schoolsbycounty

Milwaukee County Schools & Education

Milwaukee County, Wisconsin

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

School Score

41/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

78.5%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

78.5%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 91.8%

Per-Pupil Spending

$8,594

National avg $13,239

State avg $8,113

School Score

41/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 65/100

State Score Position

#70

of 72 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Milwaukee County

Measured School Summary

Milwaukee County has midrange measured school signals (score: 41/100) with a graduation rate of 78.5%, which warrants review in official state and district records.

Funding Context

Milwaukee County spends $8,594 per student, which is on the lower end of adequate and may require careful resource allocation to maintain quality.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 37% below the Wisconsin average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 13.3 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 6% higher than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Milwaukee County before comparing districts

County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.

Local context that changes the interpretation

281 public schools and 34 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.

Overall screen

41/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #70 of 72 Wisconsin counties with school score data.

Completion

78.5%

13.3 pts below the state average

Funding context

$8,594

$481 above the state average

School coverage

281

34 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Milwaukee County has 281 public schools across 34 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.

Verify local rules

Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.

View Public SchoolsCompare Counties
Parent decision brief

What Milwaukee County school data means before you move

County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.

Large multi-district county

Milwaukee County has many school records across many districts. County averages are only the opening screen; neighborhood-level assignment and grade-band fit matter more here.

State position

#70

of 72 Wisconsin counties with school score data. The county score is 24 points below the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.

K-12 continuity check

These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.

Milwaukee School District

Elementary to high school visible

67,500 students

Elementary 109Middle 8High 34Other 5

156 listed schools in this county slice.

Wauwatosa School District

Elementary to high school visible

6,935 students

Elementary 11Middle 2High 2Other 2

17 listed schools in this county slice.

West Allis-West Milwaukee School District

Elementary to high school visible

6,738 students

Elementary 10Middle 3High 4Other 1

18 listed schools in this county slice.

Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District

Elementary to high school visible

6,510 students

Elementary 7Middle 2High 1Other 1

11 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Milwaukee School District is the largest listed district slice, with 156 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.

What the data cannot tell you

NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.

Questions to ask before choosing an address

Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Milwaukee County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Milwaukee County district systems?

What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?

Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?

Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?

Education Overview

About Schools in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin

This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.

A Vast Network of Urban and Suburban Schools

Milwaukee County maintains a massive educational infrastructure of 281 public schools serving 123,255 students across 34 districts. The landscape includes 178 elementary schools, 28 middle schools, and 62 high schools to support its large population. This diverse network represents the highest concentration of schools in the state.

Major Districts and Diverse Learning Options

Milwaukee School District is the region's largest, overseeing 156 schools and 67,500 students. Charter schools are a significant part of the ecosystem, with 45 institutions representing 16% of all public schools. Other major districts include West Allis-West Milwaukee and Wauwatosa, serving roughly 7,000 students each.

Sizable Schools in Vibrant Urban Settings

Most students attend school in city or suburban locales, where the average school size is 440 students. Oak Creek High is the county's largest school with 2,168 students, while the Hmong American Peace Academy serves 1,828 students as a major charter option. This environment offers students a high-energy, populous educational experience.

School Overview

Total Schools

281

in Milwaukee County

Reported Enrollment

123,255

281 schools reporting

School Districts

34

districts

Charter Schools

45

16% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary178
Middle28
High62
Other13

34 School Districts in Milwaukee County

Milwaukee School District

Guide
156 schools
67,500 students
Open district guide

West Allis-West Milwaukee School District

Guide
19 schools
7,095 students
Open district guide

Wauwatosa School District

Guide
17 schools
6,935 students
Open district guide

Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District

Guide
11 schools
6,510 students
Open district guide

Franklin Public School District

Guide
8 schools
4,781 students
Open district guide

Greenfield School District

Guide
6 schools
3,493 students
Open district guide

Whitefish Bay School District

4 schools
2,860 students

South Milwaukee School District

6 schools
2,773 students

Greendale School District

6 schools
2,664 students

Whitnall School District

5 schools
2,397 students

281 Public Schools in Milwaukee County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 25 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Level

Showing 20 of 281 matching schools

Oak Creek High

Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District

Oak Creek, 53154 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High2,168 students

HAPA-Hmong American Peace Academy K3-12

Milwaukee School District

Milwaukee, 53225 / City: Large

ProfilePK–12Charter1,828 students

Franklin High

Franklin Public School District

Franklin, 53132 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,571 students

Hamilton High

Milwaukee School District

Milwaukee, 53220 / City: Large

Profile9–12High1,439 students

Obama School of Career and Technical Education

Milwaukee School District

Milwaukee, 53209 / City: Large

ProfilePK–12Other1,402 students

Milwaukee Academy of Science

Milwaukee Science Education Consortium Inc.

Milwaukee, 53233 / City: Large

ProfilePK–12Charter1,401 students

Reagan College Preparatory High

Milwaukee School District

Milwaukee, 53221 / City: Large

Profile9–12High1,343 students

King International

Milwaukee School District

Milwaukee, 53209 / City: Large

Profile9–12High1,283 students

Nathan Hale High

West Allis-West Milwaukee School District

West Allis, 53227 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,261 students

Riverside High

Milwaukee School District

Milwaukee, 53211 / City: Large

Profile9–12High1,229 students

Golda Meir School

Milwaukee School District

Milwaukee, 53212 / City: Large

Profile3–12Other1,174 students

Greenfield High

Greenfield School District

Greenfield, 53220 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,157 students

Nicolet High

Nicolet Union High School School District

Glendale, 53217 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,089 students

Forest Park Middle

Franklin Public School District

Franklin, 53132 / Suburb: Large

Profile6–8Middle1,084 students

East High

Wauwatosa School District

Wauwatosa, 53213 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,067 students

West High

Wauwatosa School District

Wauwatosa, 53222 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,050 students

Central High

West Allis-West Milwaukee School District

West Allis, 53227 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,007 students

Milwaukee High School of the Arts

Milwaukee School District

Milwaukee, 53233 / City: Large

Profile9–12High989 students

South Milwaukee High

South Milwaukee School District

South Milwaukee, 53172 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High988 students

Milwaukee School of Languages

Milwaukee School District

Milwaukee, 53222 / City: Large

Profile6–12High985 students

Additional School Profiles

Dedicated profile pages are generated for a subset of public schools with broad enrollment coverage. All other schools remain listed in the county table.

5 more profiles

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$8,594

State avg $8,113

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Milwaukee County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

View Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Wisconsin counties have the highest graduation rates?
Ozaukee County (97.6%), Oneida County (96.8%), and Vilas County (96.1%) currently lead Wisconsin among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.
What is per-pupil spending like in Wisconsin?
Across Wisconsin counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $8,113. The highest current county values are Bayfield County ($10,665), Vilas County ($10,435), and Florence County ($10,426). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.
How should I read the school score in Milwaukee County?
Milwaukee County has a school score of 41/100, which is a midrange measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.
What is the graduation rate in Milwaukee County?
The high school graduation rate in Milwaukee County is 78.5%, which is below the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.
How much does Milwaukee County spend per student?
Milwaukee County spends $8,594 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin?

Milwaukee County maintains a massive educational infrastructure of 281 public schools serving 123,255 students across 34 districts. The landscape includes 178 elementary schools, 28 middle schools, and 62 high schools to support its large population. This diverse network represents the highest concentration of schools in the state.

What are the major school districts in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin?

Milwaukee School District is the region's largest, overseeing 156 schools and 67,500 students. Charter schools are a significant part of the ecosystem, with 45 institutions representing 16% of all public schools. Other major districts include West Allis-West Milwaukee and Wauwatosa, serving roughly 7,000 students each.

What is the school experience like in Milwaukee County?

Most students attend school in city or suburban locales, where the average school size is 440 students. Oak Creek High is the county's largest school with 2,168 students, while the Hmong American Peace Academy serves 1,828 students as a major charter option. This environment offers students a high-energy, populous educational experience.

Counties with Similar School Profile

Burnett County

Wisconsin

-1 pts

40/100

School score

Douglas County

Wisconsin

+2 pts

43/100

School score

Forest County

Wisconsin

+3 pts

44/100

School score

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.

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