Wisconsin

Wisconsin schools added thousands of staff despite enrollment falling

Published

3 weeks ago

June 16, 2026

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Wisconsin schools added thousands of staff despite enrollment falling

Wisconsin public schools have seen a 9% drop in student enrollment since 2011 but a 7% increase in staffing.
The decline in student population is largely attributed to the state’s falling birth rate since 2007.
Despite fewer students, districts have hired more staff to address growing needs, like mental health and academic gaps.
Financial strain from this trend may force districts to close schools, reduce staff or cut educational programs.

Wisconsin public schools are employing more staff despite serving about 80,000 fewer students than they did 16 years ago, according to a new report from the Wisconsin Policy Forum.

Since the 2010-11 school year, the number of students enrolled in the state’s public schools has fallen more than 9% to about 792,000 students this school year. Meanwhile, the number of staff in schools increased 7%, and the number of public schools decreased about 3%, the Policy Forum reported.

With state funding tied to student counts, enrollment declines put additional strain on district budgets. The Policy Forum warned “the cost pressures of increased staffing will grow” as districts seek to maintain their workforces with shrinking revenues.

Combined with other financial constraints, including growing student needs and revenue limits that haven’t kept up with inflation, “districts will likely face tough financial decisions around closing schools, reducing their workforce, or cutting educational programming,” the Policy Forum said.

Here are five takeaways from the report:

Elementary schools see biggest enrollment drop

Enrollment trends varied across Wisconsin. Students, schools and staff declined in urban school districts. In suburban districts, enrollment remained stable and staffing increased nearly 19% since 2011. Both town and rural districts lost students but expanded staff.

The Policy Forum attributed the enrollment loss to the state’s declining birth rate, which has continuously fallen since 2007.

Over the past 16 years, elementary school enrollment dropped about 16%, compared with nearly 9% in middle schools and about 8% in high schools, the organization reported.

Fewer schools but closures haven’t kept pace with enrollment decline

In response, some districts have closed or consolidated schools to reduce costs. The number of public schools in Wisconsin decreased from 2,202 schools in 2011 to 2,132 in 2026.

The number of elementary schools decreased 9%, and the number of high schools decreased nearly 6%, according to the Policy Forum. However, the number of standalone middle schools increased by about 7%, and schools serving both elementary and high school students – many of them charter schools – grew more than 150%.

Private schools in Wisconsin also declined more than 8% over the past 16 years.

Even so, the decline in the number of schools hasn’t kept pace with the loss of students. The Policy Forum said it’s hard for districts to close schools or cut staff because student losses are typically spread across grade levels and buildings.

“Staffing cuts and school closures are also unpopular and painful for districts and communities, leaving leaders with difficult decisions and tradeoffs,” the report said.

MPS is cutting some staff, but adding jobs, too

For Milwaukee Public Schools, where enrollment has long been on the decline, outside consultants have suggested permanently closing five schools on the city’s north side. Superintendent Brenda Cassellius has said she isn’t yet ready to recommend closing those schools but does eventually expect to call for closures over multiple years.

The district’s budget for the upcoming school year also includes more than 260 cuts to non-classroom staff positions, though it also adds more than 150 new paraprofessionals and 150 teachers.

Paraprofessionals and other aides added across Wisconsin

Across Wisconsin, the number of classroom teachers has grown by less than 1% since 2011, or about 470 additional full-time equivalent positions. Schools have also added the full-time equivalent of more than 3,360 paraprofessionals and program aides, a nearly 31% increase, according to the Policy Forum.

Overall, teachers and paraprofessionals in classrooms increased by more than 5%. The number of all other licensed staff members – including district administrators, principals, counselors, therapists and other school support staff – increased by the full-time equivalent of 1,849 positions, or nearly 16%.

No effective alternative, district leaders say

District leaders told the Wisconsin Policy Forum they have expanded staffing to address growing student needs, including mental health challenges, widening academic gaps and increased numbers of students who have disabilities or are English learners.

Still, “district leaders expressed frustration with employing more staff for fewer students, but said they have not found an effective alternative,” the report said.

With enrollment projected to continue falling, the Policy Forum said districts will likely keep relying on property tax referendums to maintain services and staffing levels. The organization said district leaders may also seek additional support from the state, and lawmakers have an opportunity to “consider how to best protect student learning during this demographic shift.”

Kayla Huynh covers K-12 education, teachers and solutions for the Journal Sentinel. Contact: khuynh@gannett.com. Follow her on X: @_kaylahuynh.

Kayla Huynh‘s reporting is supported by Herb Kohl Philanthropies and reader contributions to the Journal Sentinel Community-Funded Journalism Project. Journal Sentinel editors maintain full editorial control over all content. To support this work, visit jsonline.com/support. Checks can be addressed to Local Media Foundation (memo: “JS Community Journalism”) and mailed to P.O. Box 85015, Chicago, IL 60689.

The JS Community-Funded Journalism Project is administered by Local Media Foundation, tax ID #36-4427750, a Section 501(c)(3) charitable trust affiliated with Local Media Association.

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Wisconsin

Wisconsin Lottery Pick 3, Pick 4 results for July 5, 2026

Published

5 hours ago

July 6, 2026

Press Room

Wisconsin Lottery Pick 3, Pick 4 results for July 5, 2026

The Wisconsin Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at July 5, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Pick 3 numbers from July 5 drawing

Midday: 0-7-0

Evening: 0-5-3

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from July 5 drawing

Midday: 9-7-9-6

Evening: 5-8-0-7

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning All or Nothing numbers from July 5 drawing

Midday: 01-02-04-07-09-10-13-15-17-19-21

Evening: 02-04-07-09-12-14-17-19-20-21-22

Check All or Nothing payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Badger 5 numbers from July 5 drawing

08-15-16-22-24

Check Badger 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning SuperCash numbers from July 5 drawing

02-06-08-12-17-30, Doubler: N

Check SuperCash payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

Prizes up to $599: Can be claimed at any Wisconsin Lottery retailer.
Prizes from $600 to $199,999: Can be claimed in person at a Lottery Office. By mail, send the signed ticket and a completed claim form available on the Wisconsin Lottery claim page to: Prizes, PO Box 777 Madison, WI 53774.
Prizes of $200,000 or more: Must be claimed in person at the Madison Lottery office. Call the Lottery office prior to your visit: 608-261-4916.

Can Wisconsin lottery winners remain anonymous?

No, according to the Wisconsin Lottery. Due to the state’s open records laws, the lottery must, upon request, release the name and city of the winner. Other information about the winner is released only with the winner’s consent.

When are the Wisconsin Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10:00 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
Super Cash: 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
Pick 3 (Day): 1:30 p.m. CT daily.
Pick 3 (Evening): 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
Pick 4 (Day): 1:30 p.m. CT daily.
Pick 4 (Evening): 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
All or Nothing (Day): 1:30 p.m. CT daily.
All or Nothing (Evening): 9 p.m. CT daily.
Megabucks: 9:00 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.
Badger 5: 9:00 p.m. CT daily.

That lucky feeling: Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.

Feeling lucky? WI man wins $768 million Powerball jackpot **

WI Lottery history: Top 10 Powerball and Mega Million jackpots

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Wisconsin editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Wisconsin

3 fires in southeastern Wisconsin tied to improper fireworks disposal

Published

15 hours ago

July 5, 2026

Press Room

3 fires in southeastern Wisconsin tied to improper fireworks disposal

Three fires connected to the improper disposal of fireworks occurred in Racine, Wisconsin, following the Fourth of July, according to WTMJ, the NBC affiliate in Milwaukee.

All three fires were reported in Racine between 12:05 and 1:39 a.m. on Sunday.

The first fire occurred in the 2000 block of Lathrop Avenue, where firefighters responded to a report of a dumpster on fire next to a business. While the building wasn’t affected, the dumpster and a nearby fence sustained significant damage.

WTMJ reported that spent fireworks were found in the dumpster and the parking lot where the fire broke out.

At about 1:09 a.m., Racine firefighters were called to the 2800 block of Brentwood Drive for a report of a house fire. Firefighters found flames coming from the rear of the home when they arrived. All four residents and a dog managed to escape safely.

About a half-hour later, firefighters were called to the 3400 block of Fifth Avenue for a garage fire. The garage was deemed a total loss, while a neighboring garage sustained moderate siding damage.

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Wisconsin

What anonymous Big Ten coaches are saying about Wisconsin football entering 2026

Published

1 day ago

July 5, 2026

Press Room

What anonymous Big Ten coaches are saying about Wisconsin football entering 2026

Wisconsin Badgers head football coach Luke Fickell. Photo credit: Kayla Wolf-Imagn Images.

You don’t need anonymous coaches to tell you that Wisconsin football was a mess in 2025.

But sometimes it helps to hear how bluntly the rest of the league sees it.

In Athlon Sports’ 2026 College Football Preview, one Big Ten coach did not exactly dance around the issue.

“They scored 81 points in nine conference games. I don’t care who your quarterback is. That speaks to a lot of bigger issues than just the quarterback position,” an anonymous Big Ten coach told Athlon Sports.

“There are teams in the conference who could not throw a single pass and score more than nine points per game. It also speaks to, defensively, your ability to make turnovers, and special teams, your ability to make kicks. I thought it was a whole package thing.”

That is harsh, but it’s also hard to argue with.

Wisconsin absolutely had quarterback problems last season. Maryland transfer Billy Edwards Jr. got hurt. Danny O’Neil was forced into action, then got hurt. Hunter Simmons had his turn, but couldn’t take care of the ball. Carter Smith eventually entered the picture. It was not a normal year at the most important position on the field, and that context matters.

By season’s end, Wisconsin had become the first Badgers team since 1956 to have four different quarterbacks attempt at least 10 passes in a season, and the only Big Ten program to do so in 2025.

But the quarterback carousel also exposed something deeper.

The Badgers finished 132nd nationally in offensive EPA per play, 131st in EPA per dropback, and 115th in EPA per rush, per Game on Paper. They ranked 135th nationally in scoring offense at 12.8 points per game, averaged 253 yards per game, and threw for just 136.4 yards per contest.

That is not just bad quarterback play. That is system-wide dysfunction.

The offensive line had very little depth and was constantly shuffled. The run game never became reliable. The passing game lacked answers. Wisconsin could not consistently create explosives, sustain drives, or put players in position to steal easy yards. At some point, injuries stop being the explanation and start becoming part of a larger failure to adjust.

And while the offense deservedly absorbed most of the criticism, the defense wasn’t without fault either. Wisconsin finished dead last nationally in turnovers forced with just five interceptions and one fumble recovery, ranked 73rd in defensive EPA per dropback, and struggled to defend the pass consistently. The pass rush improved, and the run defense was great, but the complementary football simply wasn’t there.

The next anonymous coach took that criticism a step further.

“Truthfully, I was surprised that both Wisconsin and Maryland decided to run it back with their head coaches,” another anonymous coach told Athlon Sports. “I wasn’t really impressed with either one of those teams. It almost felt like they didn’t really know who the next guy was gonna be, so they decided they’d rather have a year to prepare a move like that.”

Plenty of Wisconsin fans probably felt the same way when “Fire Fickell” chants started raining through Camp Randall Stadium.

Luke Fickell is 17-21 at Wisconsin, including 10-17 in Big Ten play. The Badgers have missed back-to-back bowl games, failed to produce an NFL Draft pick for the first time since 1978, and looked a lot closer to being a bottom-feeder in the conference than a serious contender.

In the midst of all those struggles, the athletic director, Chris McIntosh, publicly backed Fickell and promised more financial resources to the program. Then, to Wisconsin’s credit, the Badgers responded by knocking off AP Top 25 opponents Washington and Illinois down the stretch, showing there was still enough belief inside the locker room to finish the year with some fight. That, coupled with a significant roster investment through NIL and the transfer portal, bought this staff another chance.

Now there is no hiding from the expectations.

FanDuel has Wisconsin’s regular-season win total at 6.5, which feels closer to the national perception of this team. But given the schedule, the roster investment to raise the talent floor, and the years this staff has already had to build its program, seven wins should not be the ceiling.

Eight or nine wins should be on the table.

Wisconsin has seven games at home, including a neutral-site opener against Notre Dame at Lambeau Field, avoids several of the Big Ten’s heavyweights, and draws a schedule that’s far more manageable than the gauntlet this program navigated a year ago. If the increased investment was truly the missing piece, there is little room left for excuses.

And with Shawn Eichorst now stepping in as athletic director, the dynamic changes. McIntosh, who hired Fickell, was tied to him and publicly backed him through some difficult moments, is now with the Big Ten. Eichorst has deep Wisconsin ties and likely isn’t eager to make a coaching change and pay a sizable buyout figure before it’s necessary, but this is no longer the administration that made the original hire.

Fickell got the resources. He got another offseason. He got a schedule that gives them a legitimate opportunity to take a step forward.

Now he and his staff have to deliver.

At this point, there isn’t much left to sell besides results.

We appreciate you taking the time to read our work at BadgerNotes.com. Your support means the world to us and has helped us become a leading independent source for Wisconsin Badgers coverage.

You can also follow Site Publisher Dillon Graff at @DillonGraff on X.

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