Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Eighth graders who are currently enrolled at a school that serves students in grades 9–12 (Golda Meir, MacDowell Montessori, Milwaukee School of Languages, etc.) must complete an application and put their current school as their first choice if they want to continue at that school next year. Applicants already enrolled at these schools have spots secured for high school and do not compete with other applicants. 

Every MPS eighth grader who is not assigned to an MPS school through the fall enrollment process is automatically provided with a default school assignment. This assignment will be at the school nearest to your home that has available seats. 

If MPS is not your first choice, we still encourage you to participate in the high school enrollment process to secure a spot at a school you are interested in possibly attending. If you are accepted at another school instead, MPS will be contacted via a formal request of your records, and your spot with MPS will be given to another student. On the other hand, if you’re not accepted to the private school (or whatever your first-choice school is), you’ll have a backup spot secured with MPS.

Each year in September, every parent/guardian of an eighth-grade MPS student will receive an email detailing their child's preliminary points based on their report card, attendance, and standardized test scores. (Families without email addresses on file will be sent paper copies via mail.)

Knowing these points can help students and families make more informed choices. If you have any questions about scores or criteria, please email highschooladmissions@milwaukeepublicschools.org.

No, you are not allowed to do the essay activity a second time, so make sure you try your best. Your essay is worth two points (17% of your overall score), so it is worth taking your time and making sure to answer the question completely using the reading.

You may choose up to five high schools on your application. Enter your choices in order, with your first-choice school as number 1. If you choose less than five, click on “no school selected” for the other options. You can choose from any of the participating ninth-grade schools on the application.

Some schools have their own application process or requirements. Here is an example:

• Milwaukee School of Languages only accepts students as sixth graders from MPS immersion schools. If you believe your child would be able to participate in a full language program in high school, you can contact the school directly to be tested for bilingual reading and writing skills. 

Please contact any school not listed on the online application for information about applying.

Students who are applying to attend Milwaukee High School of the Arts (MHSA) must select an arts major and complete an audition for their chosen program. Learn more about enrollment at MHSA and their audition process.

No problem! You can submit an online school change request form. You'll need:

• Your seven-digit Student ID number (for current MPS students) 
• Your application/confirmation number
• The parent/guardian email address used on your application

If you are waitlisted at a school that your sibling attends, you will be given preference during random selection. 

You may reapply for schools again in ninth grade (for a tenth-grade seat the following school year). To do so, please contact the school you wish to reapply to in the fall during the enrollment period.

No, you cannot apply early. Only current eighth graders can apply.

If you live more than seven miles from your school of choice and you are within the school's eligibility region, MPS will provide you with an unlimited county bus pass.

Students with disabilities who participate in the general curriculum are evaluated via the same admittance score (out of 12 points). All MPS high schools are required to accept a percentage of students with IEPs. 

Students who are accessing alternate achievement standards are NOT evaluated in the same way. Instead, they are assigned a random number and chosen by lottery for the number of available seats at each school. Because all high schools do not provide the same level of services for students accessing alternative achievement standards, some schools may not be able to accept all students. Please speak with your school's special education supervisor to get a better understanding of the programs that are available at different high schools.

Please email Michael Spidell, enrollment manager, at spidelmg@milwaukeepublicschools.org with any questions or concerns.