Enrollment
308
Wisconsin · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Milwaukee, WI
Fifty-Third Street Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Fifty-Third Street Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 51/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 550960001162
👥 S:T ratio 44
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 38
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Fifty-Third Street Elementary earns 51/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Wisconsin median.
- #12 of 135
- schools in Milwaukee · Resource Index
- 51
- Resource Index · Higher
- 14:1
- students per teacher
- 90.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Fifty-Third Street Elementary has class sizes near the Wisconsin median. Computed live against every Wisconsin school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Fifty-Third Street Elementary ranks #12 of 135 schools in Milwaukee, WI.
School address
District: Milwaukee School District · Wisconsin
NCES ID 550960001162 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
22.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14:1
vs 14.4:1 Wisconsin avg
-3% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
90.4%
vs 38.5% Wisconsin avg
+135% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Fifty-Third Street Elementary compares with Wisconsin and U.S. medians
What stands out at Fifty-Third Street Elementary
Fifty-Third Street Elementary is a high-poverty, mid-sized combined-grade school in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, enrolling 308 students.
At 14:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Wisconsin median, within a few percentage points of the 14.4:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need is high: 90.4% of students qualify for free meals, 135% above the Wisconsin average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
With 308 students, its enrollment sits close to the Wisconsin median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 2,202 scored Wisconsin schools.
Against 102 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #13.
Its student body is predominantly African American (85% of enrollment) (diversity index 27/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 308 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
The surrounding Milwaukee School District spends $17,847 per pupil, 20% above the Wisconsin average, a better-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 15.0% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 91 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 308 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Among Milwaukee's public schools, it stands alongside Hapa-Hmong American Peace Academy K3-12 (1,974 students): Fifty-Third Street Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (14:1 vs 30.8:1).
Milwaukee School District also operates Hapa-Hmong American Peace Academy K3-12 (1,974 students) and Hamilton High (1,472 students) alongside Fifty-Third Street Elementary.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Fifty-Third Street Elementary compares
Fifty-Third Street Elementary on the metrics families compare, against Wisconsin and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Wisconsin | Wisconsin avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14:1 | ▼ 3% | 14.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 90.4% | ▲ 135% | 38.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 308 | top 49% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14:1
Leaner classes than 57% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
308
Bigger than 33% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
90.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 135% above the Wisconsin average of 38.5%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
14:1
students per teacher
- 3% below state mean
Top 60% in Wisconsin - lower ratio than 40% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Funding equity
$17,847
per pupil, district-wide
- above Wisconsin avg of $14,919
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 308 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 91 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 29.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
African American 84.7%
Hispanic or Latino 9.1%
Two or More 3.9%
White 1.3%
Asian 0.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: African American at 84.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 27.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 27.3, Fifty-Third Street Elementary is less mixed than the Wisconsin school average of 35.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Milwaukee School District, which includes Fifty-Third Street Elementary.
$17,847
Per student
+20%
vs Wisconsin
Avg $14,919
+8%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 27.3%
State 57.7%
Federal 15.0%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Fifty-Third Street Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hapa-Hmong American Peace Academy K3-12 | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hamilton High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Reagan College Preparatory High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| King International | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Obama School of Career and Technical Education | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Fifty-Third Street Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,974
- Students per teacher
- 30.8:1
- Resource Index
- 20/100
- Enrollment
- 1,472
- Students per teacher
- 14.6:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 1,372
- Students per teacher
- 22.5:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 1,308
- Students per teacher
- 18.2:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 1,294
- Students per teacher
- 27.5:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
Similar other schools in Milwaukee
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Hapa-Hmong American Peace Academy K3-12
Standard public school
1,974 students 30.8:1 students per teacher
Milwaukee Academy of Science
Standard public school
1,711 students 24.8:1 students per teacher
Bruce Guadalupe
Standard public school
1,364 students 15:1 students per teacher
Obama School of Career and Technical Education
Standard public school
1,294 students 27.5:1 students per teacher
Golda Meir School
Standard public school
1,192 students 19.9:1 students per teacher
Milwaukee School of Languages
Standard public school
964 students 14.2:1 students per teacher
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Wisconsin, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~308 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~14:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Fifty-Third Street Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Fifty-Third Street Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Milwaukee School District's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Fifty-Third Street Elementary
How many students attend Fifty-Third Street Elementary?
Fifty-Third Street Elementary has 308 students enrolled. It is a public school in Milwaukee, WI.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Fifty-Third Street Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Fifty-Third Street Elementary is 14:1, which is 3% lower than the Wisconsin average of 14.4:1 and 11% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Fifty-Third Street Elementary?
90.4% of students at Fifty-Third Street Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Wisconsin average of 38.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Fifty-Third Street Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Fifty-Third Street Elementary is African American at 84.7% of enrollment, in Milwaukee, WI.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Fifty-Third Street Elementary?
Fifty-Third Street Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 51/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Fifty-Third Street Elementary rank among schools in Milwaukee?
By Resource Investment Index, Fifty-Third Street Elementary ranks #12 of 135 schools in Milwaukee, WI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Milwaukee on the city page.
Is Fifty-Third Street Elementary a good school?
Fifty-Third Street Elementary earns 51/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Wisconsin median. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Milwaukee School District?
Besides Fifty-Third Street Elementary, Milwaukee School District also operates Hapa-Hmong American Peace Academy K3-12 (1,974 students), Hamilton High (1,472 students), and Reagan College Preparatory High (1,372 students). See the Milwaukee School District district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.