The district had 25,029 students enrolled for the 2025-26 school year, a 126-student drop from the previous year. It expect 379 fewer this fall.
Overall 4K-12 enrollment in Madison schools is also projected to decrease about 3% over the next five years and 7% over the next 10 years, according to MGT’s forecast.
The district has already seen a slow decline over the past five years from an enrollment at 25,497 during the 2021-22 school year. Enrollment will continue to decline through the next several school years, according to MGT’s report.
The MGT forecast includes 24,649.6 students for the 2026-27 school year, 24,477.7 students during the 2027-28 school year and 24,369.8 students during 2028-29.
Enrollment in Madison schools could decline more than another 1,000 students by 2035, with enrollment projected at 23,069.8 that year.
However, district leaders expect longer-term growth.
——-
2026-2027 Madison K-12 $pending continues to grow, fueled by a 9.7% (!) property tax increase. Total spending will be at least $706,000,000 for 25,003 students, or $28,236 per student.
May 2026 Madison School District Presentation: 7,095 adults for 25,003 students (3.52 students per adult!)
Early Literacy Screener Map.
Map: Foundations of Reading Results: 2015–2024
Where have all the students gone?
3,887 Madison 4 year old to third grade students scored lower than 75% of the students in the national comparison group.
Madison taxpayers have long supported far above average k-12 tax & $pending. This despite our long term, disastrous reading results. May, 2026: 7,095 Staff for 25,003 students; $pending > $26k per student!
Madison Schools: More $, No Accountability
The taxpayer funded Madison School District long used Reading Recovery…
The data clearly indicate that being able to read is not a requirement for graduation at (Madison) East, especially if you are black or Hispanic”
A.B.T.: “Ain’t been taught.”
My Question to Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers on Teacher Mulligans and our Disastrous Reading Results
2017: West High Reading Interventionist Teacher’s Remarks to the School Board on Madison’s Disastrous Reading Results
Madison’s taxpayer supported K-12 school district, despite spending far more than most, has long tolerated disastrous reading results.
“An emphasis on adult employment”
Wisconsin Public Policy Forum Madison School District Report[PDF]
WEAC: $1.57 million for Four Wisconsin Senators
Friday Afternoon Veto: Governor Evers Rejects AB446/SB454; an effort to address our long term, disastrous reading results
Booked, but can’t read (Madison): functional literacy, National citizenship and the new face of Dred Scott in the age of mass incarceration.
When A Stands for Average: Students at the UW-Madison School of Education Receive Sky-High Grades. How Smart is That?