The top reported proficiency rate is 24% in Social studies. The lowest is 5% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Lincoln Middle
Lincoln Middle is a regular public school in Milwaukee serving grades six through eight. It is part of the Milwaukee School District, the largest district in Wisconsin. The school sits in a city that is a mix of commercial, industrial, and residential districts shaped by its history as a port and manufacturing hub on Lake Michigan. Milwaukee remains one of the most racially segregated cities in the U.S., a legacy of early-20th-century redlining, and its population has declined at every census count. The district itself is projecting a budget deficit for the 2025-26 school year, driven by declining enrollment and the expiration of federal COVID-19 relief funds, and is considering program cuts and staffing reductions. A recent voter-approved referendum will fund school building accessibility projects, and the district is implementing a Long Range Facilities Plan that may lead to school closures or consolidations.
Lincoln Middle is a regular public school serving grades six through eight. The student body is predominantly Black, with a substantial Hispanic population and a small share of white and multiracial students. A very large share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high level of economic need. The school is part of the Milwaukee School District, which is the largest district in Wisconsin and operates within a city that has experienced sustained population decline and significant economic disparities.
On the Wisconsin Forward state assessments, Lincoln Middle's proficiency rates across all tested subjects and grades are low. In math, the share of students scoring proficient or advanced was very small in sixth grade, slightly higher but still low in seventh grade, and somewhat higher in eighth grade. In English language arts, the pattern was similar: a very small share of sixth graders met the bar, with modestly higher but still low rates in seventh and eighth grades. In eighth-grade science, a modest share of students scored proficient or advanced, and in eighth-grade social studies, the share was somewhat higher. When compared with other districts in Milwaukee County, Lincoln Middle's overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile. A parent may want to look into this further with the school to understand the academic support and intervention strategies in place.
The school serves grades six through eight, so there is no graduation rate to report. Data on special education and English learner populations was not available in the source materials. The school is not a charter or magnet school. Information on discipline, course access, and staffing was also not available.
The school is located in Milwaukee, a city with a mix of commercial, industrial, and residential districts shaped by its history as a port and manufacturing hub on Lake Michigan. The city has five Fortune company headquarters, a legacy brewing industry, and major healthcare and financial sectors. Culturally distinct neighborhoods reflect waves of German, Polish, African American, and Hispanic settlement. Milwaukee remains one of the most racially segregated cities in the U.S., a legacy of early-20th-century redlining. The city's population has declined at every census count, and significant economic disparities exist within the city. The Milwaukee School District is projecting a budget deficit for the 2025-26 school year, driven by declining enrollment and the expiration of federal COVID-19 relief funds, and is considering program cuts and staffing reductions. A recent voter-approved referendum will fund school building accessibility projects under the district's Long Range Facilities Plan, which also addresses aging buildings and excess capacity, with potential school closures or consolidations in coming years.
For a family considering Lincoln Middle, the academic proficiency data is a central consideration. The school's performance on state assessments places it in the bottom quartile among districts in Milwaukee County. The student body is almost entirely economically disadvantaged. The school is located in a large urban district facing budget pressures and potential restructuring. A parent may want to visit the school, speak with staff about academic interventions and supports, and understand how the district's facilities plan and budget situation might affect the school in the coming years.
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