Milwaukee German Immersion School, one of the largest in the U.S., has proudly served the community for over 30 years.
Our origin traces back to a 1976 federal court ruling mandating integration in Milwaukee Public Schools, following a 1965 lawsuit led by Lloyd Barbee and the NAACP. In response, Barbee, MPS Foreign Language Curriculum Specialist Anthony Gradisnik, and others proposed magnet schools.
Inspired by Canada’s immersion model and Milwaukee’s German heritage, Gradisnik envisioned a German Immersion Program. He collaborated with leaders like Judge Fred Kessler, Leon Todd, and UW-Milwaukee German Professor Gerhard Rauscher. Helena Anderson Curtain was hired to lead the German curriculum. A summer workshop united the founding team, who spent six months securing German teaching materials from overseas to bring the vision to life.
1977
First Day of School
- Doors open at 68th Street Second Language Proficiency School. This small building on Milwaukee’s northwest side welcomes 99 students from K4 to third grade and is MGIS’ first home. Federal funds help renovate the school. German décor includes window boxes with geraniums and a sign on the front lawn that reads “Deutsche Volksschule.”
1978
Bonjour
- A French Immersion Program and its kindergarten and first-grade students move into 68th Street Second Language Proficiency School, which is renamed 68th Street Multi-Language School
1980
New Address
- The district’s French and German Immersion Programs outgrow their first home and relocate to the 82nd Street School building, forming 82nd Street Multi-Language School.
1984
Class Expansions
- Each immersion program adds a kindergarten and first-grade class to accommodate immersion programs’ growing popularity with Milwaukee families
1985
Expansion Continues
- The French Immersion Program moves into its own building on 88th Street and the German Immersion Program is renamed 82nd Street German Immersion Program.
1986
K4-5
- 82nd Street German Immersion Program graduates its last sixth-grade class, becoming a K4 to fifth-grade school
1991
Campus Expansion
- A $2 million expansion adds new classrooms and a renovated kitchen and lunchroom, making way for 75 new kindergarten seats, an all-day kindergarten program, and exceptional education program.
1992
It’s Official
- We change our name to Milwaukee German Immersion School and receive the Milwaukee City Council PTA School of the Year Award
1994
Blue Ribbon Honors
- We receive the United States Department of Education’s highest honor: a National Blue Ribbon Schools award.
1996
Influential Meet & Greet
- Two MGIS students introduce President Bill Clinton and German Chancellor Helmut Kohl before an audience of 10,000 during the leaders’ Milwaukee visit
1997
Dual Honors
- We receive a National Magnet School of Merit Award and are designated a model school for exemplary art by the Wisconsin Alliance for Arts Education.
1998
PTA Approval
- We earn an awards trifecta from Milwaukee City Council of PTAs: PTA School of the Year, PTA Teacher of the Year, and PTA Parent Volunteer of the Year
2001
Foundation Established
- Our parents form the German Immersion Foundation, raising funds that support immersion programs, resources, and professional education for students and staff at MGIS and Milwaukee School of Languages.
2005
Interns Arrive
- We launch the Amity Student Intern Program, bringing native German-speaking university students into our classrooms as language models and cultural ambassadors
2009
Ambassador Approval
- Dr. Klaus Scharioth, Ambassador from the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, visits our school and is impressed by MGIS students’ German-language proficiency.
2013
Exemplary Honors
- We receive the ACTFL Melba D. Woodruff Award for Exemplary Elementary World Language Program. Only one school in the nation is honored with this award each year
2014
Title I Recognition
- We receive the 2013-14 Wisconsin Title I School of Recognition Award.
2016
PASCH Initiative
- MGIS joins PASCH (Schools: Partners for the Future), an initiative of the German government that promotes teaching and learning the language in 2,000 schools worldwide
2022-25
Chess Champions
- Schachverein MGIS, our tournament chess team, wins the Wisconsin State Scholastic K-5 Champion title four consecutive years.
2024
Green & Healthy Schoolyard
- Our redeveloped schoolyard opens after three years of designing, fundraising, planning, and construction