Academic athletes compete in statewide competitions that span knowledge and skill in ten content areas. All GPAs are welcome. Decathletes compete individually and as a team.

Students with intellectual and developmental disabilities can participate in adapted sporting events. Adaptive athletics provides opportunities to exercise, strengthen social skills, and develop independence.

Asian Club welcomes all Rufus King students. Members support our learning community by volunteering during school conferences. The club sponsors Ethnic Fest, scholarships for graduating seniors, and our annual Asian Awareness Program. Asian Club also hosts picnics and holiday outings.

Contacts

• Dianna Herron (herrondp@milwaukee.k12.wi.us)
• Anna Hunter (hunterac@milwaukee.k12.wi.us)
• Asius Vangio (vangioak@milwaukee.k12.wi.us)

Best Buddies operates as a student-run friendship club, which creates buddy pairs between students with and without disabilities.

Contacts

• Deminica Bishop (carsond@milwaukee.k12.wi.us)
• Thomas Haslett (haslettg@milwaukee.k12.wi.us)

Students socialize and strategize as they play favorite games, learn new ones, and meet fellow students interested in strategy, construction, and imagination.

Contact
Keith Zeise (zeisekw@milwaukee.k12.wi.us)

Rufus King Cheer and Stunt athletes are leaders and winners. In 2025, the Generals placed first in coed and cheer dance categories at the Wisconsin Association of Cheer/Pom Coaches state tournament and earned iCheer Grand Champion honors. Get hyped with Rufus King Cheer and Stunt at a Generals game or school assembly.

Learning and playing chess strengthens critical-thinking and problem-solving skills, promotes deep concentration, emphasizes sustained and self-directed learning, and much more.

The Rufus King Chess Team holds tryouts every fall for five varsity positions. Athletes strategize and compete against the best, from the annual Wisconsin Junior Open to city and state meets. Generals chess players have even competed in national tournaments, organized by US Chess Federation.

Contact
Asius Vangio (vangioak@milwaukee.k12.wi.us)

Dance Team is a fun-loving group that choreographs, practices, and performs routines at Rufus King pep rallies, basketball games, and cultural events like our annual Ethnic Fest. Many styles of music and dance are represented.

Contacts

• Elizabeth Dempsey (dempsee@milwaukee.k12.wi.us)
• Maria King (kingm@milwaukee.k12.wi.us)

Students compete in weekly tournaments, September through December, in three formats: Policy Debate, Lincoln-Douglas and Public Forum. Debate offers the opportunity to develop and hone research, analytical and reasoning skills, and teamwork. King debaters are also active in the Milwaukee Debate League, a yearlong educational program affiliated with the National Speech & Debate Association and the Emory National Debate Institute.

Contact
Stephanie King (kingsa@milwaukee.k12.wi.us)

One of King’s most beloved groups; a highlight of school concerts and pep rallies; reigning nine-time MPS Drum Line Champions.

Contact
Antonio Kitchens (kitchea@milwaukee.k12.wi.us)

Design, assemble, and test a 120-pound robot capable of performing a task in competition with other teams. Skill- and robot-building exercises include electronics, programming, animation, CAD, website design, mechanics, and business. Members network with engineers and other professionals.

Students compete in categories such as dramatic performance, interpretation of literature, original speech presentation, and model U.S. Congress events. State-wide competition runs from January through April. King students also compete in the Glenbrooks Speech and Debate Tournament every fall and Harvard National High School Invitational Forensics Tournament every spring.

Contact
Erica Allemang-Reinke (allemaea@milwaukee.k12.wi.us)

Creating a safe school environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer-identified students (LGBTQ); students whose parents are LGBTQ; and their allies is the work of Rufus King’s GSA. The organization seeks to educate our school community about heterosexism, homophobia, gender identity, sexism and fights discrimination, oppression, harassment, and violence.

Contacts

• Angie Caskey (caskeyal@milwaukee.k12.wi.us)
• Anna Fig (figlesaj@milwaukee.k12.wi.us)

From welcome and orientation events to the end-of-year Freshmen Oscars, Link Crew leaders encourage, support, and mentor ninth graders as they make a successful transition to Rufus King International High School.

Contact
Edna Bosseau (bosseaee@milwaukee.k12.wi.us)

Rufus King’s powerhouse math competition club meets weekly from late September through March. Mathletes prepare for 15-20 annual meets and contests at the junior varsity and varsity levels.

Contact
Matthew Harmon (harmonm@milwaukee.k12.wi.us)

Students collaborate to build resiliency and support mental wellness.

Participants represent one or more member countries at a simulated meeting of the United Nations, including meetings of the Security Council, General Assembly, and their subsidiary committees.

Students with a weighted 3.5 cumulative GPA are invited to apply after the first semester of grade ten, eleven, or twelve. No late or incomplete applications will be accepted. The society’s faculty council selects new members who are inducted in the spring.

Peer mediation is available to all students at Rufus King who are hoping to resolve conflicts without aggression or violence.

Students study science and coordinate blood drives.

The society welcomes juniors and seniors who have a 3.25 cumulative GPA, three years of science education including biology, chemistry, and physics, and a 3.5 GPA in science. Member responsibilities include chapter meetings and service hours.

Contact
John Kish (kishjj@milwaukee.k12.wi.us)

Reserved for juniors and seniors who have demonstrated academic excellence, including earning a 3.2 cumulative GPA and 3.5 GPA in Spanish courses.

Contacts

• Pamela Davis (jorgenpx@milwaukee.k12.wi.us)
• Betsy Stranathan (stranaer@milwaukee.k12.wi.us)

Officers and representatives are elected by peers and plan events like homecoming and winter dance.

Contacts

• Carlos Alba (albac@milwaukee.k12.wi.us)
• Megan Wolf (wolfma@milwaukee.k12.wi.us)

Contacts

• For fall information: Erica Allemang-Reinke (allemaea@milwaukee.k12.wi.us)
• For spring information: Anna Fig (figlesaj@milwaukee.k12.wi.us)

Open to second-semester sophomores enrolled in IB Theatre I for fall and juniors and seniors in IB Theatre I/II. Society members need a 3.0 cumulative GPA and 3.2 GPA in theater classes. Five service hours are required per semester.

Members may help select, direct, produce, and perform unusual and challenging dramatic and comedic plays in King’s historic Little Theater. Stage crew responsibilities may include wardrobe, make-up, props, settings, and technical aspects of production (light and sound).

Writer’s Club is a weekly gathering of creative writers from all grades and genres. Opportunities and activities range from open mics and slam poetry competitions to writing workshops.

Contact
Dawn Schlipp (schlipda@milwaukee.k12.wi.us)

Our student yearbook staff documents the people, activities, and special events of a year in the life of Rufus King International High School. Yearbook staff design and help distribute the annual publication, as well.

Contact
Todd Kelley (kellytw@milwaukee.k12.wi.us)