Starms Discovery, Milwaukee WI - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on Starms Discovery

Starms Discovery is a regular public school within Milwaukee Public Schools, serving students from first through eighth grade. The school is located on the city’s near north side. Its enrollment is small for a school that spans eight grade levels. The student body is predominantly Black, with a smaller Hispanic population. A very substantial share of students qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, consistent with the economic profile of the surrounding neighborhood.

State testing data for the most recent school year shows proficiency rates in math and English language arts that fall in the bottom quartile relative to other districts in Milwaukee County. Proficiency rates were very low across every tested grade level in both subjects. A small number of students met the state’s proficiency benchmark in a handful of grades, but in several grades no students reached that level. Science and social studies results followed a similar pattern. These are the school’s outcomes as measured by the state’s Forward assessment, and they represent a central fact for any family evaluating the school.

The school does not serve grades where a graduation rate is applicable, so that measure is not available.

Milwaukee is Wisconsin’s largest city, with a diverse economy anchored by several Fortune-level corporate headquarters, major healthcare systems, and a legacy manufacturing base. The city’s population has shown a long-term decline, though its downtown and riverfront areas have seen redevelopment. The school’s neighborhood sits within a city that remains one of the most racially segregated in the U.S., a pattern that shapes housing and attendance patterns. Housing in the school’s ZIP code is priced below the county median, with rents that are relatively modest for the metro area.

Milwaukee Public Schools is in a period of fiscal pressure. The district has projected a significant budget deficit driven by declining enrollment and the expiration of federal pandemic relief funds, and it is considering program and staffing reductions. Voters recently approved a referendum to fund building accessibility projects under a long-range facilities plan that also addresses aging school buildings and excess capacity, which could lead to school closures or consolidations. These district-level changes may affect the day-to-day experience at Starms Discovery, though specific implications for this building were not part of the available information.

A parent considering this school will want to learn more about the academic program and how the school supports students who arrive below grade level, given the proficiency results. The school’s size is modest, and it provides a continuum from first grade through middle school, which could offer stability for families who want their child in one building for many years. The district context is one of financial constraint and potential reorganization, so staying informed about proposed changes that could affect this school is advisable.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 30%

School 0% · District 24% · ▼ 24 pts below district

▼ 56 pts below state median · ▼ 28 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 511%

School 11% · District 18% · ▼ 7 pts below district

▼ 40 pts below state median · ▼ 12 pts below county median

Grade 64%

School 4% · District 18% · ▼ 14 pts below district

▼ 50 pts below state median · ▼ 13 pts below county median

Grade 70%

School 0% · District 22% · ▼ 22 pts below district

▼ 54 pts below state median · ▼ 22 pts below county median

Grade 80%

School 0% · District 19% · ▼ 19 pts below district

▼ 51 pts below state median · ▼ 19 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 30%

School 0% · District 22% · ▼ 22 pts below district

▼ 53 pts below state median · ▼ 27 pts below county median

Grade 45%

School 5% · District 22% · ▼ 17 pts below district

▼ 48 pts below state median · ▼ 20 pts below county median

Grade 57%

School 7% · District 21% · ▼ 14 pts below district

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

Grade 67%

School 7% · District 24% · ▼ 17 pts below district

▼ 46 pts below state median · ▼ 16 pts below county median

Grade 711%

School 11% · District 28% · ▼ 18 pts below district

▼ 42 pts below state median · ▼ 17 pts below county median

Grade 814%

School 14% · District 29% · ▼ 15 pts below district

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

Science

Grade 45%

School 5% · District 20% · ▼ 15 pts below district

▼ 47 pts below state median · ▼ 17 pts below county median

Grade 89%

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

▼ 42 pts below state median · ▼ 12 pts below county median

Social studies

Grade 45%

School 5% · District 32% · ▼ 27 pts below district

▼ 60 pts below state median · ▼ 34 pts below county median

Grade 818%

School 18% · District 36% · ▼ 18 pts below district

▼ 46 pts below state median · ▼ 19 pts below 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.