WAUSAU, WI (WSAU-WAOW) – Wausau’s school enrollment numbers are back on the rise for this fall.
The district says it will gain almost 300 students compared to the final head count from last school year. District enrollment was down by more than 400 a year ago.
This, after a statewide drop in enrollment the previous year. Many students transferred out of the district because of long-standing controversies over COVID and mask-related rules. Wausau schools fully re-opened for in-person instruction late in the 2020-21 school year. The district will start this fall with a ‘mask optional’ policy.
Declining enrollment has a financial impact on school districts around the state. State aid is based on student head-counts, and some funding goes to the district that a student transfers into.
“I think we continue to market the district and share the positives and seek new people…so I think there’s an opportunity with the right marketing and the right reach-out to capture some of those back,” John Euting, Wausau School District’s Director of Technology and Media Services, said.
Euting also said there will be a more detailed outlook on the number of students available after the school year begins.
