Enrollment Solutions
We are exploring ways to address enrollment fluctuations now and in the future.
What's next?
Follow-up Elementary Staff MeetingsHorizon: 8am Oct. 27
Fairview: 8am Oct. 30
Parkview: 8am Oct. 31
Community Meeting #2
The Plymouth School District invites parents and other community members to its next Enrollment Solutions Community Meeting.
The meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday Nov. 5 in the cafeteria at Plymouth High School, 125 S. Highland Ave. Park in front of the school or in the student lot to the south and enter Door 1; staff and signs will guide you to the cafeteria on the lower level.
During the meeting, the administration will share responses from the initial feedback survey, answer frequently asked questions, and explore additional solutions.
One option: Elementary restructuring
One possible solution is to restructure our elementary schools. What this might look like and some of its advantages and challenges are outlined below.
Slideshow: Enrollment Trends, Implications, and Solutions - September 2025
Agenda
- Outlining the challenge
- Enrollment trends
- Remedies already implemented
- Implications of declining enrollment
- Proposed solution
- Advantages and hurdles
- Next steps
The Challenge: Declining Enrollment
2016-17: 2,2842017-18: 2,265
2018-19: 2,179
2019-20: 2,172
2020-21: 2,072
2021-22: 2,106
2022-23: 2,110
2023-24: 2,008
2024-25: 2,000
Not Just Us
- Birth rate is down in Wisconsin
- Public school enrollment is down in Wisconsin
Prior Remedies
- Natural attrition of staff
- Reduction of sections - One elementary section reduced in 2024-25 & 2025-26
- Reduction of budgets - General supplies, professional development, service contracts
- Marketing efforts - Video testimonial campaign
Implications of Declining Enrollment
- School funding is tied to enrollment - fewer students means less revenue. We currently receive $11,650 per student in categorical aid.
- Revenue Limits have not been adjusted for inflation since 2014-15, leaving many districts increasingly underfunded.
- Result: More than ¾ of districts currently rely on operating referendums to maintain current levels of programming.
Potential Solutions
We want a solution that:- Maximizes opportunities for students
- Is fiscally responsible
- Can respond effectively to both declining and increasing enrollment - focuses at the elementary level
- Operational referendum
- Closing any schools
- Laying off faculty or staff
One Possible Solution: Elementary Restructuring
How it might look:- Horizon: Grades 4K - 5K - 1st
- Fairview: Grades 2nd - 3rd - 4th
- Parkview: Grades 4K through 4th
Advantages
- Greater consistency in class sizes
- Greater flexibility adjusting to both increasing and decreasing enrollment
- Efficiency of grade-level staff and resources
- Enhanced collaboration of grade-level staff
- Could allow for all-day 4K
Class sizes: 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 22
Restructured: 19, 19, 19, 20, 20, 21
Considerations
- Movement of students during first year
- Movement of staff during first year
- One additional transition for Horizon & Fairview students between Grades 1 & 2
- Transportation logistics
- Childcare capacity
What's Next?
Initial Staff MeetingsFairview: 8am Sept. 24
Riverview: 2:45pm Sept. 25
Parkview: 8am Sept. 26
Horizon: 8am Sept. 29
PHS: 2:50pm Oct. 1
Community Meeting #1: 5:30pm Oct. 8
Committee of the Whole: 5:30pm Oct. 13
Follow-up Elementary Staff Meetings
Horizon: 8am Oct. 27
Fairview: 8am Oct. 30
Parkview: 8am Oct. 31
Community Meeting #2: 5:30pm Nov. 5
Committee of the Whole: 5:30pm Nov. 10
Regular Board Meeting - Initial Recommendation: 5:30pm Nov. 18
Committee of the Whole - Further Discussion: 5:30pm Dec. 8
Regular Board Meeting - Board Action: 5:30pm Dec. 16