How strong are the public high schools in Milwaukee?
With a fresh school year around the corner, we analyzed newly released data from Niche.com, which incorporates comprehensive report cards, rankings and reviews to help you choose the right school, to identify those schools that made the biggest strides last year, as well as those that top the city's best public high school rankings.
Reagan College Preparatory High School's overall rating improved the most among its peers in Milwaukee, rising from an A- to an A, according to data from Niche.
For the 2019-2020 school year, the school, located at 4965 S. 20th St., enrolls 1,304 students. Reagan College Preparatory High School serves a somewhat diverse population, with 50% of students identifying as Hispanic and 32% as white. Niche gave the school mixed grades: B+ on an A-D scale for academics, A- for administration and B for clubs and activities.
The overall ranking comes from Niche's proprietary algorithms. A school's ranking might change due to many factors, including the relative rankings of similar schools and whether a school gained or lost peers due to openings or closings. Other numbers come from current public data from the U.S. government.
Academically, 41% of Reagan College Preparatory High School's students scored as proficient or above in math, and 62% did so in reading. That's compared to city averages of 10% in math and 14% in reading.
It's not the only school that's climbed Niche's rankings this year. Pulaski High School saw its overall rating jump from a D+ to a C-. The school is located at 2500 W. Oklahoma Ave. and is a bit smaller, currently serving 851 students, of whom 45% identify as black, 36% identify as Hispanic and 11% identify as Asian.
Niche gave Pulaski High School mixed grades: D+ on an A-D scale for academics, D+ for administration and C- for clubs and activities. Pulaski High School's latest math proficiency was at 5%, and reading proficiency was also 5%.
Groppi High School also improved, from a D+ to a C-. The school is located at 1312 N. 27th St. and has 191 students currently enrolled.
Niche gave Groppi High School mixed grades — C- on an A-D scale for academics, C- for administration and B- for clubs and activities. Groppi High School's latest math proficiency was at 10%, and reading proficiency was also 10%. The school's improved grade is notable since it serves a less affluent population, with 85% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.
While some public high schools are moving up the ranks, others are consistently top-rated overall, including:
- Rufus King International School, with an overall rating of A-.
- Milwaukee School of Languages, with a B rating overall.
- Riverside High School, rated C+ overall.
This story was created automatically using data from Niche.com, then reviewed by an editor before publication. Click here for more about how and why Hoodline is automating local news. Got thoughts about what we're doing? Go here to share your feedback.
