The top reported proficiency rate is 24% in Math. The lowest is 19% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on Hampton Elementary
Hampton Elementary is a regular public school in Milwaukee, serving students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. It is part of the Milwaukee School District, the largest district in Wisconsin. The school sits on the north side of the city, in a neighborhood that reflects Milwaukee’s broader mix of residential streets, aging housing stock, and pockets of commercial activity. The student body is small for an urban elementary school, and the grade-level enrollments are similarly modest, which can mean smaller class sizes and more individual attention from staff, though the data provided does not include staffing ratios to confirm that.
The families who send their children here live in one of the most racially and economically segregated cities in the country. The student population is predominantly Black, with smaller shares of Hispanic, Asian, and White students. A very large share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that the school serves a high-poverty community. The data did not include rates for students with disabilities or English learners, so it is hard to assess the full range of supports in place.
On state assessments, performance varies by grade and subject but is generally low. In third-grade math, about a quarter of students scored proficient or above. Fourth-grade math was noticeably weaker, and fifth-grade math returned to a share similar to third grade. English language arts results were mixed: third and fourth grade showed roughly one in six students proficient, while fifth grade had a stronger result, closer to two in five. Science and social studies, tested only in fourth grade, each had about one in five students reaching proficiency. Overall, the school’s proficiency index placed it in the bottom quarter relative to districts in Milwaukee County, a comparison set that includes many other high-poverty urban and suburban districts. A parent considering Hampton would want to ask the school directly about how it supports students who are below grade level and what academic interventions are in place.
The district context matters here. Milwaukee Public Schools is projecting a budget deficit driven by declining enrollment and the expiration of federal pandemic relief funds, and it is considering cuts that could affect programs and staffing. Voters recently approved a referendum to fund school building accessibility projects, part of a long-range facilities plan that also contemplates possible school closures or consolidations. These district-level pressures may eventually affect Hampton Elementary, though no specific changes to this school have been announced. Families should expect some degree of uncertainty about future resources and school assignments.
The housing market in the surrounding zip code is relatively affordable compared with the city and state medians. Home values and rents have been rising modestly, and the county-wide market shows an increase in active listings and a stable median listing price. That pattern suggests a neighborhood that is not experiencing rapid gentrification or decline, but rather a gradual turnover.
Hampton Elementary is a neighborhood school in a challenged urban district serving a high-poverty population. Its academic results are well below county averages, particularly in the middle elementary grades. The school’s small size could be a benefit for families who want a more contained environment, but the absence of detailed data on programs, staffing, and discipline makes it difficult to assess the full experience. A parent should visit, talk to the principal about academic support and enrichment offerings, and understand how the district’s budget and facilities plans may affect the school in the coming years.
See more original research from School Decision →