Milwaukee City Wire

The City of Milwaukee Health Department has cleared Brown Street Academy of lead risks following renovation and painting work. With this announcement, all nine schools that were temporarily relocated during the 2024-25 school year have now been declared free of lead dangers.

“This is an important milestone in our work to clear our schools of lead dangers,” said Superintendent Brenda Cassellius. “Our students, families, and staff navigated the disruptions caused by building relocations last year with great patience and resilience. I’m grateful to them for their partnership through this challenge. I’m also pleased that the students and staff of Brown Street Academy, and all of these impacted schools, will be able to start the school year back in their own buildings.”

Brown Street Academy, located at 2029 N. 20th St., will reopen to students and staff on Tuesday, September 2, marking the first day of the 2025-26 school year. The temporary relocation to Andrew S. Douglas Middle School began in May so crews could carry out renovations, stabilize painted surfaces, and thoroughly clean the building.

The move was taken as a precautionary measure; no students from Brown Street Academy were found to have elevated blood lead levels linked to the school.

Milwaukee Public Schools continues its efforts this summer to address lead hazards in district buildings. The district aims to eliminate all lead dangers from schools constructed before 1978 by the end of this calendar year.