Contact:
Andy Nelson
(414) 475-8675
[email protected]

MILWAUKEE – August 9, 2017: Milwaukee Public Schools will welcome back its’ high school, middle school, and select elementary school students on Monday, August 14 to kick off the new early start calendar. To celebrate the first day of school, Superintendent Darienne Driver and community members will visit James Madison Academic Campus, one of the MPS early start schools.
The early start calendar gives students more opportunities for success: students will have more weeks of instruction prior to national ACT and AP testing dates; the first semester will end in December rather than over after the holiday break; and students will have the opportunity to participate in the June Term (J-term) to catch up or get ahead. The pilot program had encouraging results with 70% of the participating seniors graduating this summer.
WHEN
Monday, August 14, 2017; 8:15 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
WHERE
James Madison Academic Campus
8135 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218
(Dr. Driver and others will greet students as they enter the building at 81st and Bobolink)
The 2017-18 school year promises to be exciting, with many new and expanded initiatives including:
  • Year of the Arts
  • Department of Black and Latino Male Achievement
  • MPS Drive
  • College & Career Centers
  • Youth Apprenticeship Program
  • School Uniforms
  • Twilight Centers
  • Milwaukee Bucks’ Jabari Parker Attendance All-Stars program
The new programs come after MPS marks a year of achievement:
  • Early Childhood literacy is up
  • Graduation rates up for 4, 5, 6-year graduations (2015-16 data)
  • Scholarships increased to $62+ million, up from $12 million for the Class of 2012
  • Increased access to AP classes through Telepresence
  • Turnaround Arts brings art to four high-need schools
  • Seven MPS high schools named among the best in the state and nation
  • MPS C.A.R.E.S. program connects students to positive alternatives through the launch of Twilight Centers and Wellness Wednesdays
  • ProStart provides high school students with real-world culinary arts experience and launched four high school locations with over $500,000 in donations for new kitchens through the MPS Foundation
  • Pilot program of MPS Drive offers free driver’s education for high school students
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