Suburban Milwaukee school districts fare better than statewide numbers when it comes to enrollment

Most suburban Milwaukee area public school districts are ahead of the state enrollment average, based on headcount data released recently by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. 

Statewide, public school district enrollment dropped by about 0.85% from last school year to this year, according to preliminary data from the DPI.

Compared to September 2019 — before the pandemic — to September 2022, school district enrollment statewide declined by almost 36,500, a drop of almost 4%.

In suburban Milwaukee, about 27 of 41 public school districts had either enrollment increases or smaller declines than the state numbers reflect for the last school year. 

Growing school districts

The Merton Community School District had the largest enrollment increase in terms of percent change, growing by almost 7% — 58 students — from 2021 to 2022, going from 863 students to 921 students. Since September 2019, the district has increased its enrollment by 69 students.

Merton Superintendent Ronald Russ said there has been an increase in housing and subdivision development in the district, as well as an increase in the number of students opting into the district through open enrollment.

Russ noted that the district has added offerings to its vocational, career and technical education programs, such as a woods shop, metals lab, robotics, family and consumer education, a new art studio, improved band and music offerings and improved athletic and physical education facilities.

"We've got a lot to showcase here. So when we do the tour of schools with families when they're looking for that next home or where they'd looking to settle down, we've done some pretty significant educational improvements to really attract some quality people here for families," said Russ.

Another growing district is  St. Francis, which increased almost 6% from 2021 to 2022, going from 1,009 students to 1,067 students, an increase of 58 students and just under its 2019 pre-pandemic enrollment of 1,075.

Glendale-River Hills increased its enrollment from 968 students in 2021 to 1,014 students in 2022, an almost 5% increase.

Grafton's enrollment increased by just over 3% from 2021 to 2022, going from 2,043 to 2,107 students..

Shrinking school districts

In 14 suburban Milwaukee districts, enrollment dropped more than the state average.

One of those districts is the K-8 Stone Bank School District, which recorded an almost 9% enrollment decline from 2021 to 2022.

The nearby K-8 Richmond School District, also in Waukesha County, recorded a 3.78% enrollment decline from 2021 to 2022.

Elsewhere in the suburbs, South Milwaukee and Palmyra-Eagle each recorded a 3.54% enrollment decline from 2021 to 2022; Port Washington-Saukville and Cudahy each had just over a 3% decline from 2021 to 2022.

The West Allis-West Milwaukee School District had just over a 2% decline from 2021 to 2022. Since September 2019, the district has dropped 862 students.

The Kettle Moraine School District had an almost 3% decline from 2021 to 2022, a loss of 102 students, declining from 3,570 to 3,468. 

Where are students going?

There is no clear, single factor driving the decline in public school enrollment. But contributing factors include a declining birthrate statewide and increased availability of different school options. 

Across the state, there are 10 more independent charter school options this year than there were in 2019, giving families 35 schools to choose from. 

Access to private schools has also become easier through voucher programs, which allow families to use public school funding to pay part of their child's private school tuition. 

Since 2018, participation in state-funded voucher programs has increased by 30% statewide. 

Homeschooling has become more popular too. Across Wisconsin, homeschooled students have increased by 9,400, or 47%, since the 2015-16 school year. 

To look up your district, visit wisedash.dpi.wi.gov.

Reporter Danielle DuClos contributed.

Contact Alec Johnson at (262) 875-9469 or alec.johnson@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at @AlecJohnson12.