Summary:
ZIP code 53223 contains just one middle school: Morse Mid, a grades 6–8 school serving 383 students as part of the Milwaukee School District. Because it is the only middle school in this ZIP, there is no in-area comparison to make — families looking at middle school here have this single option locally, though surrounding ZIP codes may offer alternatives.
Morse Mid's academic results are among the lowest in Wisconsin. It ranked 609 of 643 schools in 2025–26 (5th percentile, 0 stars), 590 of 628 in 2024–25 (6th percentile), and 609 of 641 in 2023–24 (5th percentile). The district itself ranks 418 of 432 statewide. On the 2025–26 Forward Exam, every reported proficiency rate fell below both district and state averages, ranging from 5.71% in 6th grade math to 23.30% in 8th grade ELA and 8th grade social studies. State proficiency in those same assessments runs from about 51.86% to 64.63%, so the school trails the state by roughly 31 to 48 percentage points. Math is the weakest area, with 6th grade math at 5.71% and 8th grade math at 6.80%. Year over year, 7 of 8 assessments declined; 8th grade ELA was the only improvement, up 0.87 percentage points.
Other measures point to significant challenges. Chronic absenteeism is 54.9%, above the district's 46.2% and more than triple the state's 17.3%. About 79.63% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, the student-teacher ratio is 21.1, and per-student spending is $18,870. Overall, the school's strongest relative results — 8th grade ELA and social studies — still sit well below both district and state benchmarks.
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