Kradwell School Celebrates 60 years of empowering students

Kradwell School Celebrates 60 years of empowering students

Kradwell School, a long-standing partner of Aurora Health Care, recently celebrated its 60th anniversary of empowering students who faced diverse challenges while in traditional educational settings. The Kradwell model allows students to thrive, while being themselves, in a personalized learning environment. 

The private school, located on the campus of Aurora Psychiatric Hospital in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, serves just over 50 students in grades 8-12. The school's unique 6:1 student-to-teacher ratio ensures that every student's voice is heard, and they receive ample attention and personalized instruction in a safe, comfortable setting. 

"Our individualized instruction model educates the whole person. The low student-to-teacher ratio allows us to get to know our students as people, not just students," says Mary Helen Schulte, Director at Kradwell School. "This sets us apart. Building meaningful relationships is a cornerstone of our philosophy and values. Many Kradwell students struggled in traditional schools due to issues like dyslexia, ADHD, autism, anxiety, depression, OCD or bipolar disorder, prior to coming to us. Yet, with the school's dedicated staff, our students often achieve more than they ever thought possible,” says Schulte.

A Kradwell graduate shares, "When I arrived at Kradwell, my anxiety was crippling due to my learning disability. I initially struggled with many tests and assignments, but I received the support I needed to make my dreams come true. After graduating, I followed my passion and attended the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, where I earned a degree in education."

The anniversary event at Story Hill FireHouse in Milwaukee brought together Kradwell's entire community. The attendees included accomplished alumni, devoted parents, bright-eyed current students, generous donors and the devoted staff who nurture the school's legacy day in and day out.

To commemorate the milestone, attendees were immersed themselves in the school's inspiring history and evolving story through striking storyboards – transporting guests through decades of academic excellence, extracurricular achievements and the transformative impact on countless young lives as further depicted by this alumni’s experience.

"Kradwell gave me a lifeline when I was struggling in public school, barely passing with D grades and feeling misunderstood," the graduate said. "My parents and I constantly met with teachers who blamed me for my poor performance. After years of this, I begged for a change and found success at Kradwell. There, I was able to graduate early and pursue my dreams, working as a lifeguard instructor, firefighter and paramedic. I don't know where I'd be without them."

Kradwell's recent celebration went far beyond a mere retrospective. The festivities showcased the vibrant creativity thriving within the school's walls, featuring an art gallery that included a 4-foot paper mâché shark and an array of other imaginative works by students and faculty. 

The celebration reveled in Kradwell's rich heritage, with Schulte emphasizing its impressive legacy. "21,900 days. 525,600 hours. 972 graduates and counting. Kradwell is just one step in a long journey. We equip students to succeed beyond Kradwell, to start a career, enter the trades or go on to college. The future of Kradwell is bright, and so are the lives of our students – past, present and future."

While some students are placed by a school district to Kradwell have their tuition paid by that district, families who enroll their children independently are responsible for an annual tuition that currently exceeds $18,000 per year.  

“To help make Kradwell accessible to families for whom the cost may be prohibitive, the Aurora Kradwell School Classroom Fund was created to provide scholarship assistance,” says Judi Strout, Director of Development with the Aurora Health Care Foundation. “Without scholarship aid, many families cannot afford an education that provides their teen’s best chance at a brighter future.” 

Get inspired by photos from the event and support Kradwell students.