MADISON, Wis. (WRN) — Public school enrollment declines again across Wisconsin.
Wisconsin’s public schools lost more than 14‑thousand students this school year, with enrollment declining in 68 of the state’s 72 counties. New data from the Department of Public Instruction shows public school enrollment dropped nearly two percent for the 2025–26 school year compared to last year.
It’s part of a decades‑long trend that has districts across Wisconsin considering school closures or consolidation. A Wisconsin Policy Forum report shows the state’s enrollment has fallen faster than the national average since 2000, though that gap has narrowed in recent years.