Summary:
ZIP code 53209 contains 10 schools serving 4,794 students, covering elementary, middle, high school, and alternative settings across two districts. The Milwaukee School District enrolls 3,821 students (79.7% of the ZIP) at eight schools, while the Glendale-River Hills School District enrolls 973 students (20.3%) at two. Those two systems look very different: Milwaukee schools average 87.2% free/reduced lunch and 57.9% chronic absenteeism, while Glendale-River Hills schools average 38.4% free/reduced lunch and just 8.75% chronic absenteeism, well below the state's 17.3%.
The strongest academic performer is Glen Hills Middle, with 7th grade math at 70.41% versus the state's 55.67% and 7th grade ELA at 66.33% versus 55.33%, plus the ZIP's lowest student-teacher ratio at 11.1 and 10.1% absenteeism. Parkway Elementary has the lowest absenteeism (7.4%) and lowest poverty (37.96%) in the ZIP, with 3rd grade proficiency around 45%. King International, the largest school at 1,308 students, stands out for a 94.3% graduation rate and 0.5% dropout rate — both better than state averages — though its test scores and 38.2% absenteeism remain concerns.
Several schools face serious challenges. ASSATA High graduates 22.5% of students, has a 25.7% dropout rate, 73.1% absenteeism, and 0% proficiency on all reported 2025-2026 tests. Banner Preparatory School of Milwaukee spends $58,875 per student — roughly three times the ZIP median — yet reports 89.8% absenteeism and 0% in 10th grade social studies. Obama School of Career and Technical Education has the highest student-teacher ratio at 30.0 with 78.1% absenteeism, and Thurston Woods Elementary reported 0% math proficiency in every tested grade in 2024-2025. Overall, ZIP 53209 is defined by a sharp divide between its two districts.
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