Educating Milwaukee

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How One City’s History of Segregation and Struggle Shaped Its Schools

James K. Nelsen

A historian and educator explores Milwaukee’s innovative school-choice program while examining the inequality and segregation that leaves many of its inner-city schools and students struggling.

296 pages, 6 x 9, 12 b&w photos
Paperback: $24.95 | ISBN: 978-0-87020-720-4
Ebook: $12.99 | ISBN: 978-0-87020-721-1
Publication Date: 11/17/2015

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Description

Educating Milwaukee: How One City’s History of Segregation and Struggle Shaped Its Schools traces the origins of the modern school choice movement, which is growing in strength throughout the United States. Author James K. Nelsen follows Milwaukee’s tumultuous education history through three eras: no choice, forced choice, and school choice. He details the full story of Milwaukee’s choice movement through to modern times, when Milwaukee families have more schooling options than ever—charter schools, open enrollment, state-funded vouchers, neighborhood schools—and yet Milwaukee’s underserved Black students still struggle to succeed and stay in school.

Educating Milwaukee chronicles how competing visions of equity and excellence have played out in one city’s schools in the modern era, offering both a cautionary tale and a “choice” example.

Author Bios

James K. Nelsen

James K. Nelsen is a lifelong resident of Milwaukee, where he teaches social studies and history courses at Golda Meir High School. He is the author of A History Lover’s Guide to Milwaukee and Milwaukee Through History. He has a PhD in urban history from UW–Milwaukee.