Starbuck - an Ib World School, Racine WI

Original Research by School Decision on Starbuck - an Ib World School

Starbuck Middle School is a public IB World School in Racine, serving grades six through eight. The International Baccalaureate framework is its defining feature, a structured program that emphasizes inquiry-based learning, critical thinking, and a global perspective. For families who want a middle school with a coherent international curriculum rather than a conventional set of courses, that framework is a meaningful offer. The school is part of the Racine Unified School District, a system that has been navigating a long-running secession effort by the communities of Caledonia and Sturtevant, an issue that could reshape attendance boundaries in the future.

On state assessments, Starbuck’s proficiency rates cluster well below the midpoint among districts in Racine County. In English language arts, the share of students meeting the state benchmark rises across grades, from roughly one in five in sixth grade to just over a third in eighth grade. In mathematics, proficiency remains lower and more level across the grade span. Science and social studies results for eighth graders are somewhat higher than math but still moderate. The overall pattern is one of a school where most students are not yet reaching the state’s proficiency bar in core subjects, a fact a parent will want to investigate further with the school’s staff and observe in the classroom.

The school enrolls a sizable student body for a middle school, with a student population that is diverse in background. About a third of students are Hispanic, a quarter are Black, a quarter are White, and the remainder identify with two or more races or other groups. A substantial majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, which places the school in a context of higher economic need. Data on special education and English learner enrollment was not available, so a family with specific support needs should ask the school directly about those services.

Racine itself is a mid-sized city set on Lake Michigan, with a mix of older residential neighborhoods, a downtown core, and a heavy industrial base that includes several corporate headquarters. Housing values are moderate relative to the broader region, and the city has seen modest population shifts over recent decades. The lakefront offers recreational amenities, and the downtown has a farmers market and cultural venues. The school sits on Ohio Street, a short distance from Lake Michigan, in a residential part of the city.

Because Starbuck does not serve high school grades, there is no graduation rate to report. The school’s peer environment is shaped by its diverse enrollment and the IB program, which can create a sense of shared academic purpose even when test outcomes are not high. Families considering this school should weigh the value of the IB framework against the academic performance data and should look into the level of student support available, particularly in math. The secession discussion within the district adds a layer of uncertainty for families in specific feeder areas, but for most students within Racine Unified, Starbuck is the designated middle school with an international program that sets it apart from other middle schools in the county.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 314%

School 14% · District 26% · ▼ 12 pts below district

▼ 42 pts below state median · ▼ 30 pts below county median

Grade 420%

School 20% · District 24% · ▼ 5 pts below district

▼ 35 pts below state median · ▼ 18 pts below county median

Grade 520%

School 20% · District 21% · ▼ 1 pts below district

▼ 32 pts below state median · ▼ 7 pts below county median

Grade 615%

School 15% · District 18% · ▼ 3 pts below district

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

Grade 724%

School 24% · District 26% · ▼ 2 pts below district

▼ 30 pts below state median · ▼ 32 pts below county median

Grade 819%

School 19% · District 20% · ▼ 1 pts below district

▼ 33 pts below state median · ▼ 26 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 318%

School 18% · District 26% · ▼ 8 pts below district

▼ 35 pts below state median · ▼ 25 pts below county median

Grade 429%

School 29% · District 31% · ▼ 2 pts below district

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

Grade 516%

School 16% · District 29% · ▼ 13 pts below district

▼ 35 pts below state median · ▼ 30 pts below county median

Grade 623%

School 23% · District 26% · ▼ 3 pts below district

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

Grade 733%

School 33% · District 33%

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

Grade 837%

School 37% · District 31% · ▲ 6 pts above district

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

Science

Grade 427%

School 27% · District 27%

▼ 25 pts below state median · ▼ 18 pts below county median

Grade 828%

School 28% · District 28% · ▼ 1 pts below district

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

Social studies

Grade 438%

School 38% · District 43% · ▼ 4 pts below district

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

Grade 844%

School 44% · District 40% · ▲ 4 pts above district

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

This schoolRacine Unified 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.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 3Lower-income8%Higher-income33%25 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income21%Higher-income42%22 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income5%Higher-income32%27 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income11%Higher-income58%46 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income21%Higher-income54%34 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income30%Higher-income51%21 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income8%Higher-income23%15 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income10%Higher-income36%26 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income12%Higher-income32%21 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income9%Higher-income35%26 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income14%Higher-income43%29 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income13%Higher-income29%16 pp gap