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District projects flat K–8 enrollment; staff recommends 156 open-enrollment seats for 2025–26
Summary
District staff presented enrollment projections for 2025–26 and proposed 156 open-enrollment seats overall, explaining methodology and the 92% classroom fill rule used to reserve resident capacity.
District staff told the board the West Allis–West Milwaukee enrollment picture is largely stable at the K–8 level and described the assumptions used to set available open-enrollment seats for 2025–26.
Staff summarized the projection method: advancing current-year students grade by grade, removing seniors, and applying historical transition rates and adjustments for kindergarten and ninth grade. For open enrollment the district uses a planning cap of 92% of classroom capacity so seats remain for resident students who move in after the district opens assignments.
“We roll up the current year students from third Friday count,” the enrollment lead said, describing the process of projecting section needs and translating those into staffing and available seats.
Numbers and recommendation: staff reported a districtwide projection of about 6,464 students for 2025–26 and asked the board to approve 156 new open-enrollment seats spread across grade bands (including 37 seats at the K–4 band). Staff noted the projections aim to stay within an error range near historical performance (generally within 1–2 percent of actual enrollment) and described how FASTBridge and language-proficiency measures will be used to assess incoming students’ needs.
Equity, program and follow-up: board members pressed for more information about why families choose other districts. Several trustees asked staff to analyze where students who enroll out are going and whether specialty program offerings (K–8 campus models, immersion, career pathways, or additional AP/dual-credit options) could reduce outflow. Staff said communications and strategic-plan work will include further analysis of retention drivers and program design.
Staff said special-education seats are not available under the proposed open-enrollment recommendation for 2025–26 and that some transition years (4K/5K, sixth grade, ninth grade) historically attract the most enrollment movement.
Ending: Staff will return Jan. 27 to seek formal approval of open-enrollment seats and to provide any updated counts from the state’s second-Friday report.
