Wisconsin and Iowa Schools Tackle Open Enrollment Challenges

In recent years, the Platteville School District in Wisconsin has faced a growing challenge with open enrollment, a system allowing students to attend schools outside their home districts. Starting from the 2020-2021 academic year, the district’s open enrollment balance shifted, resulting in a deficit. For the 2023-2024 academic year, the district reported losing 48 more students than it gained, prompting Superintendent Jim Boebel to take action.

To understand the reasons behind this trend, Boebel initiated a survey targeting district families. “Our attempt was to have a conversation with each family that enrolled in and out,” he stated. The financial implications of open enrollment are significant. In both Wisconsin and Iowa, school funding is directly linked to enrollment numbers. When a student transfers to another district, the original district loses funding, while the receiving district benefits.

Across the state line, educators in Iowa are also examining open enrollment trends. In Illinois, open enrollment remains limited, particularly for interdistrict transfers. School leaders in Wisconsin and Iowa are strategizing to address enrollment losses and maintain positive trends where they exist.

Troy Maggied, executive director of the Southwestern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, underlined the importance of understanding student motivations. “Each district has to think really hard about why kids want to go there,” he emphasized, likening the situation to a business evaluating customer retention. In order to analyze the data collected from Boebel’s survey, the SWWRPC aims to minimize bias and focus on improving educational outcomes.

Cuba City School District Superintendent Aaron Olson faced a similar situation when he began his tenure in 2017. At that time, the district struggled with an open enrollment deficit. “That was something the (school) board wanted us to address,” Olson noted. By actively reaching out to families and fostering communication, the district turned the tide. In the 2018-2019 academic year, Cuba City welcomed 21 more students than it lost, and it has maintained positive open enrollment trends since.

The financial benefits of increased enrollment are substantial. Olson reported that the additional funding from open enrollment contributes approximately $450,000 annually to the district’s budget, making a notable difference in a challenging financial environment. He attributed part of this success to the efforts of the district’s communications team, which promotes positive classroom experiences through social media.

Another district in southwest Wisconsin, Potosi, has also seen success in open enrollment. Superintendent Kurt Cohen emphasized that their achievements stem from providing robust academic and extracurricular offerings despite their smaller size. “We’ve always prided ourselves… meeting the needs of our students,” Cohen said, highlighting that the quality of education and community reputation contribute to their success.

In Iowa, the Western Dubuque Community School District reported an open enrollment surplus of approximately 297 students for the 2024-2025 school year, a trend that has been growing for several years. Superintendent Dan Butler attributes this success to the district’s unique position, blending the advantages of a larger urban district with the charm of a small-town environment. “We have the programming of a major metro area but have a small-town feel,” he explained.

Conversely, the Dubuque Community School District has struggled with an open enrollment deficit, reporting a loss of about 315 students for the 2024-2025 academic year. Chief Communication Officer Mike Cyze noted that many families leaving the district are relocating to suburban areas closer to Western Dubuque. “When we see our open enrollment trends, we see they’re mostly geography-based,” Cyze said.

To combat this trend, Dubuque has focused on enhancing its enrollment services and improving communication with families. “Our focus… is how can we continue to let people know about the great things going on in our district,” he remarked.

The dynamics of open enrollment across Wisconsin and Iowa highlight a complex interplay between student choice, funding, and community engagement. As districts like Platteville and Dubuque work to address their challenges, others, like Cuba City and Western Dubuque, serve as models for success through proactive engagement and strategic communication.