Milwaukee Schools Complete Lead Hazard Cleanup Ahead of Deadline

Milwaukee has successfully stabilized nearly 100 public schools identified with lead paint hazards, completing the work two weeks ahead of the December 31 deadline. This initiative, which took about 10 months, involved inspecting 7 million square feet across the district, including classrooms and common areas. The effort was crucial after a student was diagnosed with elevated lead levels in January 2025, prompting extensive inspections that revealed lead hazards in schools built before 1978. Despite initial setbacks due to federal budget cuts affecting CDC support, the city’s health department has reinstated its partnership with the CDC to ensure ongoing safety measures and monitoring in schools. The total expenditure for the lead abatement efforts reached at least $43 million.

Key Details: • All 99 schools inspected are now deemed safe for students. • The lead cleanup involved 2,700 classrooms and common areas. • Milwaukee Public Schools has implemented ongoing safety measures, including regular lead inspections. • The city spent at least $43 million on the lead abatement project. • New staff and processes have been established to prevent future lead contamination.