Achievement at Milwaukee High School of the Arts

MHSA students not only meet, but exceed all MPS and state requirements both academically and artistically. They consistently maintain good attendance and commendable grade point averages. MHSA students consistently score among the top three schools in MPS for performance on Advanced Placement (AP) exams and ACT tests. Student performance on the state WKCE exams continues to exceed national and district levels.

Our students have received first place honors in dance, drama, music, writing, and visual arts competitions on city, state, and national levels. Seniors consistently earn over one million dollars in scholarships and aid. The majority of MHSA alumni go on to higher education or training while maintaining a lifelong enjoyment of and participation in the arts. The centerpiece of MHSA's educational program is the strong and cohesive integrated curriculum that challenges students to connect learning across disciplines and art areas. Field trips, concerts, professional and community performances, recitals, and visiting artists' demonstrations enrich the curriculum.

The MHSA performance season showcases student talent and training. The Balanced Literacy initiative and a grant from the Gilder-Lehrman Foundation further strengthen the academic offerings. Homework help, tutoring, and enrichment activities are offered after school. Students may also participate in interscholastic athletics programs.

Compare our ACT scores to other schools in MPS and the State

Gilder Lehrman Essay Contest First Prize: Jean Dahlquist 2006 Kasia Wisniewski 2005 Second Prize: Catherine Clark 2006 Honorable Mention: Drew Williams 2006 Davida Fernandez-Barkan 2005 Crystal Lipek 2005 AFS Intercultural Program Award Roy Czarnecki ('07) was awarded a national AFS Award for Excellence and will spend the his senior year as an exchange student in Iceland. He taught himself Icelandic and was nominated by Mrs. Katter to compete for this highly competitive award; over 1,400 students applied and only 100 scholarships were awarded.

AP US History "4"s: Stacy Balkowski. Ellie Blick, Jean Dahlquist, Gretchen Gurn-Schlicht, Elisabeth Johnson, Laura Katter, Abby Nowakowski, Nora Price, Katlin Schneider, Jason Semenske, Clara Tracey, and Drew Williams "3"s: Natasha Anderson, Ariel Asch, Lauran Bowe-Slagle, Colin Gawronski, Marisa Hernandez, Christina Mims, Aaron Mrotek, Madelyne Riley, Emily Schmeling, Eva Terry, and Mary Urbina-McCarthy. Special note: Davida Fernandez-Barkan scored a "5" on the exam as a sophomore during the 2004-5 school year. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THE STUDENTS WHO TOOK THE A.P. U.S. HISTORY EXAM IN MAY OF 2006! Past AP US History Scores

Dance Alum Working (or worked previously) in the Field Valdemar Sanchez Lombardo – Formerly with the Milwaukee Ballet, Elliot Feld Ballet of New York and Jennifer Mueller and the Works. Robert Ruffin – Formerly with Dallas Black Dance Theater II, Milwaukee Dance Connection, currently a free lance teacher in Milwaukee Sam Pergande – Currently a member of the Joffrey Ballet Company Jackie Mosciecke – Currently in the Milwaukee Ballet Company Tina Wozniak – Currently the Dance department Chair at Pius High School Bobbie Boeing – Former Cast member of RiverDance, Currently performing in the new musical Pirate Queen in Chicago Marlayna Locklear – Currently in the Cleo Robinson Dance Company in Denver Lindsay Hashiguchi – Currently in the Eleone Dance Company in Philadelphia Kourtney Koscielak – Currently performing with SBC’s Blue Beings and freelance teaching inMilwaukee Jennie Seider – Formerly with Et Toi tu Danse? And currently free lance teaching in Milwaukee David Roman – Former dancer in the industrial circuit and on cruise lines, currently freelance teaching in the Milwaukee area. Stephanie Grantham – Trainee at the Milwaukee Ballet Company Hillary Morgan – faculty member of Brigham Young University teaching Irish Dance Mary Moran – Formerly a free lance dancer in New York.

Music Department Kudos Eight DOWNBEAT Magazine awards from 1992 to present. Includes "Outstanding Performance" in Jazz and Orchestra. MHSA is the ONLY high school in Wisconsin to ever win a DOWNBEAT award. MHSA Jazz Lab Combo has performed several times at the JVC Jazz Fesitval in New York and at IAJE International Conventions throughout the world. The piano students of MHSA are amoung the best in the state, winning awards and scholarship thoughout Wisconsin.