The top reported proficiency rate is 39% in Social studies. The lowest is 20% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Ninety-fifth Street Elementary
Ninety-Fifth Street Elementary serves students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade as a regular public school in Milwaukee, part of the Milwaukee School District. The school is located on the city's northwest side, near the intersection of West Leon Terrace and North 94th Street, a part of the city that is predominantly residential and a short distance from the Milwaukee County Grounds. The school's enrollment is in the low hundreds for an elementary school serving this grade band.
The student body is diverse, with a composition that reflects Milwaukee's broader demographic patterns. A substantial share of students identify as Black or African American, and there are also notable populations of students who identify as Hispanic, Asian, two or more races, and white. A large majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a measure that indicates the school serves a community with significant economic need.
State assessment data for the recent year provides a picture of academic performance. In mathematics, the portions of students scoring proficient or above were in the low twenties percent range for third grade and around a quarter for fourth grade, with fifth grade falling just below a quarter. In English language arts, the shares were roughly one in five students in third grade, a little below one in three in fourth grade, and a smaller share in fifth grade. In science, only fourth grade is tested, and about one in five students scored proficient or above. In social studies, also tested at fourth grade, the share was modestly higher than in the other subjects, around two in five students. Overall, the school's combined proficiency index across all tested subjects and grades places it in the bottom quartile relative to districts across Milwaukee County.
This performance context is important for any parent considering the school. The numbers show that the majority of students at Ninety-Fifth Street are not yet meeting state proficiency benchmarks in core subjects. This is a school where a family would want to have a clear conversation with the principal or teachers about how the school supports students who are below grade level, what specific interventions are in place, and how the school communicates with families about student progress. The data does not indicate whether the school has shown any trends of improvement or decline over multiple years, as multi-year trend data was not available for this review.
The surrounding housing market in the school's ZIP code area presents a typical picture for this part of Milwaukee. Home values and rents have seen modest increases in the recent period. Milwaukee County's housing market overall has seen a growing number of active listings and pending sales, with the median listing price rising slightly year over year, and homes taking about a month on average to go under contract. For a family considering moving into the attendance area, this suggests a market that is not severely constrained but is active, with moderate price growth.
The district context matters here. Milwaukee Public Schools, as the parent district, is navigating significant fiscal pressures. A substantial budget deficit is projected for the coming school year, driven by declining enrollment and the expiration of federal pandemic-era funds. The district is considering program and staffing cuts that could affect class sizes and available services. At the same time, voters approved a large referendum to fund school building accessibility projects, signaling a commitment to infrastructure. The district is also implementing a long-range facilities plan that may involve school closures or consolidations as it rightsizes its footprint. A reorganization reducing regional offices from six to four takes effect in the coming school year. Any of these moves could affect Ninety-Fifth Street, and families should track what the district's facilities plan means for this specific school building and its programming.
There are some data gaps worth noting. Information on the school's discipline rates, staffing ratios, course access, attendance and chronic absenteeism, and the shares of students receiving special education or English learner services was not available. These are all areas a parent may want to raise directly with the school. The school is listed as a regular public school and is not a charter or magnet school. Overall, Ninety-Fifth Street Elementary is a school serving a high-need population in a large urban district facing financial challenges, where state assessment results indicate substantial room for academic growth. Families considering this school will want to engage deeply with the school's staff and the district's plans to understand the full picture of support and opportunity.
See more original research from School Decision →