Frederick J. Gaenslen School plays a unique role within our Milwaukee Public Schools family.

Located in a quiet Riverwest neighborhood, Gaenslen provides many academic programs, recreational spaces, and expertly trained faculty and staff ready to inspire and support K4 to eighth graders on their academic journeys.

One hundred percent of our students benefit from learning in one of Wisconsin’s most inclusive and supportive public schools. More than 50 percent of our students have special education needs. Every inch of Gaenslen School is built for student success and access, from our media center to our new nature trail, from collaborative classrooms to our adaptive gymnasium.

Mission

Gaenslen School will provide a supportive and caring environment for our enrolled students, parents, staff, and community by offering effective behavioral and academic interventions along with a rigorous, standards-based curriculum to prepare students for college, career, and future readiness.

Vision

The Gaenslen School community reaches the hearts and minds of all of our students, helping every student reach their highest potential. We prepare our students to become career and community ready as we embrace neurodiversity through compassionate connections and equitable instruction.

Specialized Education

Gaenslen School follows Milwaukee Public Schools’ districtwide directive to provide an education that “supports the needs of students with disabilities, including the provision of behavioral and academic intervention services to students in need of support.”

To support Gaenslen students who have special education needs, our faculty and staff includes four full-time nurses, resource teachers, student assistants, and a transition coordinator. Together, faculty, staff, and students embrace a schoolwide focus on the inclusion of students who have:

• Diagnoses that may be described as intellectual or developmental disabilities,
• Multiple medical needs,
• Physical, occupational, speech and/or vision needs.

All our students receive a strong foundation in math, reading/language arts, and other core subjects.

Facilities

Completed in 1988 and renovated in 2023-24, the Gaenslen School campus is designed for accessibility and community. The building’s wheelchair-friendly design includes extra-wide hallways, elevators, spacious bathrooms, and ramps. Every classroom has a flexible divider for collaborative learning opportunities that bring specialized and general-education students together.

Recent Gaenslen School additions and improvements continue our commitment to accessibility and community:

• Library, Media and Technology Center: Relaxation and multisensory stimulation await all children in our Northwoods-inspired Library, Media & Technology Center. Dedicated and accessible spaces for art-making and storytelling, astronomy and technology are favorite library features.
• Pool for All Abilities: The pool structure is being upgraded in 2024, including its wheelchair ramp. Information about swimming programs for infants to adults, and therapeutic recreation’s swim program for children ages 3 and up, is available through Milwaukee Rec.
• Green and Healthy Schools Playground (coming in 2023-24): We are excited to see what Gaenslen students will learn, explore, and create on our new playground. We replaced 19,700 sq. ft. of asphalt with native plantings, an accessible walking trail, play spaces and structures, and more.
• Inclusive School Gardens and Greenhouse: In summer 2023, the Gaenslen gardens received an environmentally friendly makeover. STEM lessons in the gardens will teach students about plant life cycles and ecosystems, and human impact on the environment.
• ABK Weaving Center: A fully equipped weaving center makes its home on Gaenslen’s ground floor. Volunteers and artists from the Wisconsin Handweavers’ organization offer programming citywide but maintain ABK Weaving Center as their creative home base.