MPS Sees Early Academic Gains in State Test Scores as New Reading Plan Takes Hold

Milwaukee Public Schools photo

MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) Superintendent Brenda Cassellius today announced early academic gains under the district’s new literacy strategy, with average English Language Arts (ELA) proficiency increasing for grades 3-8 in the first year of implementation.

Overall English Language Arts proficiency for students in grades 3 through 8 increased 1.5 percentage points, from 23.6% to 25.1%, on the 2026 Wisconsin Forward exam released today. Growth among Black students — at 2 points — exceeded the overall districtwide and statewide averages.

The results mark the first districtwide academic results following the launch last year of a new approach to literacy instruction grounded in research known as the science of reading. The strategy is supported by new curriculum and professional learning for educators.

“This is the beginning of our work, not the end of it,” Superintendent Cassellius said. “We are changing the way we teach children how to read, investing in our educators, and putting new tools in the hands of teachers and students. These early results indicate we are moving in the right direction, but we recognize how much further we have to go. None of this would be possible without the dedication of our teachers, school leaders and support staff. This work is not easy, but they stuck with it and committed because there is urgency and a moral imperative to deliver for Milwaukee’s kids. We will keep pushing because every student deserves to read well and succeed.”

MPS rolled out new literacy textbooks and learning materials for kindergarten through grade 5 in January as part of the new literacy plan. Specialized training focused on the science of reading began at the start of the last school year and is continuing this school year, including a t Literacy Summit held in August. Rather than see an implementation dip — or a decline in scores — that is common in the first year of a new education initiative, scores increased in MPS, likely a result of the intensive implementation of the initiative across MPS.

A number of specific MPS schools reported notable gains.

• 23 MPS schools saw ELA proficiency growth of 5 percentage points or more:
• Academia Lenguaje y Bellas Artes
• Lloyd Barbee Montessori School
• Bruce School (up more than 10 points)
• Cass Street School (up more than 10 points)
• Clement Avenue School
• Craig Montessori School (up more than 10 points)
• Eighty-First Street School
• Elm Creative Arts School
• Lowell P. Goodrich School
• Hi-Mount Community School
• Keefe Avenue School
• Rufus King International Middle School
• MacDowell Montessori School
• Manitoba School
• Ralph H. Metcalfe School
• Milwaukee French Immersion School
• Milwaukee Spanish Immersion School
• Ninety-Fifth Street School
• Parkview School
• Riley Dual Language Montessori School
• River Trail School of Agricultural Science
• Trowbridge School of Great Lakes Studies (up more than 10 points)
• Whittier School
• And based on their test results, six MPS schools are no longer on a state list of schools in need of improvement: Lloyd Barbee Montessori School, Bryant School, Forest Home Avenue School, Goodrich School, U.S. Grant School and Milwaukee Spanish Immersion School.

Schools across MPS also saw improvement in mathematics, science and social studies in grades 3-8:

• Math proficiency for grades 3-8 also grew slightly, up 0.8 point, from 19.3% to 20.1%.
• Science proficiency grew 3 points, from 20.3% to 23.3%.
• Social studies proficiency rose 1.9 points, from 27.4% to 29.3%.

High school results were more mixed, underscoring the work that remains.

• Math proficiency increased 1 point, from 12% to 13% — with Black students exceeding average growth at 1.8 points.
• Science proficiency rose 0.4 point, from 14.8% to 15.2%.
• High school ELA proficiency declined 1.2 percentage points, from 21.4% to 20.2%.

MPS launched a new ELA curriculum for high school students this fall, replacing curriculum that dates to 2006 and 2012.

“The high school ELA results tell us exactly where we need to focus to accelerate academic progress,” Dr. Cassellius said. “We also know we have not yet rebounded from pandemic learning loss and chronic absenteeism, especially with our older students. The time is now to double down, get students to school and supplement our in-class efforts with recovery opportunities for students who are behind.”

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.

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