The top reported proficiency rate is 50% in Social studies. The lowest is 28% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Cudahy Middle
Cudahy Middle serves seventh and eighth graders in the city of Cudahy, a working-class to middle-class suburb of Milwaukee with a history as a meatpacking town. The school is one of several buildings within the School District of Cudahy, which also runs a high school and five elementary schools. For families considering this school, the picture that emerges is of a two-year middle school serving a diverse student body in a community that is built out and stable, where a recent operating referendum has put added resources into the district.
The enrollment is modest for the grade band, drawing from the surrounding neighborhoods. Roughly half of the students identify as white, about a third as Hispanic, and smaller shares as Black, two or more races, Asian, or Native American. A substantial share of families qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the broader economic mix of Cudahy’s workforce, which includes industrial employment at the Patrick Cudahy/Smithfield plant and healthcare at St. Luke’s South Shore. Data on special education and English learner enrollment were not reported in the available records, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about the support services available.
State testing results from the Wisconsin Forward exam provide the main academic snapshot. In seventh-grade mathematics, roughly two-fifths of students scored at the proficient or advanced level. In eighth-grade math that share falls to about a quarter. English language arts proficiency follows a similar pattern: roughly two-fifths of seventh graders and about a third of eighth graders met the bar. Science in eighth grade comes in at about a quarter proficient, while social studies is stronger, with roughly half of eighth graders reaching proficiency. Overall, when the school’s results are combined across subjects and grades, they place below the midpoint among districts in Milwaukee County. A parent should take this as a signal that while the school serves its students, academic attainment is an area where the district has room for growth.
The school itself is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet. No information about course access, staffing ratios, or discipline numbers was available in the data provided, so these are details a family would need to gather from a school visit or the district office. The absence of such data is common for middle schools that do not report detailed program inventories at the school level.
Cudahy’s housing market is moderate. Home values in the city have been rising modestly, and the typical rent is in line with what many middle-income households can manage. The city is fully built out, with a slowly declining population, so the school’s enrollment is likely to remain steady rather than grow. The district passed an operating referendum in late 2024 after an earlier attempt failed, providing recurring revenue for educational programming, staffing, technology, and facility maintenance. That vote suggests the community is willing to invest in its schools, which could benefit Cudahy Middle in the coming years.
For a parent trying to decide if this school fits, the key factors are a middle school with a manageable size, a student body that reflects the surrounding community’s economic and racial diversity, and academic results that are below average for the county but with a relatively strong showing in social studies. The school serves only two grades, so students will transition into Cudahy High School afterward. The district’s recent financial boost may lead to improvements over time, but the baseline proficiency numbers give a realistic starting point. A family with high expectations for test scores may want to learn more about specific programs or supports the school offers. A family that values a neighborhood school in an established, affordable suburb with a mix of residents will find a straightforward option here.
See more original research from School Decision →