Summary:
Zip code 53208 contains 10 schools serving roughly 2,573 students: seven elementary schools and three high schools, with no middle or alternative schools listed. Eight are part of Milwaukee School District; the two independent options are Woodlands School, run by Woodlands School Inc, and Pathways High, run by Pathways High Inc. Enrollment ranges from Bethune Academy at 574 students, the largest, down to Transition High at 90. All three districts rank near the bottom statewide, with Milwaukee School District 418th of 432, Woodlands School Inc 414th, and Pathways High Inc 420th.
Woodlands School is the clear academic standout: highest proficiency, lowest chronic absenteeism at 11.8% (below the state's 17.3%), and lowest free/reduced lunch at 18.53%, far below the other schools except Pathways High at 30.2%. However, Woodlands' rank fell to 902 of 1,039 in 2025–2026 from 688th the year before. Westside Academy shows grade-level bright spots, such as 5th grade ELA at 42.86%, the highest among the area elementaries, while Bethune Academy has the lowest MPS chronic absenteeism at 38.0% and a 2.1% dropout rate.
Attendance is the dominant challenge: average chronic absenteeism across all 10 schools is about 58.4%, and only Woodlands is below the state rate. Groppi High and Transition High are at 98.5% and 99.0%. Six of seven elementaries have free/reduced lunch above 86%. Graduation rates trail the state's 92.0%: Pathways 37.5%, Groppi 49.2%, Transition 65.2%. Groppi and Transition spend over $30,000 per student with ratios under 12, yet post the weakest outcomes. Metcalfe Elementary and Story Elementary rank at the bottom.
Thank you for your feedback!