Below Average
#1832 of 2,105 schools in WI
Bethune Academy
Elementary School · Milwaukee School District · Milwaukee, WI
A Milwaukee School District elementary school serving grades Pre-K – 8th.
1535 N 35th St, Milwaukee, WI 53208
- Math 12% vs WI 53% (2025)
- Reading 19% vs WI 52% (2025)
- 15.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Bethune Academy score 15% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 14%).
2025 FORWARD proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. WI average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 10 points since 2020, reaching 15% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 15% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 18% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 40 test records from WI state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
97.9%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Bethune Academy sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 77Very Walkable
- Transit 52Good Transit
- Bike 58Bikeable
- City Safety: High4,164/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Milwaukee), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$50,585
Median home value
$196,300
Median rent
$924/mo
College educated
31.2%
Homeownership
39.7%
Poverty rate
25%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 53208; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westside AcademyEnrollment path unverified | 5.5 | PK–5 | 0.4 mi | 157 | Compare → |
| Woodlands School - State Street CampusCharter · enrollment unverified | 2.1 | PK–8 | 0.6 mi | 198 | Compare → |
| Metcalfe ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 4.7 | PK–8 | 0.7 mi | 342 | Compare → |
| Story ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 5.0 | PK–8 | 0.7 mi | 385 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
Milwaukee School District
- Schools in district
- 156
- Rank in district
- #99 of 154
- District spending per student
- $18,815NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 28.6%Census SAIPE · 2024
Bethune Academy is listed in Milwaukee School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Bethune Academy
Bethune Academy is a public elementary school in Milwaukee, WI, part of Milwaukee School District, serving approximately 525 students in grades Pre-K-8th with a 15.4:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.4 out of 10 and ranks #1,832 of 2,105 schools in WI. State assessment records show 15% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 18% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Bethune Academy
What grades does Bethune Academy serve?
Bethune Academy serves students in grades Pre-K through 8th.
How many students attend Bethune Academy?
Bethune Academy has an enrollment of approximately 525 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Bethune Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Bethune Academy is 15.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Bethune Academy rank in WI?
Bethune Academy ranks #1,832 of 2,105 schools in WI.
What is Bethune Academy's MySchoolScout rating?
Bethune Academy has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.4 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Bethune Academy?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Bethune Academy has 15% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 18% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Bethune Academy a charter school?
No, Bethune Academy is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Bethune Academy a Title I school?
No, Bethune Academy is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Bethune Academy?
97.9% of students at Bethune Academy qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 8th
- Enrollment
- 525
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15.4:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 34
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large City
- County
- Milwaukee County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 41.7%
- Phone
- (414) 934-4600
- Area population (ZIP 53208)
- 27,407
- Area average commute
- 21.1 min
- Area median age
- 33.2
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 FORWARD · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 FORWARD. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 FORWARD · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 FORWARD. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 53208; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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