Wisconsin Education News

November 21, 2024

The Wisconsin Education News is a daily update of education news and events that are taking place around Wisconsin.


Oconto, Gillett high schools get poor grades on state report cards

Oconto Unified School District was the only school district in Oconto County that didn't meet expectations on the annual student performance report cards released Tuesday by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

Manitowoc Public School District 'meets few expectations' on 2023-24 state report card

MANITOWOC – Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction's latest report card, published Nov. 19, showed Manitowoc Public School District "meets few expectations."

HJ#1 partners with literacy expert to advance literacy in district

HARTFORD — Hartford Joint #1 School District (HJ#1) announced on Monday that they have partnered with curriculum and instruction expert Dr. Donyall Dickey, author of "Mitigating Curricular Chaos," to focus on advancing literacy in the district’s schools, particularly Central Middle School.

WBSD ‘meets expectations’ again on DPI report card

WEST BEND — The West Bend School District (WBSD) once again "meets expectations" on its Department of Public Instruction (DPI) report card for the 2023-2024 school year, earning a three-star rating, though several schools in the district exceeded or significantly exceeded expectations for the school year.

Door County school districts 'Exceed Expectations' in state report card scores for 2023-24

DOOR COUNTY - All five Door County school districts were given an overall grade that "Exceeds Expectations" in the statewide school report cards for 2023-24 issued Tuesday by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

Many of the top-rated school districts in Wisconsin are in the Milwaukee area. Is your district on the list?

Data released by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction on Tuesday showed that 84% of Wisconsin public schools met, exceeded or significantly exceeded expectations for the 2023-24 school year.

1-1 tech initiative part of WBSD library plan

The Wittenberg-Birnamwood School Board signed off Nov. 18 on a new five-year plan for its school libraries that includes plans for a 1-1 technology plan for students.

Renderings Show-off New Green Bay Elementary School

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The Green Bay Area Public School District showed off preliminary renderings Wednesday night for its new west side elementary school.

State report card: School District of Janesville again 'meets few expectations'

JANESVILLE — The School District of Janesville’s annual state report card, released Tuesday by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, showed that for the second year in a row it “meets few expectations,” and that it ranks near the bottom statewide for school report card results.

Mukwonago village board tables ordinance that would ticket students for using cell phones in school

MUKWONAGO, Wis. — The Village of Mukwonago tabled a controversial ordinance that would give students tickets for using a cell phone in school. Every parent that spoke during public comment at Wednesday's village board meeting was against the ordinance. Some said they were surprised to hear the issue coming before the board.

MMSD ‘Meets Expectations' in state report cards, racial disparities persist

MADISON (WKOW) – The Madison Metropolitan School District earned a “Meets Expectations” grade from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction in this year’s School District Report Cards despite testing data showing white students outperforming students of color.

Mauston School District considers closing after second referendum fails

MAUSTON, Wis. (WMTV) - Juneau County’s biggest school district is facing a potential dissolution if a third referendum does not pass. The Mauston School District could completely shut down if voters in the district don’t approve a referendum in the spring after two previous attempts in 2024.

Whooping cough in Wisconsin; cases much higher than previous years

PORT WASHINGTON, Wis. - Cases of whooping cough are surging and the Port Washington-Saukville School District notified parents that several students were infected this week.

Lake Holcombe School Board - District wants to continue spring co-ops with Cornell

Now that the time has come to renew the spring sports co-op contracts, Lake Holcombe School is all in, but concerned that the contracts may be allowed to expire on Cornell’s side. If that happens, it could be detrimental to both district athletes, as low numbers could prevent fielding baseball and softball teams, while Lake Holcombe does not have a track facility.

Hakes goes above and beyond for students

Like many in a small school district, Andrea Hakes, operations and career coordinator at the Cornell High School, wears many hats, but maybe dons a few more than others. Starting as a special education paraprofessional, Hakes was later hired as the administrative assistant, managing the middle/high school office and all things related to that.

Kenosha Unified School District adds $115 million referendum to the ballot

KENOSHA, Wis. — The Kenosha Unified School District’s (KUSD) school board has placed a $115 million referendum on the February ballot to address financial deficits and security concerns across the district. 

School District of Beloit poised to pursue another spring referendum

Beloit school officials eye up another potential spring referendum. The Beloit School Board at its meeting Tuesday night authorized Superintendent Dr. Willie Garrison to begin exploring what kind of referendum to pursue for April 2025 and, crucially, how much to ask for.

Most Dane County school districts met or exceeded expectations in 2023-24

School and district report cards published Tuesday by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) showed that the 16 school districts located mostly or completely in Dane County met or exceeded expectations in the 2023–24 school year, the Wisconsin State Journal reports. The state’s public school districts’ overall saw performance on par with recent years.

Two former administrators return part-time to Onalaska Schools

ONALASKA, Wis. (WXOW) - To help fill the vacancy created after the resignation of the superintendent earlier this month, two former Onalaska School District administrators are both stepping into the role on a part-time basis. 

Athens tables transportation agreement with Marathon

The Athens Board of Education on Monday tabled a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the school districts of Athens and Marathon to hire Marathon’s driver for students with disabilities to also transport Athens students with disabilities to and from school with the Athens handicap accessible van.

Student-run business to launch in Marathon

After touring a student-run manufacturing business in Eleva-Strum, tech ed teacher Wayne Kroeplin told the school board last week that a similar operation will be ready to open next year at Marathon High School, under the name “Raider Manufacturing.”

CCSD releases results of survey

The Clinton Community School District (CCSD) has released its 2024 Donovan Group Employee Survey, which highlight increased overall satisfaction and engagement among staff.

Sheboygan Schools Raising Awareness, Support for Homeless Children

The Sheboygan Area School District (SASD) is doing its part in November, which is National Homeless Youth Awareness Month. Homeless Youth Awareness Month aims to educate the public about the prevalence of homeless children and youth and the challenges they face.

Chippewa Falls school district sees third straight improvement in state report card scores

CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wis. (WKBT) -- The school district in Chippewa Falls improved their performance in the State Report Card for the third straight year. The Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District scored a 67 out of 100 for the 2023-2024 report card, up from 65.6 last year and 64.6 the year prior.

Waunakee school officials track warranties, look to keep debt service tax levy down

Keeping better track of warranties has been a goal for Waunakee School District officials, and it’s already paying dividends, while they’re also looking at ways to tamp down the tax levy for debt service.

Marinette School District seeks input from residents

MARINETTE — Five years after Marinette School District residents approved a $30.92 million referendum to “rightsize” its elementary schools, the district is seeking input on a possible $48 million referendum for facility needs at the middle and high schools.

Neillsville School Board Approves Academic and Career Plan, Budget Modifications, and More

The Neillsville School Board approved the Academic and Career Plan at their meeting on Monday. The Board also approved the budget modifications for the 2024-2025 school year.

Wisconsin sets more referenda records to fund schools

A record number of school district referenda went before voters across Wisconsin in 2024, who responded by approving them in record numbers. These ballot questions essentially ask voters to raise their own property taxes to fund the district’s operations, either on a temporary or permanent basis, or to repay debt issued for capital projects such as building construction or renovation.

How did MPS do on the state report card it received from the Department of Public Instruction?

Milwaukee Public Schools' has "met expectations" on its 2023-24 state report card, according to data released by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction on Tuesday.

Student achievement increasing at the School District of Elcho

ELCHO — We have had a wonderful first quarter with students at the School District of Elcho. We are working hard to increase student achievement by providing opportunities for every student, every day. Our district has engaged in continuous improvement work for the last two years with an emphasis on increasing student achievement.

Chippewa Falls School District hosts Wisconsin National Guard for potential ROTC program

CHIPPEWA FALLS (WQOW) - Wisconsin National Guardsmen made a grand entrance Monday morning at Chippewa Falls High School. Arriving in a Black Hawk helicopter, members of the Wisconsin National Guard were greeted by district administrators. The purpose of their visit was to determine if the school could host a Junior Air Force Reserve Officers' Training Corps program, or ROTC.

Ground broken for new Cadott School additions

Ground was officially broken Nov. 12, in Cadott, for the improvements at the Cadott High School, for a project that adds 29,306 square feet of new space. That includes a state-of-the-art technical education center, equipped with $400,000 of advanced equipment, three new classrooms, a new district office, a safe and secure entrance, updated classroom furniture, new boilers to improve heating, a new chiller designed for future expansion of the school, with the A/C system, a newly renovated library and a fitness center, with equipment.

Milwaukee elementary students learning how the world celebrates

MILWAUKEE — Elementary students across Milwaukee County explored how cultures across the world celebrate holidays, creating art that will be prominently on display in the County Courthouse rotunda.