Notes

In Milwaukee, there is a critical teacher shortage, with over 100 vacancies in elementary schools and nearly 100 in high schools. This shortage may result in larger class sizes, reduced individual attention, and fewer student resources, particularly in math and special education. The average teacher salary in Milwaukee is $57,574, which is lower than the national average of $68,469 for the 2022-2023 school year. This discrepancy is partly due to the cost of living in Wisconsin, which is below the national average.

Wisconsin faces significant achievement gaps, particularly between black and white students. These disparities manifest in standardized test scores, graduation rates, and college enrollment among students from various socioeconomic backgrounds. Funding for education in Milwaukee is a pressing issue, with a history of segregation and discrimination affecting public schools, particularly those serving students of color. The area around Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary school has a high child poverty rate, four times the state average. Despite these challenges, programs like the Wisconsin Educational Opportunity Program offer potential opportunities for improvement.