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About Rufus King International High School

With a strong focus on academics, activities and diversity, Rufus King International High School is consistently a top-rated Wisconsin public high school (U.S. News & World Report and the Washington Post). We offer a rigorous pre-university course of study which meets the needs of highly-motivated secondary students. Grades 9 and 10 emphasize the IB Middle Years preparatory program, with students in grades 11 and 12 eligible to earn the coveted IB diploma or individual subject certificates in addition to the MPS diploma. King offers all athletic opportunities and a large number of academic, special interest and social groups.

IB at Rufus King

Rufus King is authorized in the Middle Years Programme (MYP)  and Diploma Years Programme (DP) of study by the IB Organization.  IB World Schools share a common philosophy-a commitment to high-quality, challenging, international education-that we believe is important for our students.

Incoming Freshmen

Incoming Rufus King International High School (RKIHS) parents and students, come see for yourself why our Generals are the crown jewels of Milwaukee! RKIHS will be offering parents and students two (2) intimate and informative opportunities to engage with RKIHS staff and students.

Freshmen Shadows Program  

RKIHS offers current 8th grade students the opportunity to come and shadow a current RKIHS freshman. It is a great way to see the school, meet students, teachers, and coaches as well as experience what classes will be like.

Freshmen Shadows will return in January 2020 as a “second look” shadowing experience for incoming freshmen who are accepted to RKIHS. Registration opens on Monday, December 9, 2019 at 7:30 a.m., and closes on Friday, December 20, 2019 at 3:30 p.m. Incoming freshmen requesting a shadow appointment in January 2020 must bring their acceptance letter with them at the time of their appointment to participate.

Freshmen Shadows “Second Look” Program Online Registration

Freshmen Shadows Program Booklet

Open House: Incoming Freshmen

RKIHS welcomes current 8th grade students and their families to join us for our Open House for Incoming Freshmen! Our full staff and educational facilities will be open and available to incoming students and parents on Wednesday, April 1, 2020 from 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. Come learn why RKIHS is ranked, consistently, among the top performing high schools in Wisconsin, how your student can succeed in academics and life as an IB World School scholar, and what post-secondary academic and career opportunities and possibilities await your student after graduation.

Parents and families may also like to learn of our strong and active family engagement organizations and parent support assistance and resources. Please be sure to visit the RKIHS Parent Center, located in the library, during your visit!

Family Engagement

Families play a vital role in the education of their children. Milwaukee Public Schools provides tools for engagement among families, communities, and schools to be equal partners in supporting student achievement and school improvement. When families, communities, and schools work together, students are more successful and the entire community benefits.

Rufus King International High School provides families and the King International community various tools and opportunities that meet the six (6) standards of the MPS Family & Community Engagement framework.

• Schools are welcoming and have culturally relevant environments.
• Schools are connected to the community.
• Schools have tools and knowledge needed to build relationships with families and the community.
• Families have tools and knowledge needed to be active in school.
• Families have opportunities to build peer networks.
• Families have avenues to serve as leaders.

King International families and campus community are welcome and encouraged to engage with us anytime throughout the school year via the following ongoing family/community engagement organizations and supports:

• District Advisory Council (DAC)
• School Engagement Council (SEC)
• Parent-Teacher-Student Organization (PTSO)
• Volunteering
• Parent Coordinator/Parent Center

Please contact the Parent Coordinator and/or visit the hyperlinked text above to learn more. We welcome your engagement and look forward to achieving more with you soon.

Rufus King International HS Music Department

 

Winter Band & Orchestra Concert

On Thursday, November 5, 2019 from 7-9 p.m., Rufus King International High School welcomes you to come bear witness to the power and value of music education. Under the tutelage of acclaimed, veteran Music Director, Mr. Benjamin Zabor, the renown RKIHS Band & Orchestra will perform their Winter Concert. Gift yourself and others a night of wonderful music and spectacular performances!

Tickets are $3.00 and are available at the door.

MPS Battle of the Drumlines

Come out and support our Rufus King International High School’s award winning General Drumline at the MPS Battle of the Drumlines competition on Saturday, December 7, 2019.

The RKIHS Band & Drumline will compete with schools across the city in a spectacular, high-level show of musicianship, creativity, artistry, and precision marching.

Doors open at 11:30 a.m. at Riverside University High School. Competition starts at 12:00 p.m. and ends approximately at 3:00 p.m. Tickets are $3.00 and available at the door.

Winter Choral Concert: “Youth and New Beginnings”

Join King International as the Winter Choral Concert presents “Youth and New Beginnings” on Thursday, December 12, 2019 from 7-8 p.m. The Rufus King International High School Choir will present an engaging set of inspiring songs to warm you on a winter’s night. Hear songs sacred and secular performed by the Advanced Choir, Intermediate Choir, and Beginning Choir under Choir Director, Mr. Lee Stovall. Don’t miss this spectacular holiday event!

Tickets are FREE! Donations are encouraged.

 

Rufus King Reads!

In support of the MPS Ambitious Instruction Plan for reading, each month Rufus King will highlight a member of the King campus community who shares their love of reading!

Here’s why:

• Research shows that the highest-achieving students are those who devote leisure time to reading, even when the school day and year are only mid-length.
• Every major study, including PISA (international reading scores), NAEP (the U.S.), and the SAT, show that the single most important predictor of academic success is the amount of time children spent reading books, more important even than parents’ economic or social status.
• In addition, one of the few predictors of high achievement in math and science is the amount of time children devote to pleasure reading.
• People who read literary fiction were shown to be more empathetic toward others.
• Perhaps surprisingly, reading for pleasure was found to be more important for children’s cognitive development between ages 10 and 16 than their parents’ level of education. The combined effect on children’s progress of reading books often, going to the library regularly and reading newspapers at 16 was four times greater than the advantage children gained from having a parent with a degree. 

Here’s how:

Tell us what your favorite book was and why in four (4) easy steps.

1. Provide the title and author of the book.
2. Write a short paragraph explaining why this is your favorite book.
3.  Provide your name and your connection to Rufus King (parent of …).
4.  Send to: downeyrl@milwaukee.k12.wi.us and we’ll link it on the Rufus King homepage.

Example:

Swan Lake by Mark Helprin

I love this book for its simple language and its deep wisdom. It tells the story of Swan Lake through a grandfather talking to his adopted granddaughter. She doesn’t know who she is, but we get her family story as the grandfather tries to explain to her the ways of the world and how to navigate them. Even though it’s a “children’s book,” everyone should encounter the grandfather’s wisdom.

Ms. K. L. Thomas, English teacher

Every MPS student has a Milwaukee Public Library card associated with their school ID number. Your scholar also has access to the MPS library system, Destiny and digital titles via MPS’ Overdrive. Sora is another great MPS app that aims to support your scholar’s reading. All applications can be found on Clever and downloaded as apps for mobile use. 

If your scholar has trouble finding books to his/her liking, please encourage your scholar to talk to the English teacher or our school librarian, Ms. Lewandowski. We want your scholar to enjoy the process of reading.