Kenosha Reporter

In Kenosha, local schools scored 57.1% on recent testing that noted the schools "meet few expectations.”

The Kenosha Unified School District was one of the worst performing in the state. Despite the failing report card, the school district is optimistic about its poorly performing students’ chances in comparison to their more well-educated peers in the state and nation. 

“KUSD is Wisconsin's third-largest school district," Kenosha Unified School District notes on its report card. "We strive to provide high-quality learning opportunities that prepare our diverse student population for success. This is further supported through a variety of extracurricular offerings that supplement their academics as they grow and flourish into independent thinkers who are college and career ready.”  

The school district’s English Language Arts achievement scores at 52.3% were low in comparison to the rest of the state at 59.6%. Similarly, KUSD's mathematics achievement scores trailed the state 47% to 57.7%. The school district also struggled with chronic absenteeism and graduation rates in comparison to statewide peers. Only 78.2% of KUSD’s students were deemed on track to graduate.

The school district also saw a steep drop in achievement scores in 2021. In that instance, KUSD’s scores dropped twice as much as the state average. 

“We want to get back to reality as soon as possible, but as we look at achievement those numbers won’t just pop back in a year to pre-COVID scores. It will take time to come back from these losses and close the gap,” KUSD spokesperson Lorien Thomas told the Kenosha News. 

Wisconsin’s average reading scores post-pandemic are the lowest they have been in 25 years. 

"If you can't read, you're probably going to end up out on the streets,” former GOP gubernatorial candidate Tim Michels said of the state’s low achievement rates, according to FOX6.

Nationwide, students scored the lowest average ACT in 30 years at an average of 19.8 out of of 36. In Wisconsin, that number was even lower with an average of 19.4 which is up from 2021’s 19.1. "We know when students aren't able to demonstrate those skills, they're not able to pass out of those first-year classes," Rose Babington, the ACT’s senior director for state partnerships, said, FOX 11 News reported. "They're more likely to drop out and retain that debt."

After the most recent score was released, Thomas seemed more upbeat despite the school district performing near the bottom statewide. 

Four schools in KUSD earned the lowest mark of “fails to meet expectations”:

• Edward Bain School of Language Arts — Creative Arts: 44.4 for 2021-22, up from 42.1 in 2020-21 

• Lincoln Middle School: 44.8 for 2021-22, improved from 44.3 in 2020-21

• Bradford High School: 37.4 for 2021-22, declined from 43.7 in 2020-21

• Reuther Central High School: 47.2 for 2021-22, improved from 45.8 in 2020-21 

Eight schools earned "meet few expectations" marks:

• Brass Elementary: 49.8 for 2021-22, increased scores from 47.0 in 2020-21

• Jefferson Elementary: 52.2 for 2021-22, down from 59.7 in the 2020-21 academic year

• McKinley Elementary: 56.3 for 2021-22, declined from 56.8 in 2020-21

• Southport Elementary: 56.9 for 2021-22, declined from 57.2 in 2020-21

• Lance Middle School: 53.4 for 2021-22, declined from 60.6 in 2020-21

• Washington Middle School: 54.8 for 2021-22, declined from 59.4 in 2020-21

• Indian Trail High School and Academy: 48.4 for 2021-22, improved from 46.8 in 2020-21

• Tremper High School: 48.4 for 2021-22, improved from 47.9 in 2020-21 

Fifteen schools earned “meets expectations” marks: 

• Bose Elementary: 67.2 for 2021-22, up from 58.3 in 2020-21 

• Edward Bain School of Language Arts — Dual Language: 66.7 for 2021-22, up from 62.4 in 2020-21 

• Forest Park Elementary: 65.3 for 2021-22, up from 55.6 in 2020-21; Grant Elementary: 68.0 for 2021-22, up from 60.3 in 2020-21 

• Grewenow Elementary: 64.7 for 2021-22, down from 68.1 in 2020-21

• Jeffrey Elementary: 64.3 for 2021-22, up from 62.4 in 2020-21

• Stocker Elementary: 62.2 for 2021-22, up from 55.9 in 2020-21

• Curtis A. Strange Elementary: 68.8 for 2021-22, up from 65.0 in 2020-21

• Vernon Elementary: 68.7 for 2021-22, up from 59.2 in 2020-21 

• Whittier Elementary: 64.4 for 2021-22, down from 67.7 in 2020-21 

• Wilson Elementary: 60.1 for 2021-22, down from 65.1 in 2020-21

• Dimensions of Learning Academy: 68.5 for 2021-22, down from 72.6 in 2020-21 

• Bullen: 59.2 for 2021-22, down from 66.4 in 2020-21

• Harborside Academy: 61.9 for 2021-22, up from 58.3 in 2020-21

Eight schools in KUSD received “exceed expectations” marks: 

• Frank Elementary: 75.1 for 2021-22, improved from 72.8 in 2020-21

• Nash Elementary:73.0 for 2021-22, improved from 66.1 in 2020-21

• Prairie Lane: 76.0 for 2021-22, declined from 76.4 in 2020-21

• Somers Elementary: 71.6 for 2021-22, improved from 70.1 in 2020-21

• Brompton: 78.6 for 2021-22, declined from 87.8 in 2020-21

• KTEC: 70.1 for 2021-22, declined from 70.2 in 2020-21

• Mahone: 72.4 for 2021-22, improved from 71.9 in 2020-21

• Lakeview: 74.6 for 2021-22, declined from 81.2 in 2020-21

Only one school received a “significantly exceeded” mark: 

• Harvey Elementary: 83.7 for 2021-22 declined from 88.0 in 2020-21