The top reported proficiency rate is 24% in Social studies. The lowest is 15% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Goodrich Elementary
Goodrich Elementary serves students from prekindergarten through fifth grade in the Milwaukee Public Schools district. It is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet, located in the northern part of the city. The school draws from a surrounding neighborhood within Milwaukee, a large, historically industrial city on Lake Michigan that remains one of the most racially segregated in the country, with distinct neighborhoods reflecting waves of German, Polish, African American, and Hispanic settlement. Milwaukee’s population has declined over successive censuses, though its regional economy includes major corporate headquarters in financial services, manufacturing, and energy. The school’s immediate area reflects a typical urban residential setting within a city where many outlying neighborhoods are car-dependent.
The student body is diverse. The largest group is Black students, who make up the majority of enrollment. Asian students and students of two or more races each form a smaller but noticeable share, followed by a small Hispanic population and a very small white population. A very large share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, placing the school in a high-poverty context. Data on students with individualized education programs and English learners was not reported.
State assessment results show low proficiency rates across all tested subjects and grades. In third-grade math and English language arts, a small share of students scored proficient or above. In fourth grade, the rates were somewhat higher in both subjects, but they still remained low. Fifth-grade math and English language arts proficiency rates were also low, as were the fourth-grade science and social studies results. When compared with all other districts in Milwaukee County, Goodrich Elementary’s overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile. The school had high participation rates on the tests, meaning the results reflect nearly all enrolled students. Because Goodrich serves only through fifth grade, it has no graduation rate to report.
Program offerings at Goodrich were not included in the available data, so it is not possible to describe any specialized academic pathways, arts programming, or extracurricular opportunities the school may provide.
The district context matters for any family considering this school. Milwaukee Public Schools has a long-range facilities plan addressing aging buildings and ADA compliance, and voters approved a referendum to fund accessibility projects. At the same time, the district projects a budget deficit driven by declining enrollment and the expiration of federal pandemic relief funds, with potential cuts to programs and staff. These district-level pressures could affect resources and class sizes at Goodrich and other schools.
Housing in the ZIP code covering Goodrich’s area shows values that are below the state average, with a modest year-over-year increase. Rental costs are also below the national rent-to-income benchmark. The county housing market has seen a rise in active listings, a trend that could offer more options for families considering a move into the area.
For a family, Goodrich Elementary represents a neighborhood school serving a high-poverty population in a large urban district undergoing financial and facilities challenges. The academic data shows low proficiency rates, a pattern that prospective parents may want to investigate further by visiting the school, speaking with staff, and learning about any academic support programs in place. The school serves early and elementary grades only, so families will need to plan for a transition to a middle school within the district or consider other options beyond fifth grade. The community is a dense, historically layered city with a significant industrial and cultural legacy, but also with well-documented economic and racial disparities that shape the experience of its schools and neighborhoods.
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