Contact: Dale J. Knapp or Todd A. Berry

608.241.9789 or wistax@wistax.org

MADISON—In 2007-08, Wisconsin public schools enrolled 863,660 students, 0.5% fewer than in the prior year. This was the fifth consecutive decline, leaving enrollments 1.2% below their 2002-03 peak. A total of 265 districts (63%) had fewer students in 2008 than they did in 1999. These and other important facts about Wisconsin’s schools can be found in the newly released SchoolFacts08, an annual publication of the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance (WISTAX). SchoolFacts offers a variety of enrollment, spending, revenue, and test-score information for every school district in the state.

Since 1998-99, statewide enrollments are down 0.5%. However, many districts have had much larger declines. Fifty-one districts had declines exceeding 20%, with the largest drops in Florence (-34.4%), Alma (-33.8%), Mercer (-33.6%), Butternut (-33.2%), and Glidden (-32.8%). Another 96 districts had enrollments drop at least 10%. In contrast, 36 districts saw student numbers rise more than 20%, and another 33 had increases over 10%, WISTAX said.

School districts budgeted to spend about $9.94 billion in 2007-08, or $11,522 student. That was a 5.1% increase over 2006-07 per pupil spending. Since 1999, per student spending has grown an average of 4.0% per year.

In other SchoolFacts findings, WISTAX reports that most district spending was for instruction ($6,739 or 58%), with smaller amounts going for building and grounds ($1,120), administration ($867), and capital expenditures/debt service ($791). Spending on instructional support (+8.3%) rose the most in 2007-08, followed by pupil services (6.0%) and instruction (5.5%). Spending on transportation and building and grounds each increased 4.1%.

WISTAX researchers noted that, as a result of a delayed state budget and no increase in state aids, statewide school levies climbed 7.4% from the prior year. However, district-level changes varied widely. Forty districts levied less in 2007-08 than in the prior year. Twenty-two districts had increases of 20% or more, led by Blackhawk (67.6%), Prairie Farm (53.6%), Spooner (41.7%), Maple (40%), and Elmwood (31.2%).

Total fund balances were $1.44 billion at the end of 2006-07, an increase of $73.1 million, or 5.3%, over the prior year. A fund balance represents dollars not currently being used by the district. The money could be reserved to fund a future capital expenditure, to solve cash flow problems arising from slow receipt of state aid or property taxes, or to cover unexpected costs or revenue shortfalls (a rainy-day fund). Statewide, fund balances averaged 16.5% of expenditures.

The school district of Wausaukee was unique in that it had a negative balance at the end of 2006-07. Among remaining districts, balances ranged from less than 4% of expenditures in Edgar, Independence, New Berlin, and Wauzeka-Steuben to more than 60% in Beecher-Dunbar-Pembine, North Cape, Wabeno, and White Lake.

In addition to information on school finances and students counts, SchoolFacts08 provides data on district demography, test scores, and staffing. WISTAX researchers noted that the percentage of students identified as disabled declined for the second consecutive year. A total of 14.5% of students were so identified, down 0.1 percentage points from the prior year and 0.3 points lower than in 2005-06. Nearly one-third (33.1%) of students were eligible for free or reduced lunch (one indicator of poverty in a district) in 2007-08, up from 25.0% in 1999-2000.

SchoolFacts is the state’s most complete published collection of Wisconsin school district data. The 164-page book contains information on school district demography, test scores, revenues, spending, staffing, and much more. SchoolFacts08 also contains summary data by cooperative educational service agency (CESA) and by district size. In addition, supplemental reports by athletic conference or for a customized group of districts can be ordered from WISTAX. Printing of SchoolFacts08 was underwritten by a grant from Sentry Insurance Foundation, Inc., the charitable arm of Sentry Insurance a Mutual Company, Stevens Point, Wisconsin.

SchoolFacts08 can be ordered by writing the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance, 401 North Lawn Ave., Madison, WI 53704-5033, by calling 608.241.9789, or by visiting www.wistax.org. The price per copy is $29.95, plus tax. Discounts are available for WISTAX donors and members and for purchases of five or more.  o

Link to 2007-08 School District Comparative Expenditures and Tax Rates