Alcott Elementary, Milwaukee WI - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on Alcott Elementary

Alcott Elementary is a regular public school in Milwaukee serving children from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. It is a neighborhood school within the Milwaukee School District, the state’s largest and most urban system. The school’s enrollment is small, and the student body is diverse: Hispanic students make up the largest share, followed by White students, students of two or more races, Black students, and Asian students. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that many families face economic pressures.

The school offers a single, undivided pre-K-through-8 pathway, so children who start here can remain through the end of middle school before transitioning to a high school elsewhere. State testing data from the most recent school year show that proficiency rates across math, English language arts, and science are low in most tested grades. In math, the proportion of students scoring proficient or above is in the single digits or low twenties in every grade except seventh grade, where it is slightly higher. English language arts results are somewhat stronger, especially in eighth grade, where about half of students met the proficiency bar. Science scores are low in both fourth and eighth grades. Social studies stands out as a relative bright spot: eighth graders posted a proficiency rate that is notably higher than the school’s other subjects, though fourth-grade social studies remains low. Because the school does not serve high school grades, there is no graduation rate to report. When compared with other districts in Milwaukee County, Alcott’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades falls in the bottom quarter.

The Milwaukee School District, which governs Alcott, is in a period of significant change. Voters recently approved a referendum to fund school building accessibility projects, signaling a sustained investment in physical infrastructure. At the same time, the district is implementing a long-range facilities plan that may lead to school closures or consolidations as it addresses aging buildings and excess capacity. A reorganization that reduces regional offices is already taking effect. The district is also projecting a sizable budget deficit driven by declining enrollment and the end of federal COVID-19 relief funds, and it is considering program cuts and staffing reductions. These district-level pressures could affect class sizes, programs, and services at Alcott in the coming years.

The school is located in Milwaukee, a city that has experienced population decline over successive censuses but remains the economic and cultural anchor of the region. The local economy is anchored by several Fortune 500 headquarters and a mix of healthcare, finance, and manufacturing. Housing in the area is moderately priced compared to national averages, and the city has a mix of walkable downtown and riverfront areas alongside more car-dependent neighborhoods. Milwaukee’s deep racial and economic segregation shapes the context for its schools, and the district’s budget challenges are a reflection of broader demographic and fiscal pressures.

For a family considering Alcott, the school offers a small, diverse setting and a continuous pre-K-through-8 program that avoids a middle-school transition. The academic performance data suggest that many students are not reaching grade-level benchmarks in math and reading, and a parent may want to investigate the school’s instructional supports, intervention programs, and how the school is working to address these gaps. The district’s uncertain financial picture and possible facility changes add another layer to consider. Families who value a stable, neighborhood-based school with a diverse student body and are willing to engage closely with the school’s academic challenges may find Alcott a reasonable fit. Those seeking a school with stronger test scores or more programmatic offerings may want to explore other options within the district or the wider Milwaukee area.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 314%

School 14% · District 24% · ▼ 9 pts below district

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

Grade 49%

School 9% · District 19% · ▼ 10 pts below district

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

Grade 58%

School 8% · District 18% · ▼ 10 pts below district

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

Grade 623%

School 23% · District 18% · ▲ 6 pts above district

▼ 30 pts below state median · ▲ 6 pts above county median

Grade 724%

School 24% · District 22% · ▲ 2 pts above district

▼ 30 pts below state median · ▲ 2 pts above county median

Grade 84%

School 4% · District 19% · ▼ 14 pts below district

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

English language arts

Grade 331%

School 31% · District 22% · ▲ 9 pts above district

▼ 22 pts below state median · ▲ 4 pts above county median

Grade 414%

School 14% · District 22% · ▼ 9 pts below district

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

Grade 535%

School 35% · District 21% · ▲ 13 pts above district

▼ 16 pts below state median · ▲ 7 pts above county median

Grade 623%

School 23% · District 24% · ▼ 1 pts below district

▼ 30 pts below state median · even with county median

Grade 732%

School 32% · District 28% · ▲ 4 pts above district

▼ 20 pts below state median · ▲ 5 pts above county median

Grade 848%

School 48% · District 29% · ▲ 19 pts above district

▼ 4 pts below state median · ▲ 19 pts above county median

Science

Grade 414%

School 14% · District 20% · ▼ 6 pts below district

▼ 38 pts below state median · ▼ 8 pts below county median

Grade 813%

School 13% · District 22% · ▼ 9 pts below district

▼ 38 pts below state median · ▼ 8 pts below county median

Social studies

Grade 418%

School 18% · District 32% · ▼ 14 pts below district

▼ 47 pts below state median · ▼ 21 pts below county median

Grade 861%

School 61% · District 36% · ▲ 25 pts above district

▼ 3 pts below state median · ▲ 23 pts above county median

This schoolMilwaukee 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-income28%Higher-income13%15 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income35%Higher-income83%48 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 6Lower-income22%Higher-income25%3 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income0%Higher-income17%17 pp gap