Original Research by School Decision on Vel R Phillips School
Vel R Phillips School is an alternative school within the Wauwatosa School District, serving kindergarten through grade 12. The school is small, with a student body that in practice is concentrated in the upper grades—most enrolled students are in middle and high school, with a very small number in the sixth grade and below. The school's designation as an alternative school sets it apart from Wauwatosa's traditional elementary, middle, and high school options, and families considering it are likely looking for a different educational setting than what the district's comprehensive schools provide.
State assessment results for Vel R Phillips School were suppressed for the most recent testing year in both math and English language arts at the grades for which state tests are given, as well as for science and social studies. Suppression of results is common when the number of students tested is very small, which is typical for an alternative school with a small enrollment. Because the data are suppressed, no picture of academic proficiency is available from the state's testing program, and a parent should ask the school directly about how student progress is measured and what outcomes look like for its students. A four-year graduation rate is also not reported; the school serves grades kindergarten through 12, but the absence of a reported rate may reflect the school's alternative nature or small cohort sizes.
The student body is predominantly Black, with a smaller share of Hispanic students and very small numbers of students who are two or more races, White, or American Indian. Information on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals, receive special education services, or are English learners was not available in the data reviewed.
Wauwatosa, where the school is located, is an inner-ring suburb immediately west of Milwaukee. It has a mix of older, walkable residential neighborhoods with a village-scale feel along the Menomonee River and large commercial and retail districts along the highway corridor, anchored by a major mall. The city functions as an edge city, with a daytime population that swells because many people commute in for work, particularly to the regional medical center that includes major hospitals and a medical college. Housing in Wauwatosa leans toward owner-occupancy with very low vacancy. The broader Milwaukee County housing market has been active, with moderate price growth and homes selling relatively quickly.
The Wauwatosa School District has recently made several changes that may affect families considering Vel R Phillips School. In November 2024, voters approved two referendums: one for facility improvements including safety upgrades, HVAC replacement, and accessibility work across the district, and another allowing the district to exceed its state revenue cap to maintain educational programming and staff. The district also adopted a new literacy curriculum aligned with Wisconsin's science-based reading law, beginning implementation in the 2024-25 school year. Separately, the district closed Wilson Elementary School at the end of the 2023-24 school year as part of a facilities consolidation plan, and attendance boundaries for several elementary schools were adjusted.
For a family weighing options in Wauwatosa, Vel R Phillips School presents a deliberately different environment. The school's small size and alternative designation suggest a setting that may offer more individualized attention and flexibility than the district's larger traditional schools. Because no proficiency or graduation data are available in the public record, a family would need to engage directly with the school to understand the academic program and student outcomes. The school serves a population that is almost entirely students of color, and the district itself is investing in facilities and instructional programming, which may be relevant context for families considering any Wauwatosa school.
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