MPS selects 14 schools to be transformed as Commitment Schools

Thursday night, the Milwaukee Board of School Directors selected 14 MPS schools to be transformed through its new Commitment Schools effort. The goal is to revamp these identified underperforming schools into high-performing ones through the implementation of rigorous academic and behavioral interventions with increased resources to achieve greater success in readying students for college and their future careers. 

The 14 selected MPS schools are:

Auer Avenue School
Bradley Technology and Trade High School
Browning School
George Washington Carver Academy of Mathematics and Science
Samuel Clemens School
James Madison Academic Campus
North Division High School
Barack Obama School of Career and Technical Education
Casimir Pulaski High School
South Division/ALAS High School
Albert Story School
Thurston Woods Campus
Harold S. Vincent High School
Washington High School of Information Technology

This first batch of Commitment Schools – which will be led a district administrator and support team – were selected through a process including school quality reviews, as well as a competitive and voluntary grant application process. The grant applications included proposals presenting the school’s plans for improvement. Those proposals will help determine the support each school will receive. 

Beginning now, MPS administration will work with the selected Commitment Schools and their community partners to plan and implement their improvement proposals. The 14 schools will also be rewarded grants in amounts up to $300,000 as the effort goes into effect this fall. 

Commitment Schools will also have the flexibility to use innovative approaches independent of district initiatives, but are still in line with the district’s goals of academic achievement, effective and efficient operations, and community engagement. 

“While an increasing number of our schools are meeting expectations on the state’s report card system and some of our schools are among the best in the state, far too many are not,” MPS superintendent Gregory Thornton said. “Our goal has been to ensure we are targeting the schools with the greatest need and provide them with the interventions and supports that can transform them into high-performing schools.”

In addition to the 14 chosen Commitment Schools, all 48 of the district’s schools with the lowest ratings on the most recent state report card will also receive additional professional development, instructional support and operational assistance in the upcoming school year.

Additional schools will be selected to receive support in the upcoming 2015-16 school year. 