Very Good
#698 of 2,105 schools in WI
Top 33% in state
Cooper Elementary
Elementary School · Milwaukee School District · Milwaukee, WI
A Milwaukee School District elementary school where students score 22 points above what's typical for similar communities.
5143 S 21st St, Milwaukee, WI 53221
- Math 52% vs WI 53% (2025)
- Reading 56% vs WI 52% (2025)
- 19.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Cooper Elementary score 54% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 32%).
2025 FORWARD proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. WI average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 27 points since 2020, reaching 54% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 46% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 53% (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
68.4%
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 Cooper Elementary 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 56Somewhat Walkable
- Transit 37Some Transit
- Bike 51Bikeable
- 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
$61,640
Median home value
$205,500
Median rent
$1,071/mo
College educated
24.6%
Homeownership
57.4%
Poverty rate
14.1%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 53221; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salam SchoolPrivate · tuition | 7.9private | PK–12 | 0.8 mi | 796 | Compare → |
| IdealCharter · enrollment unverified | 5.1 | PK–8 | 0.9 mi | 216 | Compare → |
| Garland ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 3.6 | PK–8 | 1.0 mi | 536 | Compare → |
| Lowell International ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 6.4 | PK–5 | 1.0 mi | 206 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Milwaukee School District
- Schools in district
- 156
- Rank in district
- #6 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
Cooper Elementary is listed in Milwaukee School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Cooper Elementary
Cooper Elementary is a public elementary school in Milwaukee, WI, part of Milwaukee School District, serving approximately 459 students in grades Pre-K-8th with a 19.1:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.4 out of 10 and ranks #698 of 2,105 schools in WI. State assessment records show 46% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 53% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Cooper Elementary
What grades does Cooper Elementary serve?
Cooper Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 8th.
How many students attend Cooper Elementary?
Cooper Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 459 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cooper Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Cooper Elementary is 19.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Cooper Elementary rank in WI?
Cooper Elementary ranks #698 of 2,105 schools in WI.
What is Cooper Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Cooper Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.4 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 Cooper Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Cooper Elementary has 46% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 53% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Cooper Elementary a charter school?
No, Cooper Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Cooper Elementary a Title I school?
No, Cooper Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Cooper Elementary?
68.4% of students at Cooper Elementary 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
- 459
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 19.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 24
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large City
- County
- Milwaukee County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 20.5%
- Phone
- (414) 304-6300
- Area population (ZIP 53221)
- 38,428
- Area average commute
- 24.6 min
- Area median age
- 39.3
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 53221; 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
Related reading
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