About
Welcome to Carmen Schools of Science and Technology!
Carmen Schools is a public charter school network in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. We believe that all students deserve access to a free, high-quality education. Dr. Patricia Hoben, Carmen Schools founder, envisioned a public charter high school that offered a college preparatory curriculum. The network’s first campus, Carmen South High School, opened in the Fall of 2007, in the Burnham Park neighborhood on Milwaukee’s southside.
Following the success of Carmen South High School, currently ranked as the 3rd top high school in Milwaukee, Carmen Schools grew to now offer K4-12 education at six schools across five campuses.
The name “Carmen” was inspired by Dr. Hoben’s goal of capturing in the school’s name the vision that all students will graduate fully prepared to pursue any post-secondary career. The name for the school is an acronym for the first letters of the last names of six heroes and heroines representing diverse careers. Dr. Hoben partnered with families and staff who founded each campus to identify their own namesakes utilizing the “Carmen” acronym.
Empowering Critical Thinkers and Lifelong Learners
The Carmen Schools mission is to graduate all students as critical thinkers and self-directed learners who are prepared for success in college, meaningful careers, community involvement, and family life.
We know that students learn best when they understand the real-world applications of their knowledge. Carmen Schools provides innovative educational programming that extends outside of the classroom as research shows that limiting learning to the classroom can hinder the full development of student abilities and knowledge.
Living our values every day!
Carmen Core Values: Empathy, Belief, Growth
Empathy, belief and growth are Carmen’s three core values that serve as a guiding framework that shapes all we do, from decision-making, to how we show up each day for our students and families. We believe in establishing and maintaining consistency in culture and adhering to a high standard of behavior and expectations for students and staff alike. Our core values drive our innovation and growth while keeping us grounded and mission focused.
Empathy: We seek to understand, validate, and support the emotions and experiences of others by embracing our shared humanity.
Belief: We all possess infinite capacity to achieve by leveraging our unique talents.
Growth: We all learn through feedback, reflection, and celebration inside and outside classroom every day.
See Our Values in Action
Carmen Schools is an awesome family-oriented school community. It’s a place where you feel safe dropping your kids off. I love the teachers at Stellar and Carmen Middle South. It just feels like family here.
— Carmen Schools, Parent
My advice for younger Carmen students is, never give up, ask for guidance, and step out of your comfort zone. Remember to ask for help, it really will pay off in the end. The rules and expectations at Carmen will prepare you for the future and adulthood.
— Ashanti, Class of 2020
The College Transition Office at Carmen assisted my family with the application, financial aid, and scholarship process. All of their support has allowed me to get accepted into colleges that I didn't think would be possible.
— Ethan, Class of 2020
Thanks to Carmen and the support from my teachers and staff members, I was able to succeed academically. I had many opportunities, such as joining the All-In Milwaukee scholarship program and going to college debt-free.
— Perla, Class of 2020
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