The top reported proficiency rate is 46% in Math. The lowest is 43% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Parkway Elementary
Parkway Elementary serves students from pre-kindergarten through third grade in the Glendale-River Hills School District. Because it is an early-elementary school, there is no graduation rate to report; the academic measures available come from the state’s Forward assessment, which the school’s third graders took in the most recent testing year.
On those assessments, about half of third graders met the state’s proficiency standard in math, and a somewhat smaller share did so in reading. Placed against the backdrop of elementary schools across Milwaukee County, the school’s overall proficiency across tested subjects lands a bit below the midpoint of all county districts. This is a soft spot worth noting, but for a primary-grades school that serves students only through age eight or nine, the data point captures just a sliver of the school’s full picture. A parent may want to ask the school how its early literacy and numeracy instruction builds toward later grades.
The student body is racially and economically mixed. White students make up the largest share of enrollment, followed by Black students, students who identify as two or more races, Hispanic students, and Asian students. About a third of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which is a meaningful share and a frequent marker of economic diversity in a Milwaukee County suburb. The school does not report data on students with individualized education plans or English learners, so a parent with a child in either group should follow up with the school directly.
Parkway operates as a regular public school and is not a charter. The building sits in Glendale, a north-shore suburb of Milwaukee that stands out among its neighbors for having a real industrial and commercial base alongside residential neighborhoods. The southern parts of Glendale are more industrial and higher-density, while the north is lower-density residential. The Bayshore Town Center, a large retail and mixed-use development, anchors the eastern edge of the city, and the Glendale Business Park draws high-tech employers. Single-family homes range from executive lots along the Milwaukee River to older neighborhoods, with multi-family condos and apartments also available.
Glendale is fundamentally a car-oriented suburb. Interstate 43 splits the city east-west, and major roads have undergone recent streetscaping. The Milwaukee County Oak Leaf Bicycle Trail connects the city to three large county parks: Kletzsch, Lincoln, and Brown Deer. There is no traditional downtown core; Bayshore Town Center functions as the main commercial and social gathering place, while City Hall sits separately.
Housing in the area is moderately priced for the Milwaukee region, with home values sitting below both the state and national averages. Rents have been rising faster than home prices year over year, reflecting a tight rental market. For a family weighing a move into the district, the housing market offers options at a range of price points, though buyers should expect a competitive market typical of a suburban area with limited inventory.
At the district level, parents should be aware that voters approved a two-year operational referendum in fall 2024, allowing the district to exceed state revenue limits by a set amount per year through 2026. This replaced an earlier referendum that expired in 2025. The new referendum runs out after 2026, meaning the district will likely need to seek renewal or face budget cuts. On the positive side, the district levied less for the 2025-26 school year compared to the prior year, thanks to the expiration of the old referendum and a significant increase in state aid. That translated to a lower tax levy for both Glendale and the Village of River Hills, with the mill rate dropping.
For a family with a young child just starting school, Parkway Elementary offers a neighborhood elementary experience in a district that has shown voters are willing to support it financially, at least for the near term. The district’s fiscal picture beyond 2026 is something to watch. The school’s academic results are a starting point, not a full story, given the early grade band and the limited testing window. A visit and a conversation with the principal about curriculum, supports for diverse learners, and how the school prepares students for the transition to Glen Hills Middle School would give a clearer picture.
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