West Allis-west Milwaukee School District

What West Allis-west Milwaukee School District does

West Allis-West Milwaukee School District is a Wisconsin public K-12 school district headquartered at 9333 W. Lincoln Ave, West Allis, serving approximately 7,400 students (about 6,400 residents plus 700 Open Enrollment students) across Milwaukee and Waukesha Counties. Established in its earliest form in 1921 and now operating with 501-1,000 employees, the district delivers instruction through nine elementary schools (grades 4K-5), two intermediate schools (grades 6-8), two comprehensive high schools (Central and Nathan Hale), one project-based learning high school (James E. Dottke), and a full-time virtual academy (Deeper Learning Virtual Academy). Core offerings include Career and Technical Education pathways, concurrent enrollment college-credit courses with UW-Milwaukee and UW-Green Bay, summer learning, athletics, and a Multi-Level Systems of Support framework for academic, behavioral, and social-emotional intervention.

The district operates a standard third-party educational technology stack rather than proprietary platforms, including Skyward for student information, Schoology and Google Classroom for learning management, Clever as single sign-on, FastBridge mySAEBRS for universal social-emotional screening, and Edlio for district web communications. Revenue is generated through a hybrid funding model anchored by state aid and local property taxes under Wisconsin's revenue-limit formula, augmented by a $5.8M recurring operational referendum (approved November 2024) for staff compensation, a $70M capital referendum funding facility modernization across 12+ schools, open-enrollment per-pupil state aid from non-resident students, and modest ancillary fees ($45 per sport athletic participation, summer aftercare at $12.50/day). The customer base is segmented horizontally into resident students, open-enrollment students, and virtual learners, with services distributed through neighborhood assignment, inter-district open enrollment, and the virtual academy channel.

The district is governed by an elected nine-member Board of Education led by President Brendan Burns and administered by Superintendent Dr. Tarrynce Robinson, Ed.D. It functions as a public government entity under Wisconsin state law with no parent company. Following a failed $149M referendum in April 2022 that triggered school closures and fiscal restructuring, the district stabilized its credit profile (Moody's 'High Grade' rating), then secured historic voter approval in November 2024 for both operational and capital referendums, enabling the 'Destination West' 2025-2030 Strategic Plan and construction that began June 2025. The principal strategic tensions are demographic decline (approximately 2,500-student enrollment loss over six years) against active turnaround execution, and active territory detachment petitions that could marginally reshape the district's geographic footprint by March 2026.

Name

West Allis-west Milwaukee School District

Legal name

West Allis-West Milwaukee School District

Website

https://wawmsd.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1921

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

West Allis-West Milwaukee School District is a Wisconsin public K-12 district serving approximately 7,400 students across 14 schools and a virtual academy, funded by state aid, property taxes, and a $5.8M operational referendum, with a $70M capital modernization underway.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Public Education Services

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (61111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public K–12 Combined Schools (EDAJAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Private/Independent Online K–12 Schools (EDAJADAC), Blended/Hybrid K–12 Schools (Online + In-Person) (EDAJADAD)

Keywords

• K-12 public education
• Virtual learning academy
• Career technical education
• Concurrent enrollment programs
• Social emotional learning

Headquarters

HQ city

West Allis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices17 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. State Aid and Property Tax Revenue: Public school district funded primarily through a combination of state aid and local property taxes, governed by state-imposed revenue limits. Operational referendum approved November 2024 authorizes $5,800,000 annually for teacher and staff compensation beginning 2025-26 school year.
2. Capital Referendum Funding: Capital referendum approved November 2024 authorizes issuance of general obligation bonds up to $70,000,000 for district-wide facility improvements including safety, security, accessibility updates, roofing, HVAC, boiler, technical education, building infrastructure and site repairs.
3. Student and Athletic Fees: Fees charged for specific services including athletic participation ($45 per sport, $20 for 6th grade track), school fees, and other ancillary services.
4. Open Enrollment Revenue: Open enrollment program allowing non-resident students to attend district schools, generating additional per-pupil state aid revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The West Allis-West Milwaukee School District operates a comprehensive K-12 public education system serving approximately 7,400 students through nine elementary schools (4K-5), two intermediate schools (6-8), two comprehensive high schools (9-12), one project-based learning high school (Dottke), and a full-time virtual academy. Core offerings include standard academic instruction, Career and Technical Education pathways, concurrent enrollment courses with UW-Milwaukee and UW-Green Bay for dual high school and college credit, summer learning programs, athletics, and Multi-Level Systems of Support providing academic, behavioral, and social-emotional interventions.

Product overview

The West Allis-West Milwaukee School District operates as a traditional public school district offering a comprehensive K-12 educational program across multiple delivery formats. The district serves approximately 7,100 students through nine elementary schools (4K-5), two intermediate schools (6-8), two comprehensive high schools (9-12), one project-based learning high school (Dottke), and one virtual academy (DLVA). Core academic programs are supplemented by Career and Technical Education pathways, concurrent enrollment college courses, summer learning programs, athletics, and Multi-Level Systems of Support for academic and social-emotional needs. The district utilizes digital learning platforms including Google Classroom, Schoology, and Clever for instruction, with Skyward as the student information system.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Deeper Learning Virtual Academy (DLVA) Full-time virtual school option serving students in grades K-12 through online instruction, providing flexibility for families seeking alternative educational delivery.
• Dottke Project-Based Learning High School Project-based learning high school serving up to 200 students in grades 9-12, emphasizing student-driven, applied learning that impacts self, school, community, and world.
• Elementary Schools (9 schools) Nine elementary schools serving students in grades 4K-5: Franklin, General Mitchell, Hoover, Horace Mann, Irving, Jefferson, Pershing, Walker, and Wilson.
• Intermediate Schools (2 schools) Two intermediate schools serving students in grades 6-8: Frank Lloyd Wright Intermediate and West Milwaukee Intermediate.
• Comprehensive High Schools (2 schools) Two comprehensive high schools serving students in grades 9-12: Central High School (Bulldogs) and Nathan Hale High School (Huskies).
• Career and Technical Education (CTE) Career-focused educational programs aligned with workforce needs, offering pathway expansion, transcripted coursework, industry-recognized credentials, and work-based learning experiences including youth apprenticeships.
• Concurrent Enrollment Courses Dual credit courses (English 101, English 102, Precalculus) offered in partnership with UW-Milwaukee and UW-Green Bay, allowing students to earn high school and college credit simultaneously.
• Summer Learning Program Engaging academic summer program for students in grades 4K-8, offering courses in literacy, math, science, arts, and sports from late June through July, free with optional paid aftercare.
• Multi-Level Systems of Support (MLSS) Comprehensive framework providing academic, behavioral, and social-emotional support through data-driven decision-making, targeted interventions, and collaborative problem-solving.
• Intermediate Athletics Program Athletic programs for intermediate school students including poms/cheer, cross country, basketball, wrestling, volleyball, and track, with registration handled through the WAWM Recreation Department at $45 per sport.

Quantifiable outcome

• Gains in ACT, FORWARD, and FastBridge assessment scores observed
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Wisconsin Automobile & Truck Dealers Association (WATDA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025Annual Transportation Career Showcase event hosted at Nathan Hale High School connecting over 1,000 regional students with career opportunities in automotive and transportation industries, highlighting CTE programs.
• University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2025Concurrent enrollment partnership allowing WAWM high school students to earn college credit through courses taught by district staff using UW-Milwaukee curriculum and standards.
• University of Wisconsin-Green BaycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2025Concurrent enrollment partnership providing WAWM high school students opportunity to earn transferable college credit while completing high school requirements.
• WAWM Recreation & Community ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint programming for youth sports leagues, before/after school care, summer recreation camps, and community fitness programs. Recreation department handles athletic registration and manages intermediate school sports.
• SkywardcoreTechnology or IntegrationStudent information system used for enrollment registration, grade management, attendance tracking, and family access to student records through Skyward Family Access portal.
• EdliocoreTechnology or IntegrationWebsite content management system powering district and school websites, providing parent communications, event calendars, and news distribution platform.
• SchoologycoreTechnology or IntegrationLearning management system for organizing educational materials, engaging students, tracking progress, and enabling parent communication regarding assignments and grades.
• FastBridgecoreTechnology or IntegrationAssessment platform providing universal screening (mySAEBRS) for social-emotional and behavioral wellness across grades 2-11, enabling data-driven intervention decisions.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Kettle Moraine School District: Waukesha County public school district of comparable scale operating K-12 schools with similar academic programs; competes regionally for open enrollment transfers though not directly adjacent.

Direct peers

• Waukesha School District: Adjacent suburban Wisconsin public school district serving comparable grade levels (K-12) with similar academic program offerings and state funding model.
• Milwaukee Public Schools: The neighboring large urban public school district serving Milwaukee. Comparable as a Wisconsin public K-12 district with similar governance structure, state funding constraints, and open enrollment dynamics.
• Elmbrook Schools: Suburban Milwaukee-area public school district of similar scale serving Brookfield and Elm Grove. Comparable in grade span, program offerings, and competition for open enrollment families.
• New Berlin School District: Neighboring Wisconsin public K-12 district that is currently the target of WAWM territory detachment petitions. Highly comparable in size, governance, and program offerings, making it a direct competitor for resident families.
• Greenfield School District: Adjacent inner-suburban Milwaukee County public school district comparable in student demographics, grade span, and reliance on open enrollment for revenue stability.
• Greendale School District: Small Milwaukee County suburban public K-12 district with similar demographic profile and competition dynamics with WAWM for resident and open enrollment students.
• Whitnall School District: Small suburban Milwaukee-area public school district offering K-12 instruction with similar academic and athletic programs; competes with WAWM for open enrollment families.
• Franklin Public Schools: Milwaukee County suburban public school district operating K-12 schools with comparable programming; a direct competitor for open enrollment students in the same geographic region.

Emerging players

• Wisconsin Virtual Academy (WIVA): Statewide online K-12 public school option operated in partnership with K12/Stride. Directly competes with WAWM's Deeper Learning Virtual Academy (DLVA) for full-time online learners.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NathanHaleWAWM
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/WestAllisWestMilwaukeeSchoolDistrict
• Facebookfacebook.com/wawmschooldistrict
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/west-allis-west-milwaukee-school-district
• Instagraminstagram.com/wawmschooldistrict

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about West Allis-west Milwaukee School District