MPS shows slight improvement on latest state report card

MILWAUKEE – Milwaukee Public Schools continues to make progress as shown on the 2016-17 Wisconsin District Report Card, increasing its overall score slightly as compared to the 2015-16 report card.

The district remains in the Meets Few Expectations category, but made improvement in priority areas measured in the report card. Improvements were realized in both the Student Growth and Closing Gaps areas.

While district progress toward On-Track and Postsecondary Readiness remained the same, the district did see an uptick in the four-year graduation rate and a decrease in the dropout rate. The four-year graduation rate increased to 60.9 percent, up from 59.3 percent. The dropout rate declined to 5.1 percent in the 2016-17 school year compared to 5.7 percent the previous year.

“While we have improvements to celebrate, the areas of attendance, absenteeism, and improving academics continue to be major challenges for the district,” said MPS Superintendent Darienne B. Driver.  “We have been and continue to devote significant time and resources in these key areas. We are focused on moving more students from below basic to basic and from basic to proficient.”

More MPS schools Significantly Exceed or Exceed Expectations than in the 2015-16 school report cards. Four of the schools that failed to meet expectations are now closed: Universal, New School for Community Service, BEAM, and Community High School.

Thirty-four schools moved up one category and 81 remained in the same category as the previous year. Thirty-one schools declined one category as compared to last year’s report cards.

For more information about efforts MPS is engaged in to improve student achievement, visit the Initiatives & Strategic Planning section of the MPS website.

Read more about the MPS district report card here.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.