Our Story

THE STORY of Milwaukee Academy of Science (MAS) begins in 2000, at a moment when Milwaukee’s charter school movement was gaining momentum…and when a troubling gap in opportunity became impossible to ignore.

At the time, T. Michael Bolger (1939-2018), then-president of the Medical College of Wisconsin, realized that fewer than 1% of MCW students were minority students from Milwaukee. For Bolger, the statistic reflected not a lack of talent, but a lack of access. He believed that all children deserve a quality education.

Motivated by that belief, Bolger joined forces with local community leaders in civics and education to envision a charter school that would prepare urban students for higher education and the workforce. That vision became a reality when MAS opened its doors in 2000 as a K8 school in the heart of Milwaukee, grounded in academic excellence, high expectations, and a strong STEM-focused curriculum.

As demand grew, so did the school. In 2007, MAS expanded to serve grades K4-12, offering students a continuous pathway from early childhood through high school graduation. Then, by 2026, with the opening of its second campus on 24th Street in 2024, MAS grew to serve nearly 2,000 scholars. With the opening of the second campus, MAS has continued to expand access to local urban families by remaining committed to the idea that, according to MAS’s current CEO, Anthony McHenry, “Families deserve a high-quality education for their children.” 

Even more recently, MAS has enhanced its STEM programming through the creation of workforce development labs at its main campus, supporting student exploration of careers in health sciences, technology, engineering, manufacturing, and the skilled trades. It is yet another example of the community coming together to support the next generation of nurses, engineers, mechanics, and leaders.

Today, MAS continues to advance Bolger’s bold vision established in 2000, proving that any scholar can shine bright when given the opportunity.

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