Types of Schools within MPS —
MPS has different types of schools. When selecting a school, you need
to know how the schools are different. You also have the option of
selecting schools outside of the district. If you have questions about
any school, please contact the Parent and Student Services office at
(414) 475-8448.
Neighborhood Schools:
Accept children from the neighborhood before enrolling children from
other areas but will take students from its region, if seats are
available. Also called Attendance Area schools. We recommend your
neighborhood school as your first choice.
Neighborhood Specialty Schools:
Enroll students first from the neighborhood, then from the entire city,
if seats are available. Offer special programs or areas of study, such
as the arts.
Charter Schools:
Charter
schools do not have to follow many of the regulations set for regular
schools and, therefore, can be more flexible. Some charter schools use
the enrollment procedures explained in this catalog; others set their
own. The school description will let you know when not to use the
district’s enrollment procedures. For charter schools that follow their
own enrollment procedures, you must enroll at the school. Charter
schools set their own transportation limits. Contact the school for
information about transportation, random selection, wait lists, and
enrollment procedures. Charter schools that are not part of MPS are not
listed here.
Citywide Specialty Schools:
Accept children from all over the city and offer special programs or
areas of study, such as the arts. In most Citywide Specialty Schools,
55 percent of the students in entry-level grades come from the school’s
walk zone. A walk zone is a one-mile radius for elementary, and a
two-mile radius for middle and high schools. Exceptions to this appear
in the individual school’s listings.
Contracted Agency Schools:
MPS
has contracts with community agencies to provide Head Start,
kindergarten, and limited elementary education services. Contracted
schools set their own enrollment procedures. Visit the schools for more
information. The schools and contracted sites are listed on page 11.
Partnership Schools:
MPS
offers a wide array of partnership schools for students who are
identified as being at risk of dropping out or who are experiencing
difficulty in the traditional school setting. The schools are included
in the listings and are identified as “partnership” schools. For more
information, contact the MPS Division of Diversified Community Schools,
(414) 475-8140.
Small High Schools:
Small
high schools focus on quality relationships, rigorous academics, and
relevant learning experiences for students. Each small high school has
a unique educational mission and serves up to 400 students. Our small
high schools are part of a communitywide effort to improve graduation
rates and the success our students have after high school. See page 24
for more information.
MPS Head Start Program:
MPS
offers Head Start services in various MPS schools and other sites. The
program provides free, quality preschool experiences for income
eligible three- and four-year-olds. Children must be three or four on
or before September 1. Families must meet income eligible criteria. For
more information contact MPS Head Start at (414) 777-7850.
Nondiscrimination Notice
About
Milwaukee Public Schools is Wisconsin's largest school district, serving more than 78,000 students in more than 160 schools across the city. MPS is home to the Milwaukee region’s two best high schools according to the Washington Post and three of state's 25 best high schools according to U.S. News and World Report. In the past year, Milwaukee Public Schools posted a growing graduation rate 14 points higher than the rate for 2000. Visit mpsmke.com/news to learn more about MPS.
