The future of North Division High School–once a linchpin for excellence, but now the worst performing high school in Wisconsin—will be discussed at a community meeting sponsored by Call to Action on Tuesday, September 26, 6 p.m., at North, located at 10th and Center Street.
The community meeting, open to the public, will be hosted by Alderman Russell Stamper, II.
According to state Department of Public Instruction data, less than 20% of North students can read at grade level, and its graduation rate is the lowest in the state.
The high school, located in the 53206 zip code, has held that abysmal status for the last decade despite outcries from stakeholders and Black leadership.
The Milwaukee School Board’s response to community concerns has been a series of ineffective initiatives that have yet to move the academic achievement needle.
The latest ‘reform’ was to designate North a ‘community’ school, a status that focuses on family wrap-around services and branding, but not academic reforms.
Three years under that designation, North remains the only public school with a zero proficiency ranking in the core subjects of English, math, and science.
Tuesday’s ‘community conversation’ is being sponsored by ‘Call to Action,’ an organization consisting of North Division alumni that has been advocating for instructional changes at the school for the past six years.
A nonprofit 501c3, ‘Call to Action’ is chaired by highly regarded community activists MacArthur Weddle and Saleem El Amin, both North graduates.
The organization has been responsible for creating and funding several initiatives at the school, including scholarships, mentoring programs, and athletic ventures.
Over the last few years, the organization’s focus morphed into creating a new academic paradigm for the school.
That process has included dozens of meetings with education experts, assessing successful models throughout the Midwest, and discussions with local policymakers.
A proposal by ‘Call to Action’ will be presented at the meeting for community input.
In a letter sent to stakeholders this week, Weddle explained, “There must be a sense of urgency, and we are sounding the alarm!
“We cannot afford to lose another generation of Black children due to the lack of quality education.”
For additional information, contact Saleem El-Amin at 414.520.9076, or [email protected].
Leave a Reply