Summer Academy

Summer Academy offers specialty classes in many areas of interest that include hands-on activities, field trips, and special programs with community partners. Students can take part in options such as Science of Design, Extended Learning Adventures, childcare camps, community learning centers, and Safe Places, as well as specific courses like College 101, Credit Recovery, the Virtual Summer Night School Program, and Summer Musical Theater at Elm Creative Arts School. Additional offerings include Mastery Not Memorization and World of Insects at Elm Creative Arts School, PE In the Community at South Division High School, STEM Engineering PLTW at Rogers Street Academy, and Summer Band at North Division High School.

• Ages: 5–18 years old
• Schedule: Course dates July 6–30, 2026, in a four-week experience
• Price: There is no cost for any Summer Academy program for students living in the city of Milwaukee; non-Milwaukee residents must pay tuition costs of $500.00 at the time of registration.

Summer Academy combines academics in an acceleration model and uses a curriculum that integrates all subject areas with hands-on activities, field trips, and special programs with community partners. Breakfast and lunch are provided for all Summer Academy participants. Bilingual, English as a second language (ESL), Montessori, and arts programming is provided. Childcare camps, community learning centers, and Safe Places are available for before- and after-program care, and fees may apply for these options.

The Grade 8 Promotional Program offers MPS students skill-building courses for the transition to high school. Summer Academy includes options for high school students to take specialty credit-acceleration courses and to participate in internships. College 101 offers dual enrollment courses at Marquette University, Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC), and the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee (UWM) where students earn both high school and college credits. The Virtual Summer Night School Program allows qualifying students in grades 11 and 12 who are working or attending pre-college programs during the day to access virtual evening programming.

The Community Assessment Training Program (CATP) and On-the-Job Training (OJT) are school-to-work transition programs for students with special education needs. Extended School Year (ESY) is part of Summer Academy offerings for children with special education needs and is mandated in individualized education programs (IEPs) for qualifying students, and most students enrolled in the ESY program will be provided with door-to-door transportation. The Summer Academy curriculum includes special programs with community partners, and Extended Learning Adventures are offered with the support of community partners. College 101 exposes students to dual enrollment courses at Marquette University, Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC), and the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee (UWM).

Last updated February 28, 2026.