181 public K-12 schools in Milwaukee from NCES Common Core of Data: enrollment, grade span, demographics, and Civil Rights Data Collection statistics for every active campus.
181 public schools ranked by quality score. NCES CCD 2024-25 data.
The highest-ranked of Milwaukee's 181 public schools is Hapa-Hmong American Peace Academy K3-12, scoring 20/100, against a city average of 35.7/100. Computed live across every Milwaukee campus reporting to NCES.
How the Milwaukee Public-School Landscape Breaks Down
Milwaukee, WI enrolls 75,757 students across 181 public schools reporting to the National Center for Education Statistics. Of those, 41 are charter schools, giving families genuine alternatives to the traditional neighbourhood assignment model. The average student-teacher ratio across the city is 17.6:1, and the composite quality score, derived from student-teacher ratio, counselor access, gifted-program availability, and CRDC attendance data, averages 35.7/100. Schools must report at least five campuses in a city to appear in this listing, which is why very small towns may redirect to the broader county or state view.
The most-resourced campus in Milwaukee on this index is Hapa-Hmong American Peace Academy K3-12, at 20/100 on the Resource Investment Index with 1,974 enrolled students. What the index does and doesn't measure; click any school below for its full component breakdown.
Milwaukee spans 6 districts, each filing its own NCES F-33 return, per-pupil spending can vary between neighbouring campuses. Sort the table below by enrollment, level, or district; click any school for its full profile.
Milwaukee school enrollment varies 3.8× across entities
Milwaukee school enrollment ranges from 526 students (lowest) to 1,974 students (highest), a spread of 1,448 students. That relatively narrow ratio reflects an unusually homogeneous school portfolio for a city this size. Per-school staffing, programme depth, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same city based on enrollment shape, a 200-student magnet runs a different operational model than a 2,000-student comprehensive high school.
Milwaukee has higher-than-average Title I eligibility — 78.3% of the population qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch
free or reduced-price lunch eligibility is the federal threshold for Title I funding allocations, established under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015). Areas above 75% eligibility — including this one — receive concentration grants on top of the basic Title I formula. Regions with eligibility this high typically draw a substantially larger federal funding share relative to their local tax base, which can either offset or reinforce existing gaps depending on allocation policy.
Milwaukee operates 6 school districts — among the most fragmented governance structures in the country
Each school district has independent budgeting, hiring, and service delivery authority. The fragmentation reflects historical patterns of inter-municipal boundary lines that pre-date modern city growth, students in different parts of the same city can attend different districts with different per-pupil spending, calendars, and graduation requirements. Per-region variation is largest in fragmented systems because each school district sets its own budget, contracts, and priorities without higher-level coordination above the regulatory floor.
Milwaukee student-teacher ratio is 17.6:1 — near the typical range (US average ~15.7) — aligned with the U.S. average of approximately 15.7:1
student-teacher ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE classroom teachers against total enrollment, push-in specialists, English-language aides, special-education co-teachers, and counselors are not included in most reporting Variation between sub-units within Milwaukee is typically wider than the Milwaukee-aggregate figure suggests.
Milwaukee has higher-than-average charter school authorisation eligibility — 22.7% of the population qualifies for charter-school enrollment options
charter-school enrollment options eligibility is the federal threshold for charter school authorisation funding allocations, established under the state-specific charter law. Eligibility here is approaching the 30% concentration-grant threshold; it does not yet unlock the extra funding tier but sits meaningfully above the baseline 10% majority mark. Regions with eligibility this high typically draw a substantially larger federal funding share relative to their local tax base, which can either offset or reinforce existing gaps depending on allocation policy.
Most racially and ethnically mixed schools in Milwaukee
Ranked by the Simpson student-body diversity index (0-100) from NCES race and ethnicity data, where higher means a more evenly mixed student body. It measures mix, not quality.
The highest-ranked school in Milwaukee is Hapa-Hmong American Peace Academy K3-12 with a quality score of 20/100. There are 181 public schools in Milwaukee with 75,757 total students.
How many schools are in Milwaukee, WI? ▼
Milwaukee has 181 public schools with a total enrollment of 75,757 students. 41 are charter schools. Average student-teacher ratio: 17.6:1.
Data from NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 and Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22. Quality scores based on student-teacher ratio,
counselor access, gifted programs, and attendance. Schools must have 5+ in the city to be listed.
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology, which explains how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
