University School of Milwaukee
The University School of Milwaukee is a private pre-kindergarten through secondary preparatory school located on in River Hills and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. It was founded as the German-English Academy. USM is accredited by the and is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools.
The University School of Milwaukee has a core set of guiding principles: . The Common Trust states that "We, the members of the University School of Milwaukee community, accept the Common Trust. We agree to relate to one another and the School with respect, trust, honesty, fairness, and kindness" Inside and outside of the USM community, students embody these core principles. At USM students in all grade levels participate in community service. Furthermore, Upper School students are required to commit to 30 hours of community service a year.
History
The school was founded in 1851 as the German-English Academy by a group of Milwaukee German Americans that included Peter Engelmann and hardware wholesaler William Frankfurth. The Academy offered classes that taught the German language and literature, as well as English. In 1891, the academy moved to the German-English Academy Building in downtown Milwaukee. The institution changed its name in 1917 to Milwaukee University School because of anti-German prejudice that occurred during World War I.In 1964, the Milwaukee University School, the Milwaukee Country Day School and Milwaukee-Downer Seminary merged to become the University School of Milwaukee. It operated from two campuses, North and South, one in Whitefish Bay and the other in River Hills. In 1985, the two combined into one campus at the River Hills location, serving students in K–12.
Athletics
The school's athletic teams follow a no-cut athletic policy, which allows every student to participate in any sport. The athletic program begins in fifth grade, when students become eligible for a number of teams, including basketball, track and field, football and several intramural sports. The Middle School offers 13 interscholastic sports and intramural options. The Upper School has 24 varsity teams level sports, in addition to a number of junior varsity programs.| Sports | State championships | Conference championships |
| Baseball | 2010 | 5x champions |
| Basketball | Boys' basketball: 6x champions Girls' basketball: 2x champions | |
| Cross country | Boys' cross country: 10x champions Girls' cross country: 2x champions | |
| Field hockey | 2014, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2005, 2003, 2002, 2001, 1991 | 12x champions |
| Football | 10x champions | |
| Golf | 8x champions | |
| Ice hockey | Boys' ice hockey: 2019, 2010, 2006, Girls' ice hockey: 2015 | Boys' ice hockey: 8x champions Girls' ice hockey: 3x champions |
| Lacrosse | Boys' lacrosse: 2x champions Girls' lacrosse 1x champion | |
| Skiing | ||
| Soccer | Boys' soccer: 2018, 2013 Girls' soccer: 2008 | Boys' soccer: 20x champions Girls' soccer: 9x champions |
| Swimming | 1x champions | |
| Tennis | Boys' tennis: 2015, 2014, 2013, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2004 Girls' tennis: 2018, 2017, 2014, 2012, 2011, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004 | Boys' tennis: 46x champions Girls' tennis: 14x champions |
| Track and field | Boys' track: 13x champions Girls' track: 6x champions | |
| Volleyball | 2x champions | |
| Wrestling |
Facilities
Since 1985, the USM campus has undergone multiple renovations and additions. Notable academic and community building facilities include:- Lubar Center for Innovation and Exploration
- Jack Olson '67 Commons
- Palermo Hall
- Bruce '81 and Jennifer Lee Community Room
- Virginia Henes Young Theatre
- Nerdvana
- Sardas-Trevorrow Band Room
- Stratton Family Orchestra Room
- Hamilton Greenhouse
- Kohl Collaboration Center
- Darrow Family Welcome Center
- Upper school gymnasium
- Middle school gymnasium
- Auxiliary gymnasium
- Marion and Verne Read Gymnasium
- Fitness center
- Polly and Henry Uihlein Ice Arena
- Pennington Athletic Complex
- Ken Laird Field
- Liz Krieg Field
- Don Forti Stadium
- Butch Richardson Track
- Charles James Field
- Alfred James Field
- James Laing Tennis Center
- Cross country course
Notable alumni
- Rakesh "Raj" Bhala, international trade law and Islamic law expert and professor at the University of Kansas
- Raj Chetty, professor of economics at Harvard University
- Adam Ciralsky, journalist, television and film producer, and attorney
- R. P. Eddy, director of counterterrorism at the U.S. National Security Council, CEO of Ergo
- Carl Holty, painter
- Bob Jake, basketball player and doctor
- William Kasik, businessman and member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
- Robert Koehler, artist and teacher
- Von Mansfield, football player
- Lane MacDonald, hockey player
- Sue Mingus, record producer and band manager
- George Rathmann, chemist and biotechnology executive,
- Henry Reuss, member of Congress
- Mark Rylance, academy award winner for best actor, director
- Wendy Selig-Prieb, businesswoman, former president of the Milwaukee Brewers
- James Sensenbrenner, member of Congress
- Erich C. Stern, lawyer and Wisconsin State Representative
- August Uihlein, brewer and later owner of the Joseph Schlitz Brewing Company
- Neal Ulevich, photojournalist, Pulitzer Prize winner
- D.A. Wallach, musician and business executive
- Lady Sarah Labudde Wolffe, Outer House Senator of the College of Justice of Scotland
- Lafayette Crump, attorney, social justice advocate and City of Milwaukee official