Thoreau Elementary

Summary:

Thoreau Elementary is a public elementary school in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, serving grades PK-8 with a total enrollment of 352 students. The school is part of the Milwaukee School District, which is ranked 417 out of 428 districts in the state and has a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Thoreau Elementary consistently ranks in the bottom 10% of Wisconsin elementary schools, with significantly below-average performance on the Forward Exam across all grade levels and subject areas. For example, in 2023-2024, the percentage of students proficient or better in English Language Arts ranged from 7.14% to 29.41%, compared to the state average of 50.36% to 54.10%. The school's performance in Mathematics is even more concerning, with proficiency rates ranging from 0% to 16.13%, compared to the state average of 53.29% to 56.58%. Thoreau Elementary also has a very high percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 93.51% to 99.43% over the past three years, and serves a predominantly African American student population.

The challenges faced by Thoreau Elementary are reflective of the broader issues in the Milwaukee School District, as nearby schools such as Bruce Elementary, Kluge Elementary, and Barton Elementary also struggle with low academic performance, high rates of poverty, and high chronic absenteeism. However, some schools in the area, such as Darrell Lynn Hines Academy and Stuart Elementary, have shown slightly better academic performance, particularly in English Language Arts and Mathematics, compared to Thoreau Elementary.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-8

 7878 N 60th St
       Milwaukee, WI  53223-4109


(262) 236-1800

District: Milwaukee School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
1032nd of 1,061 Wisconsin Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $15,499 Help


Student/teacher ratio:  15.7 Help
Number of students:  352

Racial breakdown:

African American:
83.8%
Hispanic:
7.7%
Asian:
4.0%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  99.4% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Thoreau Elementary ranks worse than 97.3% of elementary schools in Wisconsin. It also ranks 80th among 106 ranked elementary schools in the Milwaukee School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 2.34. (See more...)
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Compare Details Thoreau Elementary ranks worse than 91.9% of middle schools in Wisconsin. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 6.74. (See more...)
Help
The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.
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Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: African American (83.8%), Hispanic (7.7%), Asian (4%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 99.4% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Thoreau Elementary is 15.7, which is the 52nd best among 106 elementary schools in the Milwaukee School District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Thoreau Elementary employs 22.3 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Thoreau Elementary is $15,499. 53 elementary schools in the Milwaukee School District spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Thoreau Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Thoreau Elementary 1032nd of 1061 Wisconsin public elementary schools. (See Thoreau Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Special Education students:
Female students:
Male students:
African American students:

SchoolDigger ranks Thoreau Elementary 589th of 641 Wisconsin public middle schools. (See Thoreau Elementary in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Special Education students:
Female students:
Male students:


Milwaukee School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Milwaukee School District 417th of 428 Wisconsin school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Thoreau Elementary

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Rank History for all elementary school students at Thoreau Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 23.01 527th 633 16.7%
2005 18.62 538th 632 14.9%
2006 6.74 663rd 712 6.9%
2007 15.51 618th 689 10.3%
2008 9.79 946th 1021 7.3%
2009 23.33 904th 1030 12.2%
2010 17.17 943rd 1045 9.8%
2011 4.34 1009th 1046 3.5%
2012 9.91 972nd 1045 7.0%
2013 12.20 960th 1053 8.8%
2014 8.46 980th 1061 7.6%
2015 5.39 1010th 1076 6.1%
2016 2.18 1063rd 1075 1.1%
2017 1.90 1056th 1071 1.4%
2018 2.55 998th 1025 2.6%
2019 2.82 1005th 1037 3.1%
2021 4.74 1001st 1050 4.7%
2022 3.62 1017th 1067 4.7%
2023 4.34 1020th 1067 4.4%
2024 2.34 1032nd 1061 2.7%
See the entire list of Wisconsin Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for elementary school Special Education students at Thoreau Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 15.65 673rd 721 6.7%
2019 14.50 725th 742 2.3%
2021 19.62 654th 746 12.3%
2022 15.19 707th 748 5.5%
2023 18.03 693rd 770 10.0%
2024 12.76 752nd 790 4.8%
See the entire list of Best Wisconsin Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for elementary school Female students at Thoreau Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 6.00 938th 997 5.9%
2019 4.61 954th 1002 4.8%
2021 10.35 906th 1004 9.8%
2022 4.09 985th 1017 3.1%
2023 5.56 960th 1010 5.0%
2024 3.04 980th 1011 3.1%
See the entire list of Best Wisconsin Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for elementary school Male students at Thoreau Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 2.05 986th 997 1.1%
2019 3.25 978th 1002 2.4%
2021 4.15 976th 1003 2.7%
2022 5.00 963rd 1017 5.3%
2023 4.80 967th 1011 4.4%
2024 3.88 972nd 1012 4.0%
See the entire list of Best Wisconsin Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for elementary school African American students at Thoreau Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 33.18 100th 141 29.1%
2022 24.63 108th 133 18.8%
2023 30.34 98th 138 29.0%
2024 27.65 104th 137 24.1%
See the entire list of Best Wisconsin Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Data source: test scores: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Rank History for Thoreau Elementary

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Rank History for all middle school students at Thoreau Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools WI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 3.59 358th 382 6.3%
2007 3.67 347th 366 5.2%
2008 2.31 502nd 519 3.3%
2009 1.83 509th 521 2.3%
2010 1.44 528th 539 2.0%
2011 2.48 532nd 549 3.1%
2012 5.64 528th 559 5.5%
2013 3.18 540th 569 5.1%
2014 4.02 551st 585 5.8%
2015 2.78 588th 612 3.9%
2016 2.36 599th 609 1.6%
2017 2.20 598th 612 2.3%
2018 2.86 557th 579 3.8%
2019 3.30 570th 594 4.0%
2021 5.56 576th 613 6.0%
2022 5.84 580th 617 6.0%
2023 13.44 572nd 640 10.6%
2024 6.74 589th 641 8.1%
See the entire list of Wisconsin Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for middle school Special Education students at Thoreau Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools WI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 16.97 386th 417 7.4%
2019 17.07 393rd 414 5.1%
2021 20.85 389th 437 11.0%
2022 17.47 413th 421 1.9%
2023 18.54 417th 439 5.0%
2024 24.21 356th 425 16.2%
See the entire list of Best Wisconsin Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for middle school Low Socio Economic Status students at Thoreau Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools WI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 13.44 469th 499 6.0%
See the entire list of Best Wisconsin Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for middle school Female students at Thoreau Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools WI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 3.96 526th 551 4.5%
2019 4.94 523rd 557 6.1%
2021 6.44 545th 574 5.1%
2022 7.70 538th 576 6.6%
2023 20.64 476th 579 17.8%
2024 13.59 516th 580 11.0%
See the entire list of Best Wisconsin Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for middle school Male students at Thoreau Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools WI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 3.99 529th 551 4.0%
2019 3.16 546th 557 2.0%
2021 7.46 534th 572 6.6%
2022 6.62 544th 577 5.7%
2023 10.76 544th 591 8.0%
2024 5.89 546th 585 6.7%
See the entire list of Best Wisconsin Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for middle school African American students at Thoreau Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools WI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 27.49 113th 134 15.7%
2022 20.88 113th 125 9.6%
2023 50.30 43rd 130 66.9%
See the entire list of Best Wisconsin Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Data source: test scores: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Thoreau Elementary Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 








Data source: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction

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Enrollment information for Thoreau Elementary

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 237 371 1 3 4 n/a n/a 0 616
1989 228 358 1 6 6 n/a n/a 0 599
1990 210 450 12 18 7 n/a n/a 0 697
1991 195 447 9 16 7 n/a n/a 0 674
1992 207 461 10 18 10 n/a n/a 0 706
1993 192 480 12 16 6 n/a n/a 0 706
1994 176 494 10 15 6 n/a n/a 0 701
1995 176 522 2 15 10 n/a n/a 0 725
1996 176 522 2 15 10 n/a n/a 0 725
1997 178 591 7 13 8 n/a n/a 0 797
1998 143 617 3 18 5 n/a n/a 0 786
1999 121 584 12 18 6 n/a n/a 0 741
2000 102 562 15 16 3 n/a n/a 0 698
2001 71 560 15 19 6 n/a n/a 0 671
2002 64 550 25 12 6 n/a n/a 0 657
2003 64 550 25 12 6 n/a n/a 0 657
2004 58 542 21 11 5 n/a n/a 0 637
2005 49 486 14 13 7 n/a n/a 0 569
2006 44 511 17 14 5 n/a n/a 0 591
2007 41 568 21 11 4 n/a n/a 0 645
2008 39 562 24 10 4 n/a n/a 0 639
2009 30 566 16 11 9 n/a n/a 0 632
2010 33 515 13 18 5 n/a n/a 0 584
2011 30 563 16 13 7 0 0 0 629
2012 22 510 16 13 6 0 0 0 567
2013 19 526 12 10 5 0 1 0 573
2014 11 500 8 9 3 2 2 0 535
2015 10 453 10 10 4 0 1 0 488
2016 8 460 10 16 3 1 5 0 503
2017 5 413 7 11 1 0 11 0 448
2018 8 401 8 13 2 0 17 0 449
2019 3 422 11 21 0 0 14 0 471
2020 5 376 8 28 2 0 13 0 432
2021 4 353 9 31 2 0 16 0 415
2022 7 289 8 24 1 0 10 0 339
2023 7 295 14 27 0 0 9 0 352

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Thoreau Elementary

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Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 616 31.0 19.8 54.5
1989 599 30.0 19.9 42.2
1990 697 33.0 21.1 50.9
1991 674 33.0 20.4 46.4
1992 706 34.0 20.7 52.8
1993 706 36.9 19.1 67.6
1994 701 37.1 18.9 65.9
1995 725 35.0 20.7 65.9
1996 725 35.0 20.7 65.9
1997 797 35.2 22.6 65.6
1998 786 36.2 21.7 64.4
1999 741 37.0 20.0 73.3
2000 698 40.0 17.5 71.1
2001 671 43.0 15.6 69
2002 657 46.0 14.3 80.2
2003 657 46.0 14.3 80.2
2004 637 43.0 14.8 77.9
2005 569 42.0 13.5 n/a
2006 591 40.0 14.8 n/a
2007 645 36.0 17.9 74.7
2008 639 36.7 17.4 77.6
2009 632 38.5 16.4 79.4
2010 584 35.7 16.3 83.9
2011 629 36.0 17.4 80.3
2012 567 30.1 18.8 86.1
2013 573 30.0 19.0 87.4
2014 535 32.7 16.3 90.7
2015 488 n/a n/a 93
2016 503 28.0 17.9 76.3
2017 448 27.0 16.5 81.9
2018 449 15.6 28.7 93.1
2019 471 26.4 17.8 87.3
2020 432 26.4 16.3 100
2021 415 26.4 15.7 94.9
2022 339 25.1 13.5 93.5
2023 352 22.3 15.7 99.4

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Thoreau Elementary

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Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 616 31.0 19.8 54.5
1989 599 30.0 19.9 42.2
1990 697 33.0 21.1 50.9
1991 674 33.0 20.4 46.4
1992 706 34.0 20.7 52.8
1993 706 36.9 19.1 67.6
1994 701 37.1 18.9 65.9
1995 725 35.0 20.7 65.9
1996 725 35.0 20.7 65.9
1997 797 35.2 22.6 65.6
1998 786 36.2 21.7 64.4
1999 741 37.0 20.0 73.3
2000 698 40.0 17.5 71.1
2001 671 43.0 15.6 69
2002 657 46.0 14.3 80.2
2003 657 46.0 14.3 80.2
2004 637 43.0 14.8 77.9
2005 569 42.0 13.5 n/a
2006 591 40.0 14.8 n/a
2007 645 36.0 17.9 74.7
2008 639 36.7 17.4 77.6
2009 632 38.5 16.4 79.4
2010 584 35.7 16.3 83.9
2011 629 36.0 17.4 80.3
2012 567 30.1 18.8 86.1
2013 573 30.0 19.0 87.4
2014 535 32.7 16.3 90.7
2015 488 n/a n/a 93
2016 503 28.0 17.9 76.3
2017 448 27.0 16.5 81.9
2018 449 15.6 28.7 93.1
2019 471 26.4 17.8 87.3
2020 432 26.4 16.3 100
2021 415 26.4 15.7 94.9
2022 339 25.1 13.5 93.5
2023 352 22.3 15.7 99.4

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Thoreau Elementary

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $1,546 (12.3%) $11,055 (87.7%) $12,601
2020 $1,992 (14.7%) $11,551 (85.3%) $13,543
2021 $2,922 (18.9%) $12,577 (81.1%) $15,499

Data source: Wisconsin Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Thoreau Elementary

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 1005th of 1037 Elementary schoolsRanks 1020th of 1067 Elementary schools
 1.3%
Ranks 570th of 594 Middle schoolsRanks 572nd of 640 Middle schools
 6.6%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Thoreau Elementary)06.7
 6.7%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Milwaukee School District)16.413.2
 3.2%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Wisconsin)39.537.9
 1.6%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Thoreau Elementary)8.16.7
 1.4%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Milwaukee School District)21.216.9
 4.3%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Wisconsin)50.548.8
 1.7%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Thoreau Elementary)6.87.4
 0.6%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Milwaukee School District)18.517.5
 1%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Wisconsin)43.945.8
 1.9%
4th Grade Mathematics (Thoreau Elementary)2.37.4
 5.1%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Milwaukee School District)16.412.7
 3.7%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Wisconsin)46.246.5
 0.2%
4th Grade Social Studies (Thoreau Elementary)2.318.5
 16.3%
   4th Grade Social Studies (Milwaukee School District)24.128.3
 4.2%
   4th Grade Social Studies (Wisconsin)53.459.7
 6.4%
4th Grade Science (Thoreau Elementary)11.47.4
 4%
   4th Grade Science (Milwaukee School District)21.819.3
 2.5%
   4th Grade Science (Wisconsin)53.952.1
 1.8%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Thoreau Elementary)8.97.4
 1.5%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Milwaukee School District)16.514.1
 2.4%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Wisconsin)40.939.2
 1.7%
5th Grade Mathematics (Thoreau Elementary)11.10
 11.1%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Milwaukee School District)18.214.9
 3.3%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Wisconsin)47.848.4
 0.5%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Thoreau Elementary)5.511.4
 6%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Milwaukee School District)19.515.9
 3.6%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Wisconsin)41.740.6
 1.1%
6th Grade Mathematics (Thoreau Elementary)7.30
 7.3%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Milwaukee School District)14.79.9
 4.8%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Wisconsin)43.542.6
 0.9%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Thoreau Elementary)17.416.2
 1.2%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Milwaukee School District)24.220.7
 3.5%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Wisconsin)45.541.1
 4.4%
7th Grade Mathematics (Thoreau Elementary)6.42.9
 3.5%
   7th Grade Mathematics (Milwaukee School District)14.39.4
 4.9%
   7th Grade Mathematics (Wisconsin)39.735.7
 4%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Thoreau Elementary)2.122.6
 20.5%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Milwaukee School District)1916.7
 2.2%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Wisconsin)37.337.8
 0.5%
8th Grade Mathematics (Thoreau Elementary)06.5
 6.5%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Milwaukee School District)13.16.9
 6.2%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Wisconsin)36.531.8
 4.7%
8th Grade Social Studies (Thoreau Elementary)8.350
 41.7%
   8th Grade Social Studies (Milwaukee School District)25.132.1
 7%
   8th Grade Social Studies (Wisconsin)52.159.2
 7.1%
8th Grade Science (Thoreau Elementary)6.326.7
 20.4%
   8th Grade Science (Milwaukee School District)24.822.2
 2.7%
   8th Grade Science (Wisconsin)54.649.4
 5.3%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students471352
 25.3%
African American422295
 30.1%
American Indian00
Asian1114
 27.3%
Hispanic2127
 28.6%
Pacific Islander00
White37
 133.3%
Two or More Races149
 35.7%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients87.3%99.4%
 12.2%


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Frequently Asked Questions about Thoreau Elementary

Thoreau Elementary ranks in the bottom 2.7% of Wisconsin elementary schools.

In the 2022-23 school year, 352 students attended Thoreau Elementary.

Students at Thoreau Elementary are 84% African American, 8% Hispanic, 4% Asian, 3% Two or more races, 2% White.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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