Bullen Middle, Kenosha WI - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on Bullen Middle

Bullen Middle School is a regular public school serving sixth through eighth grade in Kenosha, Wisconsin, part of the Kenosha Unified School District. It sits within a mid-sized city with a deep manufacturing history that has diversified into corporate headquarters and distribution centers. Kenosha offers a lakefront downtown with museums, an electric streetcar, and public beaches, and it is the last stop on Chicago’s Metra commuter rail line, giving families a connection to the region. The school itself is located on 39th Avenue, a neighborhood street within the city’s residential fabric.

The student body is diverse. Hispanic students make up the largest share, followed by white students and Black students, with smaller groups identifying as two or more races, Asian, and American Indian or Alaska Native. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic context of a district where a majority of students are considered economically disadvantaged. The school’s enrollment is typical for a middle school in this grade band, with a roughly even split across the three grades.

State testing results from the Wisconsin Forward exam show a challenging picture. In math, proficiency rates across all three grades are below the midpoint among Kenosha County districts, placing the school toward the bottom of that comparison set. English language arts proficiency is similarly low in sixth and seventh grade, though eighth graders show a higher rate. Science proficiency in eighth grade also falls below the county median. Social studies in eighth grade is the strongest subject, with about half of students meeting the proficiency bar. Overall, the school’s composite proficiency index sits in the bottom quartile when measured against other districts in Kenosha County. A parent may want to look into this further with the school to understand what academic supports are available.

The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report. Data on special education and English learner populations was not available in the provided information, and neither were details on discipline, staffing, attendance, or course access. These gaps mean a parent evaluating this school for a child with specific learning needs or interests may need to contact the school directly for that information. There is no indication of charter or magnet status, and Title I status was also not reported.

The district context is significant for families considering Bullen. Kenosha Unified has been experiencing declining enrollment, which prompted a recent round of school closures and attendance boundary changes as part of a district "rightsizing" effort. This means that neighborhood school assignments and program availability across the district have shifted, which could affect future feeder patterns and school options for current Bullen families. The district’s enrollment drop and resulting budget pressures are ongoing factors that shape what is offered at the middle school level.

Housing in the area is moderately priced relative to national benchmarks, with home values around the midpoint of the state’s average and below the national median. Rents are also below what it would cost to buy a comparable home on a monthly basis, making renting a more affordable option in this market. The broader economic context includes a national unemployment rate that has been stable and a 30-year mortgage rate that has been fluctuating near the midpoint of its recent range.

For a parent, Bullen Middle School is a diverse, city-based neighborhood school within a district undergoing significant change. The academic results on state tests are lower than many other schools in the county, and the school’s comparative position on proficiency is in the bottom group. The school’s location within Kenosha means access to the city’s lakefront amenities and commuter rail, but also the challenges of a district adapting to falling enrollment. A family considering Bullen would benefit from understanding what targeted support the school provides in math and reading, and how the recent district reorganization affects the middle school experience and the path to high school.

See more original research from School Decision →

Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 630%

School 30% · District 37% · ▼ 7 pts below district

▼ 23 pts below state median · ▼ 19 pts below county median

Grade 730%

School 30% · District 41% · ▼ 11 pts below district

▼ 24 pts below state median · ▼ 24 pts below county median

Grade 836%

School 36% · District 41% · ▼ 5 pts below district

▼ 15 pts below state median · ▼ 18 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 627%

School 27% · District 43% · ▼ 15 pts below district

▼ 26 pts below state median · ▼ 34 pts below county median

Grade 732%

School 32% · District 42% · ▼ 10 pts below district

▼ 20 pts below state median · ▼ 22 pts below county median

Grade 843%

School 43% · District 46% · ▼ 3 pts below district

▼ 9 pts below state median · ▼ 12 pts below county median

Science

Grade 833%

School 33% · District 38% · ▼ 5 pts below district

▼ 18 pts below state median · ▼ 22 pts below county median

Social studies

Grade 850%

School 50% · District 53% · ▼ 3 pts below district

▼ 14 pts below state median · ▼ 11 pts below county median

This schoolKenosha School District, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 6Lower-income25%Higher-income31%6 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income27%Higher-income42%15 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income37%Higher-income52%16 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 6Lower-income26%Higher-income37%11 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income25%Higher-income40%15 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income26%Higher-income49%23 pp gap