The top reported proficiency rate is 25% in Social studies. The lowest is 6% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Siefert Elementary
Siefert Elementary is a regular public school within Milwaukee Public Schools, serving students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. The school is located in the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin's largest city and the county seat of Milwaukee County. Milwaukee is a deeply layered urban environment shaped by a history of manufacturing, immigration, and redlining that produced one of the most racially segregated cities in the United States. The surrounding context includes a legacy brewing industry, several Fortune 500 headquarters, major healthcare and financial sectors, and culturally distinct neighborhoods that grew from waves of German, Polish, African American, and Hispanic settlement.
The student body at Siefert is small for a school serving these grades, and the composition is very concentrated racially. The overwhelming majority of students are Black, with small shares of Hispanic students and students of two or more races, and very small numbers from other racial groups. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a student population that is almost entirely from low-income households.
On state assessments, Siefert's proficiency rates are low across tested grades and subjects. In third-grade math and English language arts, about one in seven students scored proficient or above, while in fourth grade no students reached that benchmark in math, and about one in twenty did so in English language arts. Fifth-grade results showed a small share proficient in math, about one in ten in English language arts. In fourth-grade science, roughly one in ten students were proficient, and in fourth-grade social studies, about one in four were. Overall proficiency across all tested subjects and grades places Siefert in the bottom quartile relative to other elementary schools within Milwaukee County districts. Parents looking at these results should consider them carefully against the school they are evaluating.
The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report. Data on chronic absenteeism and special populations such as students with disabilities and English learners was not available for review.
Milwaukee Public Schools, the parent district, is in a period of fiscal strain and physical restructuring. The district is projecting a budget deficit driven by declining enrollment and the expiration of federal COVID-19 relief funds, which could lead to cuts affecting programs and services across its schools. In a separate development, voters approved a substantial referendum to fund building accessibility projects under the district's Long Range Facilities Plan, signaling a sustained investment in the physical condition of school buildings. The plan also addresses aging buildings and excess capacity, with potential school closures or consolidations on the horizon and a reorganization of regional offices already underway. Families may encounter changes to school assignments as the district works to right-size its footprint.
The typical home value in the broader Milwaukee area is modest, with the market showing active inventory growth and homes spending a relatively short time on the market. Rents are below the national average relative to income, which is a factor families weighing their school options may consider. For Siefert specifically, the academic numbers are a clear starting point for any family evaluating the school. A parent or guardian should feel encouraged to ask what academic supports and interventions are in place, how the school approaches literacy and math instruction, and what extracurricular or enrichment opportunities exist within the school day. The school's setting in Milwaukee means students are part of the city's broader cultural and economic life, with access to lakefront amenities, museums, and a downtown core, but also navigating the realities of an urban district in a period of financial and organizational transition.
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