‘It’s a Homecoming’: Rocketship Public Schools Purchases Former Carmen Elementary Building

by Mia Thurow, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Rocketship Public Schools, a charter school network, purchased the former Carmen Schools Stellar Elementary building for nearly $1.17 million, according to a deed recorded by the Wisconsin Department of Revenue on July 15. The purchase of the building at 2431 S. 10th St. was made by Launchpad Development Milwaukee 3 LLC, a Rocketship entity.

Aaron Lippman, CEO of Carmen Schools of Science and Technology, said the transition reflects a commitment to ensuring that Stellar students, families and staff thrive in an environment that aligns with their needs. He added that it will allow Carmen Schools to focus on its core competencies in educating middle school and high school students, as Stellar was the only elementary school Carmen was operating.

“Rocketship, a nationally recognized charter school network with a strong record of success, specializes in the elementary and middle grades and has an established presence in Milwaukee,” Lippman said in a statement. “They are uniquely positioned to provide the specialized support, resources and experience that an elementary school like Stellar requires to flourish.”

Creating educational pathways for others

Rocketship Wisconsin Executive Director Kadeem Ruiz knows all about the importance of a transformational education.

Ruiz was raised in a single-parent home in Brooklyn, New York. He went to a gifted and talented middle school, which helped him get into an elite boarding school and later graduate from Princeton University. He’s also a first-generation doctoral graduate.

But Ruiz’s brothers didn’t follow the same path. Neither graduated from high school. Ruiz’s older brother was shot and killed in 2008, and his younger brother has been incarcerated since 2022.

“That juxtaposition of my brothers’ life outcomes and my own just makes education so important for me, for me to be able to create and facilitate those pathways for all students to be able to experience the trajectory that I experienced,” Ruiz said. “It’s incredibly personal to me.”

Transitioning from Carmen to Rocketship

Ruiz oversaw school districts in Brooklyn and Cleveland before moving to Milwaukee in 2022, where he now oversees Rocketship’s schools in the area. He said he was humbled when Carmen Schools offered the building to Rocketship because of Carmen’s reputation and legacy in Milwaukee education.

Both parties spent months working to ensure the school transition would be responsible. Now, Ruiz said, Rocketship is positioned to support current elementary school students and their families. Rocketship operates only elementary schools in Wisconsin.

“We get to honor Stellar’s roots and also expand its future,” Ruiz said.

Brian Kilb, chair of the Rocketship Wisconsin Board of Directors, said in a statement that taking on Stellar Elementary was a natural fit. He said, as a network that specializes in elementary education, Rocketship is positioned to help students succeed and go on to attend Carmen middle and high schools.

Ruiz described the building acquisition as a homecoming for the Rocketship family, because Stellar Elementary was created in 2017 by former Rocketship founding principal Melissa McGonegle. Now, the charter network is committed to building on a school model that was already strong, Ruiz said.

Building on a strong model of teaching

Last year, students at Rocketship Southside grew an average of 1.48 years in math and 1.2 in reading, Ruiz said. Students at Transformation Prep achieved the highest growth in school history of 1.6 years in math and 1.52 years in reading, which equals nearly five extra months of learning per year.

Ruiz said being able to advance academic achievement and community involvement in a city like Milwaukee, with high poverty rates and racial achievement gaps, is remarkable and can help elevate education citywide.

“This entire process, it doesn’t feel like a reset; it feels like a step forward with deeper resources, stronger coaching and a deep belief in every Rocketeer’s potential,” Ruiz said.

Making final renovations before opening

Ruiz said over 90% of current Stellar families and over 80% of staff are expected to return to the school in the fall despite the transition in ownership.

Rocketship is anticipating the school will open Aug. 27, Ruiz said; renovations are set to be completed by the end of July. The building is getting an exterior paint refresh (deemed “Rocketizing” by the network), playground re-leveling, electrical updates, plumbing repairs, preventive maintenance, gym floor refinishing and other minor renovations.

How is the new Carmen high school building progressing?

Just 2 miles southwest of Stellar Elementary, a new building that will merge Carmen’s South and Southeast high schools is rising. The $55 million, 6.2-acre campus at 2005 W. Oklahoma Ave. has a planned capacity of 1,100 students.

Construction is about 20% complete, and the building is on track to open for the 2026-27 school year, said Lippman, the CEO of Carmen Schools. Concrete flooring and sprinkler systems are installed, room framing is underway, and precast walls for a gym and stage are going up.

The new high school campus will include a three-story, 120,000-square foot building, a synthetic turf soccer field, college and career center, large gym and STEAM laboratory.

“This purpose-built facility is a major investment in Milwaukee’s future, designed to support the city’s next generation of leaders for success in college, meaningful careers, active community involvement, and strong family life,” Lippman said in a statement. “We continue to engage our families and staff, community partners, and the business community in bringing this vision to life.”

What is Carmen Schools of Science and Technology?

Carmen Schools is a public charter school network in Milwaukee. It was founded in 2007 and serves nearly 1,700 sixth- through 12th-grade students at five schools across four campuses.

The mission of Carmen Schools is to graduate students who are critical thinkers and self-directed learners, ready for success in college, meaningful careers, community involvement and life. The network’s core values are empathy, belief and growth.

What are Rocketship Public Schools?

Escuelas públicas Rocketship is a nonprofit network of public elementary charter schools that seek to propel student achievement, develop exceptional educators and partner with parents who help public schools thrive in their community. The network’s three core models are personalized learning, talent development and community power.

In Wisconsin, Rocketship serves elementary students at three schools: Transformation Prep, Southside Community Prep and now, Stellar Elementary. The network also serves students in California, Tennessee and Washington, D.C.

Contact Mia Thurow at mthurow@gannett.com.

Published on julio 23, 2025