About

A.E. Burdick School has been dedicated to academic excellence, community partnership, and student well-being for more than 100 years.



Grades

K4–8th Grade



School Hours

7:15 a.m. – 2:15 p.m.

Mission

Burdick School educates all students in grades K4–8 in a positive, safe, and nurturing environment. Upon completing their education at Burdick, students are on the path to future success in higher education, careers, and responsible citizenship.

Vision

Our vision is for Burdick to be a high-performing public school. We will prepare students to participate in a democratic society, engage successfully in the global economy, and advocate for environmental sustainability. Teaching and learning will foster inquiry, be child-centered and research-based, and integrate positive social-emotional practices.

Burdick will be a safe and enriching center of community activity that is always welcoming, well-maintained, and accessible. Burdick will strengthen partnerships with families and those in the community who influence and affect students and families.

Core Values

Students come first.
The classroom is the most important place in the school.
The Burdick community includes students, parents, employees, and other stakeholders.
Our school is an integral part of the neighborhood.

History

From Milwaukee’s Town of Lake by Ron Winkler.

In 1856, Morgan Burdick sold land to the Town of Lake to build a school named for his son Alfred Burdick. (Click here to keep reading!)

It was built in 1925 at 4348 South Griffin Avenue. Alfred was on Lake’s board of education and was known as “Doc” for his knowledge of treating animals.

Burdick School was designed by H.C. Hauser, who also designed Burdick’s two subsequent additions in 1930 and 1954. In 1954, when Lake consolidated with the City of Milwaukee, Burdick became part of Milwaukee Public Schools. It is the only school built by Lake that is still in use as a school.

In 1944, Burdick School started a newsletter, the Burdick Star, which was written by eighth-graders under faculty advisors. It featured news submitted by each classroom as well as poetry, jokes, stories, and editorials. It was renamed the Burdick Buzz in 1946. In 1974, it was replaced by a class book with glossy photographs.

When Burdick School became part of MPS, it was successful and was allowed to continue with little intervention. In the 1990s, it was recognized as a pioneer in the digital revolution with strong technology and music programs.

Burdick School’s numerous music awards fill one of its walls. The music department was founded in 1930 by Anthony Erickson, and parents organized the band parents’ club. Erickson left Burdick in 1948 to become Milwaukee County’s first supervisor of Music.

George Cerwin replaced Erickson as Burdick’s music director. In 1952, former students approached Cerwin about forming an alumni band. They then formed the Town of Lake Band, which became the Lake Band in 1954 when the town consolidated with Milwaukee. In the summers, the band practiced on Tuesday evenings at the Lake water tower, where its awards are still housed. The Lake Band disbanded in 2006.