MPS: Malcolm X site set to become the home of Rufus King International Middle School

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- At its October meeting, the Milwaukee Board of School Directors received an update on the plan to bring a high-performing school to the Malcolm X site, approved the final 2014-15 budget including yearly fall amendments and approved a plan for a new charter school in the city.

As discussed at the meeting, beginning in fall 2016, Malcolm X is set to be the home of MPS' Rufus King International Middle School, which offers the rigorous college preparatory International Baccalaureate programming found in MPS' top-ranked Rufus King and Ronald Reagan high schools.

The Malcolm X facility is undergoing renovation and redesign, creating room to possibly expand the school to serve more families along with a full-size gym, large auditorium, more art and music opportunities, opportunities for more foreign language offerings and modern science labs.

King Middle's existing site is in a former elementary school building. The new site also helps create a true feeder pattern from King Middle and King High, ranked among the three best high schools in Wisconsin by U.S. News and World Report.

MPS intends to work with Department of City Development (DCD) to release a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the housing and retail component of the project, which will be separate from the school.