A win in the upcoming Wisconsin Supreme Court election by candidate Janet Protasiewicz could jeopardize the scholarships of 36,290 Milwaukee County students studying in 115 private schools.
A Milwaukee City Wire analysis of Wisconsin Department of Instruction data found 36,290 students receive scholarships for private schools. These vouchers could be on the chopping block if candidate Janet Protasiewicz wins the April 4 Wisconsin Supreme Court election.
Protasiewicz is supported by the Wisconsin Education Association Council, whose President Peggy Wirtz-Olsen has gone on record saying “private school vouchers…are bleeding our public schools dry” and that removing them would be a priority in a liberal-majority Wisconsin Supreme Court.
Clint Bolick, an Arizona State Supreme Court Justice who has represented Wisconsin school choice advocates, commented to the MacIver Institute that there will be "renewed attacks in court" to declare the school choice program unconstitutional if Protasiewicz is elected.
"If Left-wing extremists succeed in taking over the Wisconsin Supreme Court, hundreds of thousands of vulnerable students will be at risk of losing access to the school of their choice," Brian Burch, CEO of Catholic Vote, told Milwaukee City Wire. "We cannot afford to turn back the clock to the days when only wealthy families had the option of sending their children to schools they choose."
Wisconsin taxpayers fund $269.3 million in vouchers for 36,290 Milwaukee County students attending private schools.
Milwaukee County has the highest number of students receiving vouchers in Wisconsin.
Across the state, private school students received slightly more than $444 million in vouchers in 2022-23, compared to the $17.9 billion spent on the public K-12 school system in 2021-22.
Enrollment and Scholarships in Milwaukee County
| School | Type | City | County | # Students | Funding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academy of Excellence | Non-Religious | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 1,926 | $16.4 million |
| Saint Augustine Preparatory Academy | Catholic | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 1,472 | $13.1 million |
| Saint Anthony School | Catholic | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 1,456 | $12.8 million |
| Messmer Catholic Schools | Catholic | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 1,193 | $10.5 million |
| Saint Marcus Lutheran School | Lutheran | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 1,011 | $8.6 million |
| Salam School | Non-Religious | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 964 | $7.6 million |
| Wisconsin Lutheran High School | Lutheran | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 938 | $5.2 million |
| Marquette University High School | Catholic | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 901 | $958,770 |
| Milwaukee Lutheran High School | Lutheran | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 899 | $8 million |
| Pius XI Catholic High School | Catholic | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 699 | $4.6 million |
| Divine Savior Holy Angels High School | Catholic | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 672 | $1.1 million |
| Martin Luther High School | Lutheran | Greendale | Milwaukee | 649 | $4.8 million |
| Notre Dame School of Milwaukee | Catholic | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 584 | $5 million |
| Hope Christian School Caritas | Christian | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 572 | $4.8 million |
| Hope Christian School Fidelis | Christian | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 571 | $4.8 million |
| Hope Christian School Semper | Christian | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 564 | $4.7 million |
| Hope Christian School Prima | Christian | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 548 | $4.6 million |
| Saint Thomas More High School | Catholic | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 547 | $2.4 million |
| Shining Star Christian Schools, Inc. | Christian | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 526 | $4.4 million |
| Cross Trainers Academy | Non-Religious | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 479 | $4.2 million |
| Cristo Rey Jesuit Milwaukee High School | Catholic | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 452 | $4.1 million |
| Hope Christian School Fortis | Christian | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 449 | $3.8 million |
| Holy Redeemer Christian Academy | Christian | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 434 | $3.7 million |
| Hales Corners Lutheran School | Lutheran | Hales Corners | Milwaukee | 424 | $1.3 million |
| Atonement Lutheran School | Lutheran | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 417 | $3.5 million |
| Saint Joseph Academy | Catholic | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 417 | $3.5 million |
| Atlas Preparatory Academy, Inc. | Non-Religious | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 415 | $3.6 million |
| Greater Holy Temple Christian Academy | Christian | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 399 | $3.3 million |
| Blessed Savior Catholic School | Catholic | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 391 | $3.3 million |
| Eastbrook Academy | Non-Religious | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 391 | $2.8 million |
| Prince of Peace | Catholic | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 373 | $3.1 million |
| Saint Adalbert School | Catholic | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 363 | $3 million |
| Saint Roman Parish School | Catholic | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 332 | $2.7 million |
| Dominican High School | Catholic | Whitefish Bay | Milwaukee | 324 | $868,320 |
| Risen Savior Lutheran School | Lutheran | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 320 | $2.8 million |
| Institute of Technology and Academics | Non-Religious | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 319 | $2.7 million |
| Saint Sebastian School | Catholic | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 317 | $1.8 million |
| Victory Christian Academy | Christian | West Allis | Milwaukee | 304 | $2.6 million |
| Saint John's Lutheran School | Lutheran | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 301 | $2.2 million |
| Saint Rafael the Archangel School | Catholic | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 298 | $2.5 million |
| Saint Robert School | Catholic | Shorewood | Milwaukee | 294 | $419,444 |
| Destiny High School | Christian | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 269 | $2.5 million |
| Saint Paul's Lutheran School | Lutheran | West Allis | Milwaukee | 259 | $646,723 |
| Early View Academy of Excellence | Non-Religious | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 256 | $2.2 million |
| Garden Homes Lutheran School | Lutheran | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 254 | $2.1 million |
| Guidance Academy | Islamic | South Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 254 | $2 million |
| Granville Lutheran School | Lutheran | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 248 | $2.1 million |
| Northwest Lutheran School | Lutheran | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 247 | $2.1 million |
| Nativity Jesuit Academy | Catholic | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 246 | $2.1 million |
| Pilgrim Lutheran School | Lutheran | Wauwatosa | Milwaukee | 242 | $2.1 million |
| Carter's Christian Academy, Inc. | Christian | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 240 | $2.1 million |
| Mount Lebanon Lutheran School | Lutheran | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 233 | $2 million |
| Saint Thomas Aquinas Academy | Catholic | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 227 | $1.3 million |
| Catholic East Elementary | Catholic | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 225 | $1.6 million |
| Tamarack Waldorf School | Non-Religious | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 224 | $1.6 million |
| Saint Matthew School | Catholic | Oak Creek | Milwaukee | 213 | $226,773 |
| King's Academy Christian School, Inc. | Christian | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 206 | $1.6 million |
| Christ St. Peter Lutheran School | Lutheran | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 205 | $1.7 million |
| Milwaukee Seventh Day Adventist School | Adventist | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 205 | $1.7 million |
| Saint Charles Borromeo Catholic School | Catholic | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 204 | $1.2 million |
| Saint Josaphat Parish School | Catholic | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 201 | $1.7 million |
| Saint John Paul II School | Catholic | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 199 | $1.7 million |
| Northwest Catholic School | Catholic | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 195 | $1.6 million |
| Yeshiva Elementary School | Jewish | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 195 | $1.6 million |
| Saint Joseph School | Catholic | Wauwatosa | Milwaukee | 192 | $487,142 |
| Saint Jacobi Lutheran School | Lutheran | Greenfield | Milwaukee | 191 | $566,933 |
| Kingdom Prep Lutheran High School | Lutheran | Wauwatosa | Milwaukee | 190 | $1.9 million |
| Saint Joan Antida High School | Catholic | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 188 | $1.7 million |
| Grace Christian Academy | Christian | West Allis | Milwaukee | 187 | $1.3 million |
| Divine Mercy School | Catholic | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 181 | $625,726 |
| Our Lady Queen of Peace | Catholic | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 179 | $1.4 million |
| Mother of Good Counsel School | Catholic | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 177 | $1.5 million |
| Saint Matthias Parish School | Catholic | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 173 | $1.1 million |
| Blessed Sacrament Catholic School | Catholic | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 172 | $1.4 million |
| Hillel Academy | Jewish | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 169 | $1.2 million |
| Saint Gregory the Great Parish School | Catholic | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 165 | $1.3 million |
| Saint Martini Lutheran School | Lutheran | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 162 | $1.4 million |
| The City School | Non-Religious | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 162 | $1.4 million |
| Saint Vincent Pallotti Catholic School | Catholic | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 162 | $1.3 million |
| Mount Calvary Lutheran School | Lutheran | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 160 | $1.3 million |
| Salem Evangelical Lutheran School | Lutheran | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 160 | $1.3 million |
| Mount Olive Christian Day School | Christian | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 155 | $1.2 million |
| Saint John the Evangelist | Catholic | Greenfield | Milwaukee | 154 | $755,910 |
| Badger State Baptist School | Baptist | Oak Creek | Milwaukee | 151 | $819,224 |
| Believers in Christ Christian Academy | Christian | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 150 | $1.3 million |
| Holy Family School | Catholic | Whitefish Bay | Milwaukee | 148 | $108,811 |
| New Testament Christian Academy | Christian | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 146 | $1.2 million |
| Saint Catherine School | Catholic | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 145 | $1.2 million |
| Saint Peter Immanuel Lutheran School | Lutheran | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 143 | $1.2 million |
| Saint Margaret Mary School | Catholic | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 138 | $1.1 million |
| Saint Lucas Lutheran School | Lutheran | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 134 | $917,879 |
| Mary Queen of Saints Catholic Academy | Catholic | West Allis | Milwaukee | 127 | $627,883 |
| El Puente High School | Marxist | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 124 | $1.2 million |
| Clara Mohammed School | Islamic | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 109 | $938,748 |
| Saint Philip's Lutheran School | Lutheran | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 100 | $835,701 |
| Saint John's Lutheran School | Lutheran | Glendale | Milwaukee | 96 | $529,137 |
| Good Shepherd's Lutheran School | Lutheran | West Allis | Milwaukee | 88 | $235,172 |
| Grace Lutheran School | Lutheran | Oak Creek | Milwaukee | 87 | $356,958 |
| Our Father's Lutheran School | Lutheran | Greenfield | Milwaukee | 85 | $482,943 |
| Journeys Lutheran School | Lutheran | Hales Corners | Milwaukee | 84 | $1 million |
| Siloah Lutheran School | Lutheran | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 82 | $688,718 |
| Divine Destiny School | Christian | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 78 | $655,122 |
| Malaika Early Learning Center | Non-Religious | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 72 | $601,368 |
| Jo's Learning Academy | Non-Religious | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 69 | $600,245 |
| Bader Hillel High, Inc. | Jewish | Glendale | Milwaukee | 68 | $582,991 |
| Saint Paul's Lutheran School | Lutheran | Cudahy | Milwaukee | 64 | $340,160 |
| Word of Life Evangelical Lutheran School | Lutheran | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 62 | $495,541 |
| Lamb of God Ev Lutheran School | Lutheran | West Allis | Milwaukee | 58 | $235,172 |
| Universal Scholars Academy | Non-Religious | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 57 | $478,743 |
| Christian Faith Academy of Higher Learning | Christian | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 45 | $373,756 |
| Torah Academy of Milwaukee | Jewish | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 39 | $311,561 |
| Right Step, Inc. | Non-Religious | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 37 | $325,621 |
| Saint Coletta Day School | Catholic | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 28 | $366,128 |
| CERT School | Non-Religious | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 28 | $257,511 |
| Wells Street Academy | Non-Religious | Milwaukee | Milwaukee | 17 | $183,064 |
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