Enrollment
823
Wisconsin · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Milwaukee, WI
Macdowell Montessori School K3-12
Federal NCES profile for Macdowell Montessori School K3-12, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 27/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 550960002931
👥 S:T ratio 37
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Macdowell Montessori School K3-12 earns 27/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 79% of Wisconsin schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Wisconsin schools.
- #84 of 135
- schools in Milwaukee · Resource Index
- 27
- Resource Index · Lower
- 15.8:1
- large classes for Wisconsin
- 96.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Macdowell Montessori School K3-12 has class sizes larger than 79% of Wisconsin schools. Computed live against every Wisconsin school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Macdowell Montessori School K3-12 ranks #84 of 135 schools in Milwaukee, WI.
School address
District: Milwaukee School District · Wisconsin
NCES ID 550960002931 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
52.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.8:1
vs 14.4:1 Wisconsin avg
+10% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
96.8%
vs 38.5% Wisconsin avg
+151% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Macdowell Montessori School K3-12 compares with Wisconsin and U.S. medians
What stands out at Macdowell Montessori School K3-12
Macdowell Montessori School K3-12 is a high-poverty, large combined-grade school in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, enrolling 823 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 15.8:1 puts it in the larger third of Wisconsin schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need is high: 96.8% of students qualify for free meals, 151% above the Wisconsin average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Wisconsin, bigger than 92% of state schools at 823 students.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 92% of the 2,202 Wisconsin schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Against 34 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #14.
Its student body is led by African American (53%) and White (26%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 64/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 823 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 43.3% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
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.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 2 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Milwaukee's public schools, it stands alongside Hapa-Hmong American Peace Academy K3-12 (1,974 students): Macdowell Montessori School K3-12 is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (15.8:1 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 Macdowell Montessori School K3-12.
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 Macdowell Montessori School K3-12 compares
Macdowell Montessori School K3-12 on the metrics families compare, against Wisconsin and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Wisconsin | Wisconsin avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.8:1 | ▲ 10% | 14.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 96.8% | ▲ 151% | 38.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 823 | top 8% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.8:1
Leaner classes than 40% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
823
Bigger than 86% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
96.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 151% 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
15.8:1
students per teacher
- 10% above state mean
Top 79% in Wisconsin - lower ratio than 21% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
43.3%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
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 823 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 88 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 10.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 2 expulsions.
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 52.9%
White 25.6%
Hispanic or Latino 10.8%
Two or More 8.6%
Asian 1.8%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 52.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 63.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 63.5, Macdowell Montessori School K3-12 is more 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 Macdowell Montessori School K3-12.
$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 Macdowell Montessori School K3-12 Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hapa-Hmong American Peace Academy K3-12 | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hamilton High | Larger | Lower 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 Macdowell Montessori School K3-12'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 (~823 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.8:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Macdowell Montessori School K3-12's federal record.
- Compare Macdowell Montessori School K3-12 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 Macdowell Montessori School K3-12
How many students attend Macdowell Montessori School K3-12?
Macdowell Montessori School K3-12 has 823 students enrolled. It is a public school in Milwaukee, WI.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Macdowell Montessori School K3-12?
The student-teacher ratio at Macdowell Montessori School K3-12 is 15.8:1, which is 10% higher than the Wisconsin average of 14.4:1 and 1% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Macdowell Montessori School K3-12?
96.8% of students at Macdowell Montessori School K3-12 are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Wisconsin average of 38.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Macdowell Montessori School K3-12?
The largest demographic group at Macdowell Montessori School K3-12 is African American at 52.9% of enrollment, in Milwaukee, WI. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 63.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Macdowell Montessori School K3-12?
Macdowell Montessori School K3-12 has a Resource Investment Index of 27/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Macdowell Montessori School K3-12 rank among schools in Milwaukee?
By Resource Investment Index, Macdowell Montessori School K3-12 ranks #84 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 Macdowell Montessori School K3-12 a good school?
Macdowell Montessori School K3-12 earns 27/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 79% of Wisconsin schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Wisconsin schools. 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 Macdowell Montessori School K3-12, 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.