Wisconsin’s rural school districts are facing declining enrollment and increased child poverty, which may lead to a decline in funding and fewer educational opportunities, according to a new report.
Sarah Kemp, a researcher at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Applied Population Laboratory analyzed enrollment trends, school costs, and poverty for the report.
She found that while enrollment has increased in 65 percent of urban districts and 53 percent of suburban districts, only 26.5 percent of rural school districts saw an increase in enrollment.
Seventy-three percent of rural districts saw enrollment decline, which means state funding that is tied to enrollment could also decrease.
