An Update on Our Next Steps Together: Moving Forward at Pulaski (Added 07/10/2026)

Dear Lincoln Avenue School Staff and Families,

Thank you for your incredible support, strength, and unity during this challenging time. I’m grateful that so many of you were able to attend our meetings this week.

After the devastating fire last week, our top priority has been finding a single location where the entire Lincoln Avenue School community can remain together to continue learning as we heal from this loss.

After reviewing multiple options with the Lincoln School Engagement Council, and discussing those with staff and families in our meetings, Milwaukee Public Schools is moving forward with relocating Lincoln Avenue School within Pulaski High School (2500 W. Oklahoma Ave.) for the upcoming school year. We looked at several options, and Pulaski was ultimately chosen because it allows us to keep our school family intact.

In addition, the Pulaski site:

• Is only 1.5 miles from Lincoln Avenue School
• Is currently set up for two schools with separate offices, stairwells, and classroom spaces (it recently housed a separate charter school in addition to Pulaski)
• Will allow us to (likely) keep our same bell schedule
• Provides an opportunity for outdoor play spaces specifically for Lincoln Avenue

The other options reviewed either did not offer one place for us all to be together — or they were a considerable distance from the school. (There are no currently vacant MPS school buildings on the south side.)

We wanted to give you this information as soon as it was set, and we know this change will still be hard. More than 100 years of history was impacted by the fire, and our school has been a part of many families' lives for generations. However, as we said from the beginning, a school’s heart does not live within a building, and ours remains fully intact through our dedicated students, families, and staff. We are committed to recreating the Lincoln community within the Pulaski building next year, so that it is as strong and caring as it has always been.

As we move forward, we will continue to engage the school and broader community as we plan for next year and the long-term future. Please watch for emails and texts for updates and future meeting times.

Thank you again for your continued partnership and dedication to the Lincoln Avenue School community.

Sincerely,

Damaris Ayala 
Principal 

In-person Community Meetings (added 07/07/2025)

Join us for our upcoming in-person community meetings at Rogers Street Academy Boys and Girls Club (2404 W. Rogers St.) on Monday, July 13 at 9:00 a.m. or Tuesday, July 14 at 5:30 p.m.

Livestream Links

Monday, July 13

Tuesday, July 14

The district is meeting with the school’s families and staff in separate meetings to ensure their voices are heard and questions are answered first. Lincoln Avenue School families will receive more information in their parent email.

How You Can Help

We are so grateful to everyone asking how to support the Lincoln Avenue School community. If you would like to help our students and staff, here are the official ways to give:

• Tax deductible donations at mpsfdn.org/donate - please select “Lincoln Avenue Elementary School Fund”
• School Supplies: Drop off school/teacher supplies at MPS Central Services (5225 W. Vliet St., Room 142), M-F, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

FAQs Added to Lincoln Ave. School Website (07/02/2026)

Go to Frequently Asked Questions at the Lincoln Avenue School website.

Letter from Principal Ayala (Added 07/01/2026)

Dear Lincoln Avenue Families and Staff,

As we all continue to process the shock of yesterday’s devastating fire at Lincoln Avenue School, we remain profoundly grateful that the building was empty at the time and that no one was hurt. We continue to be so thankful for the Milwaukee Fire Department and suburban fire departments that responded to the fire on an incredibly hot day. We also appreciate the work of the Milwaukee Police Department for their tireless efforts to secure the site and keep the neighborhood safe. Investigators are still working to find out what started the fire. 

While this fire has been deeply painful, it is important to remember that Lincoln Avenue School has always been defined by its people—not its walls. The true heart of Lincoln Avenue is our community of dedicated educators, staff, and families who come together every day to support our students. That community remains entirely intact. The spirit, dedication, and bonds we share are not lost to this fire, and Lincoln Avenue will continue to live on through all of us as we move forward together.

We know you have many questions about what comes next, particularly regarding the upcoming school year. Please rest assured that MPS leadership and school administration are already actively working on plans for our students and staff. Our goal and plan is to keep the school community together at one location for next school year.  

We will hold community meetings on July 13 and 14 with both in person and virtual options, and will share more details soon. Student Services and other MPS departments will be available at these meetings to answer questions and assist with your needs.

We are committed to keeping you updated as frequently as possible throughout the summer as these plans are finalized.

As a reminder for the immediate weeks ahead:

• Summer Community Learning Center (CLC): Temporarily relocated to Hayes Bilingual School (971 W. Windlake Ave.) through July 31. The program remains the same. For questions, please call 414-475-8180.
• Summer Meals Program: Students are being redirected to the two closest alternate sites: Rogers Street Academy (2404 W. Rogers St.) and Modrzejewski Playfield (1020 W. Cleveland Ave.).

We will be adding an FAQ page to the Lincoln Ave. School website very soon so that we can provide additional information. Thank you for your strength and continued partnership during this challenging time.

Sincerely,

Damaris Ayala
Principal

Original Notice about Lincoln Ave. School Fire (Added 07/01/2026)

In the early morning of June 30, 2026, a fire of unknown cause broke out at Lincoln Avenue School. No one was in the building at the time, and no one was hurt. MPS is tremendously grateful for the quick response and hard work of the Milwaukee Fire Department, as well as the many expressions of support from our community partners.   

Principal Damaris Ayala says, “We will work diligently throughout the summer on our plans for school in September. We will keep families and staff updated as often as possible.” 

Due to the fire, Lincoln Avenue’s summer community learning center (CLC) will be relocated to Hayes Bilingual School at 971 W. Windlake Avenue. As Lincoln Avenue is not a Summer Academy site, there is no other impact to summer programming. For questions about the CLC, please call (414) 475-8180.