The Milwaukee Academy of Science (MAS), an independent charter school founded in 2000, is expanding to a second campus that will enroll four-year-old kindergarteners through fifth-graders beginning in August 2024, Chief Executive Officer Anthony McHenry announced Thursday.
Responding to demand from parents and the community for additional capacity, McHenry said the second MAS campus will serve up to 600 additional scholars and be located in a recently vacated school building at 1441 N. 24th St.
MAS recently added 250 middle and high school students on its main campus due to increased enrollment and retention in the elementary grades.
Despite that expansion, applications to the school continued to skyrocket, leaving approximately 1,600 students on the waiting list as recently as last year.
“Families deserve a high-quality education for their children, and today represents a significant opportunity for us to answer that call,” McHenry said.
“In addition, these students will eventually transition to our high school, which we believe will enhance Milwaukee’s workforce.
“Our students will graduate to pursue postsecondary education and then select careers in high-demand STEM fields.”
Said MAS Board Chairman Bill Reitman: “I am more energized than ever for what is on the horizon as we advance MAS’ strategic goals of making a positive impact on the lives of our scholars and their families and in the community.”
The 24th Street campus will be renovated before opening, and it will replicate the original campus’ STEM focus, approach to learning, parent engagement strategy, curriculum, culture and overall design. In its first year, it will serve K4 to fifth grade. It will eventually grow to serve K4-8th grade. At that time, the MAS school district will serve a total of 2,000 students.
MAS has had waitlists for every grade level for the past four years and currently enrolls 1,400 kindergarten through 12th-graders from 31 Milwaukee ZIP codes. During this time, MAS has met or exceeded expectations on state report cards, and for the past nine years MAS has had 100 percent senior graduation and college acceptance rates for its students. It graduated its largest class of students – 72 – in 2023.
“As a parent of a current seventh-grader, I am proud to see the growth of our school,” said Sharonda Williams, who serves as a parent representative on MAS’ board of directors. “I feel connected to this campus expansion space because my siblings and daughter attended school there, and I believe it’s a needed investment in our city’s children.”
“What we know for certain is that far too many of Milwaukee’s Black young people do not have access to opportunities to learn in safe, loving environments. The Milwaukee Academy of Science offers a rigorous curriculum, a strong community and a fun learning environment where our scholars not only persevere, but thrive,” McHenry said.
Applications for fall 2024 student enrollment on MAS’ second campus will open Feb. 1, 2024. Employment opportunities for teachers and staff are available now. To learn more about both, as well as funding opportunities for the Milwaukee Academy of Science, visit MAS’ website.
About the Milwaukee Academy of Science
The mission of the Milwaukee Academy of Science, an exemplary leader in STEM education, is to graduate urban students prepared to compete successfully at the post-secondary level.
Established in 2000, MAS is a public charter school serving over 1,400 K4-12th grade students from across the city, located in the Avenues West neighborhood.
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