.2	1 of 2	50.0%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	12.8	330 of 358	7.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	10.2	327 of 343	4.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	34.2	229 of 332	31.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	40.1	216 of 343	37.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	26.0	292 of 355	17.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2024	17.3	105 of 119	11.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	20.8	84 of 97	13.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	20.6	72 of 86	16.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	32.6	47 of 68	30.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	28.4	66 of 86	23.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	13.3	305 of 335	9.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	10.1	307 of 326	5.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	24.8	230 of 271	15.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	17.2	231 of 250	7.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	20.8	199 of 226	11.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	22.7	220 of 251	12.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	29.4	201 of 255	21.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	11.9	351 of 380	7.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	12.1	341 of 365	6.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	24.2	297 of 359	17.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	13.6	327 of 347	5.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	12.8	321 of 334	3.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	19.9	317 of 354	10.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	17.2	343 of 373	8.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2021	21.5	30 of 37	18.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2023	14.8	55 of 55	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	9.4	268 of 285	6.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	6.5	290 of 300	3.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	14.2	252 of 271	7.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	9.9	262 of 269	2.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	20.1	226 of 266	15.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	33.6	180 of 266	32.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	23.2	212 of 261	18.8%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

English Language Learner (2019)50th percentile+26 vs school

Multi-racial (2021)19th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2024)12th percentile+7 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)9th percentile~ school

Female (2025)8th percentile~ school

Male (2025)8th percentile~ school

White (2025)6th percentile~ school

Special Education (2023)<1st percentile-11 vs school

By subject vs Wisconsin (2024-2025) ?

Social Studies34%-14 vs state

Science27%-16 vs state

Mathematics21%-22 vs state

English Language Arts19%-29 vs state

★

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Schools Near South Milwaukee High

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				ACT English Language Arts (2025)	ACT Mathematics (2025)	ACT Science (2025)	Forward Exam Social Studies (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	ACT English Language Arts 10th Grade	ACT Mathematics 10th Grade	ACT Science 10th Grade	Forward Exam Social Studies 10th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
South Milwaukee High	Public	9-12	801 15th Ave	South Milwaukee	53172	Milwaukee County	South Milwaukee School District	No	No	No	Yes	(414) 766-5100	920	67	13.6	46.7%	517 (56.2%)	73 (7.9%)	252 (27.4%)	9 (1.0%)	3 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	66 (7.2%)	10.8	401^st of 431 public high schools	7.0%		9.3	411^th of 431 public high schools	4.6%	10	19.2	20.9	27.0	33.8	$13,355	$837	$12,519
Cudahy High	Public	9-12	4950 S Lake Dr	Cudahy	53110	Milwaukee County	Cudahy School District	No	No	No	Yes	(414) 294-2700	644	42	15.2	60.7%	335 (52.0%)	54 (8.4%)	193 (30.0%)	14 (2.2%)	4 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	41 (6.4%)	15.9	387^th of 431 public high schools	10.2%		17.6	390^th of 431 public high schools	9.5%	3	41.6	18.0	24.7	33.3	$14,622	$922	$13,699
Oak Creek High	Public	9-12	340 E Puetz Rd	Oak Creek	53154	Milwaukee County	Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District	No	No	No	No	(414) 768-6210	2,220	125	17.7	31.8%	1,398 (63.0%)	134 (6.0%)	410 (18.5%)	151 (6.8%)	7 (0.3%)	1 (0.0%)	119 (5.4%)	49	230^th of 431 public high schools	46.6%		50.6	220^th of 431 public high schools	49.0%	10	46.0	45.0	47.3	45.1	$11,364	$678	$10,686
Saint Francis High	Public	9-12	4225 S Lake Dr	Saint Francis	53235	Milwaukee County	Saint Francis School District	No	No	No	Yes	(414) 747-3600	543	29	18.5	50.8%	222 (40.9%)	58 (10.7%)	194 (35.7%)	17 (3.1%)	4 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	46 (8.5%)	8.1	407^th of 431 public high schools	5.6%		12.7	402^nd of 431 public high schools	6.7%	5	23.7	22.0	23.7	26.6
Reagan College Preparatory High	Public	9-12	4965 S 20th St	Milwaukee	53221	Milwaukee County	Milwaukee School District	No	No	No	Yes	(414) 304-6100	1,372	66	20.9	51.7%	425 (31.0%)	121 (8.8%)	662 (48.3%)	122 (8.9%)	4 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (2.8%)	72.9	89^th of 431 public high schools	79.4%		78.9	65^th of 431 public high schools	84.9%	24	69.7	46.1	52.4	59.5	$12,405	$2,067	$10,338
Bay View High	Public	9-12	2751 S Lenox St	Milwaukee	53207	Milwaukee County	Milwaukee School District	No	No	No	Yes	(414) 294-2400	1,021	59	17.2	83.8%	72 (7.1%)	515 (50.4%)	300 (29.4%)	71 (7.0%)	11 (1.1%)	2 (0.2%)	50 (4.9%)	1.8	425^th of 431 public high schools	1.4%					(n/a)	10.2			11.9	$15,027	$2,202	$12,824
Franklin High	Public	9-12	8222 S 51st St	Franklin	53132	Milwaukee County	Franklin Public School District	No	No	No	No	(414) 423-4640	1,605	98	16.4	21.9%	1,104 (68.8%)	38 (2.4%)	172 (10.7%)	189 (11.8%)	11 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	91 (5.7%)	75	80^th of 431 public high schools	81.4%		79.5	60^th of 431 public high schools	86.1%	20	62.7	58.2	54.5	52.7	$12,275	$559	$11,716
Grandview High	Public	9-12	2745 S 13TH St	Milwaukee	53215	Milwaukee County	Milwaukee School District	No	No	No	Yes	(414) 672-1168	219	7	31.2	85.8%	15 (6.8%)	21 (9.6%)	159 (72.6%)	12 (5.5%)	6 (2.7%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (2.7%)	1	427^th of 431 public high schools	0.9%					(n/a)	12.2			7.4	$15,307	$2,179	$13,128
Carmen High Southeast Campus	Public, Charter	9-12	2500 W Oklahoma Ave	Milwaukee	53215	Milwaukee County	Milwaukee School District	Yes	No	No	Yes	(414) 509-7800	679	14	48.5	99.3%	21 (3.1%)	41 (6.0%)	605 (89.1%)	2 (0.3%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (0.7%)	2.3	421^st of 431 public high schools	2.3%		6	417^th of 431 public high schools	3.2%	4	19.5	9.4	15.4	13.4	$14,539	$2,478	$12,061
Pulaski High	Public	9-12	2500 W Oklahoma Ave	Milwaukee	53215	Milwaukee County	Milwaukee School District	No	No	No	Yes	(414) 902-8900	1,041	59	17.7	76.9%	41 (3.9%)	335 (32.2%)	517 (49.7%)	111 (10.7%)	5 (0.5%)	2 (0.2%)	30 (2.9%)	0.8	430^th of 431 public high schools	0.2%					(n/a)			6.6	4.7	$15,428	$2,377	$13,050

Frequently Asked Questions about South Milwaukee High

What is the racial makeup of South Milwaukee High?

Students at South Milwaukee High are 56% White, 27% Hispanic, 8% African American, 7% Two or more races.

What district is South Milwaukee High in?

South Milwaukee School District

Is South Milwaukee High a good school?

South Milwaukee High ranks in the bottom 7.0% of Wisconsin high schools.

What schools feed into South Milwaukee High?

South Milwaukee High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Blakewood Elementary
Elementary : E W Luther Elementary
Elementary : Lakeview Elementary
Elementary : Rawson Elementary
Middle : South Milwaukee Middle

How many students attend South Milwaukee High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 920 students attended South Milwaukee High.

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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.