Wisconsin Education NewsNovember 14, 2025A daily update of education news and events that are taking place around Wisconsin. Local schools meet or exceed expectations on new report cards DOUGLAS COUNTY — Schools in the county met or exceeded expectations on their state report cards for the 2024-2025 school year, according to data released by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. The Superior School District met expectations with a report card score of 67 out of 100. The Maple and Solon Springs school districts both exceeded expectations with scores of 74.9 for Maple and 71.8 for Solon Springs. Scores are based on multiple factors, with scores below 60 indicating a school or district is not meeting expectations. West Elementary, White Lake schools honor veterans ANTIGO AND WHITE LAKE — Two elementary schools honored local veterans Tuesday by showing American pride in a wall of honor, and by holding an assembly. Mill rate lowers for fifth year in a row The Fennimore School Board set the mill rate and the 2026 tax levy during its annual meeting held on Wednesday, Oct. 28. Once the annual meeting formalities such as adopting resolutions and approving salaries were finished, school district bookkeeper Chad Freymiller held the budget hearing portion, which the mill rate, which is the amount of tax payable per dollar of the assessed value of a property, dropped for the fifth year in row, coming in at $7.07, down from 2025’s $7.45. Jackson Elementary 4th graders wrap Colburn Park with homemade scarves to keep community warm GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) – On Thursday afternoon, 4th graders in Green Bay took a short walking field trip on behalf of community members in need. That field trip was a quick walk to Colburn Park, as the students wrapped trees with homemade knitted scarves by Linda Bielefeldt Saugstad, a friend of some of the teachers. Most Fond du Lac-area school districts improved in latest DPI accountability report cards FOND DU LAC – Most Fond du Lac County school districts improved in student performance last school year, according to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. The DPI published the 2024-25 accountability report cards this month, and the Fond du Lac School District's overall accountability score raised to 72.6 in comparison to last year's score of 68.3. Clardy named 2026 Wisconsin Superintendent of the Year The Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators (WASDA) has named Verona Area School District (VASD) Superintendent Tremayne Clardy as the 2026 Wisconsin Superintendent of the Year. According to a news release, Clardy is being recognized for his exceptional leadership in advancing educational equity, fostering community engagement and improving student outcomes. Since joining VASD in 2021, he has guided its schools through a period of significant growth, innovation and success. Rep. Duchow: Assembly education approves comprehensive study bill Madison, WI – Today, the Assembly Committee on Education passed Assembly Bill 646. Authored by Representative Cindi Duchow (R-Delafield), this bill requires the Department of Public Instruction to contract with an external entity to complete a comprehensive top-down analysis of all 421 school districts in Wisconsin. Wisconsin school consolidation bills pass committee with payment amendment (The Center Square) – A group of five Wisconsin K-12 school consolidation bills passed an Assembly committee after slight modifications on Thursday. One bill was amended to give a one-time $1,500 per student payment for schools that consolidate in 2027, 2028 and 2029 before providing $650 per student in the second year and then $150 per student in the next three years to help the schools through the process. The bill was amended after school districts testified at a public hearing on Tuesday saying that 2026 would be too soon for schools to consolidate. Cell phones in school: Racine Unified board member calls for ‘reset’ on student use RACINE, WI — Racine Unified School Board member Grace Allen says it’s time to “reset” how students use their cell phones, now that Wisconsin is the 36th state to restrict personal devices in classrooms. Worried about AI overuse, online bullying, the amplification of violence and dwindling attention spans, Allen said cellular devices need a reset and that schools must “start educating people on how to use this device appropriately.” Republican Bill Encourages School District Mergers Wisconsin lawmakers are exploring ways to make it easier for school districts to consolidate as they face declining enrollment and financial difficulties. There are 421 school districts in the state of Wisconsin and about two-thirds are struggling with declining enrollment. According to preliminary numbers from the Department of Public Instruction, enrollment for public school districts in the 2025-26 school year fell by about 13,600 students, representing a nearly 2% decrease from last year’s estimate. Total enrollment across school districts is about 759,800 this year. Oshkosh schools see decline in reading, math proficiency [AUDIO] OSHKOSH, Wis. — The Oshkosh Area School District sees declines in reading and math proficiency. The latest Forward Exam scores from last spring show lower percentages in both reading and math proficiency across most grade levels. Marshfield School Board Approves School Calendars for the Next Two Years The Marshfield School Board approved school calendars for the next two school years at their meeting on Wednesday. The Board approved the 2026-27 and 2027-28 Academic Calendar. There were some concerns as the start dates for the next school year will occur during the Central Wisconsin State Fair on August 27th. But the last day of school for students next year will be before. Richland Center Police Department teaches P.E.A.T. Program RICHLAND CENTER, Wis. (WRCO / WRCE) – Police officers from the Richland Center Police Department, in cooperation with the Richland School District and St. Mary’s School, are in sixth grade classrooms teaching the P.E.A.T. Program. Officer Elizabeth Deitelhoff. Local schools excel in Department of Public Instruction testing Fond du Lac and Waupun public school districts have released their results from their testing with the Department of Public Instruction. The yearly testing shows The Fond du Lac School District is now ranked 175 out of 420 Wisconsin school districts, with the district earning the Exceeds Expectations rating, a level not reached since the 2016-17 school year. Madison schools paid a firm to create a logo, then picked a free one The Madison school district spent nearly $100,000 this year on a contract with a consulting firm to overhaul its branding, including the development of a new logo. But the district ended up adopting a free logo created by an unnamed individual instead. The Madison Metropolitan School District hired Fieldtrip, a branding and advertising consulting firm, in January to help with rebranding. Fieldtrip was selected from seven bids, which ranged from estimates of $55,000 to $269,000. SASD still 'meets expectations' on 2024-2025 DPI report card, but improved overall score SHEBOYGAN COUNTY – Sheboygan Area School District improved students’ progress toward graduation, according to the latest Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction report card. The school district saw score increases for achievement and growth in English Language Arts and Mathematics subjects; on-track to graduation; and target group outcomes for students with lowest test scores in the 2024-2025 DPI report card released Nov. 11. Those are four priority areas assessed in a public school’s overall rating. Waukesha School Board votes to close three elementary schools The Waukesha School Board voted to close three elementary schools at the end of this school year in an effort to deal with declining enrollment. Board members voted 8-1 for the option that would close, repurpose or sell Bethesda and Hawthorne elementary schools and the Whittier building, which houses the district's STEM elementary program. Diane Voit was the only school board member who voted against the proposal during the Nov. 12 meeting. Middle schools do well in state report card rankings BELOIT — The annual school report cards released Tuesday by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction tends to shine a light on how overall districts are doing. School administrators tend to look deeper at the reams of data about different schools, subject areas, demographic groups. Here are some of the positives district leaders focused on Wednesday. Almost 1 in 4 K-3 students on reading plans Almost one in four students in kindergarten through third grade at Shawano public schools are considered to be at-risk for meeting reading standards and are required to having a reading plan this fall, according to data announced Nov. 10 to the Shawano School District Student Success and Relationships Committee. Brittney Firari, literacy coach for Hillcrest Primary School, said that data from initial testing mechanisms show 23% of the students show they need to improve to have adequate reading skills by third grade, the time experts say children must know how to read to function well in life. Out of 560 students tested, 130 have the reading plans. WUSD meets expectations, three elementary schools and Endeavor Charter exceed WATERTOWN — The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction has unveiled its report cards for the 2024-25 school year, and the Watertown Unified School District made incremental progress. The District’s grade of 63.8 falls into the “meets expectations” category, and is a slight step forward from last year’s 62.2 numeric grade. Area food pantries get a boost from Howards Grove students cereal donations A truck from the Sheboygan County Food Bank is loaded with some of the 6645 boxes of cereal collected by Howards Grove students for the donation, Thursday, November 13, 2025, in Howards Grove, Wis. Monroe Elementary Honors One of Its Own for Veterans’ Day The celebration of Veterans’ Day extended into Wednesday for a Manitowoc elementary school. The students and staff at Monroe Elementary School on Manitowoc’s south side welcomed in veterans from all branches of the military for a parade through the halls of the school, followed by a presentation in the gym, where the students sang about their appreciation. Portage student Josie Roberts wins national FFA title in prepared speaking PORTAGE, Wis. (WKOW) — Josie Roberts, a junior at Portage High School, is making history by winning a national FFA title in prepared public speaking on October 31. Her speech, however, is more than just a competition piece. It highlights the critical issue of farmers' mental health, a topic deeply relevant to rural Wisconsin communities. "Thirty years ago, a lifelong farmer, Jeff Ditzenberger, stood on his farm less than an hour and a half from my home and set a house on fire in an attempt to end his own life," Roberts said during her speech. WAUWATOSA, Wis. — Wauwatosa West High School’s theater program will be the first in the country to perform Dear Evan Hansen — but getting to this point wasn’t easy. After historic floods hit their theater in August, the students and staff faced months of cleanup, renovation and determination before the curtain could rise again. The floods had filled the orchestra pit with water, coated the stage in mud stains and destroyed the carpet throughout the house floor. The school’s theater program was suddenly facing a massive renovation right as the new school year began.
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