Optimizing Our Future: Analysis of Plans E, F, & G

FULL ANALYSIS Options E, F and G

OCTOBER 8, 2025

Table of Contents

02

03

04

Mission & Long Range Planning Introduction

Optimizing Our Future Timeline

Calendar of Events

05

06

10

Enrollment Projections

Option E: Elementary Schools 4K-5

Option F: Elementary Schools 4K-6 Grade

14 Option G: 4K-6, 7-12 School Structure

1

OUR MISSION

School District of Waukesha Our Mission: To develop in our students the capacity and skills to be community, college, and career ready.

LONG RANGE PLANNING INTRODUCTION The School District of Waukesha’s primary objective is to provide the students and families in Waukesha with access to high quality education. The District is proud of our long history of academic achievement and the exceptional work of our teaching and district support staff. We look to continue this tradition by providing the finest educational opportunities to support our students. To maintain this level of service and opportunity year over year, the District is always looking at where and how to best deploy the resources we have available.

We have long prided ourselves as being a District that embraces financial stewardship to the constituents of our communities. New schools were built as recently as 1993 to address increases in enrollment, which peaked at over 13,000 students in 2012-13. Today, though, our enrollment has dropped and hovers around 10,500 students.

The School District of Waukesha is not alone when it comes to sustained declining enrollment. Enrollment projection studies are completed every four to five years by the Wisconsin Applied Population Lab at UWMadison and show a projected decline across the state in the coming decade. The majority of school districts in Wisconsin and across the country are grappling with the problem, which is driven by larger societal population changes. Higher education is also facing the same challenge as evidenced by the recent closures of Cardinal Stritch University and UWM at Waukesha. Links to our most recent SDW and statewide studies can be found on our district website by clicking on the SDW - Optimizing our Future tab.

The challenges in enrollment have, in turn, created budgetary pressures on the District. Generally, we have been able to manage those pressures through a combination of retirements, operational adjustments, varying our educational delivery systems, facility footprint adjustments, and voluntary staff attrition.

However, inflation in recent years, along with limits on those one-time measures, is making balancing the budget more difficult, and the District faces an annual structural budget deficit of three to four million dollars.

Despite these challenges, we remain committed to providing our students and their families with excellent educational options. We will also continue investing in curricular resources and professional development for our staff. To ensure we live up to those commitments, it is the administration’s belief that facility rightsizing needs to be part of the conversation in the years to come. For planning purposes, the administration has established long-range student capacity targets for our buildings to help guide these long-range budgeting & capital improvement project conversations.

Our initial plan was to reduce SDW’s building capacity by 10-15% - in line with the current declining enrollment trend.

2

LONG RANGE PLANNING INTRODUCTION The School District of Waukesha has experience undertaking an effort like this. We have previously addressed the facility footprint a number of times to align with evolving District needs as outlined below: Previous School Closure(s) / Sale of District Buildings: Pleasant Hill Elementary - 2010 (leased to the Richardson School) Blair Elementary - 2019 (repurposed to Admin Building - March 2023) Whittier Elementary - 2022 (reopened as STEM Elementary - Fall 2023) Randall STEM Elementary - 2023 (sold to Carroll University) Lindholm Admin Building - 2023 (sold to Carroll University) By tackling this work now, we will enhance the services we provide to the families we serve in fewer, better utilized, buildings. Without this work, we likely cannot make that promise to our community and would find ourselves in a more difficult position as the situation compounds in the coming years. The first step of this work will focus on our K-8 schools. We will keep monitoring our enrollment trends, and if those continue to decline, we will be obligated to assess the entire K-12 system. No changes would occur before the 2026-27 school year.

Our website will feature a one stop shop for information regarding this long range budget planning effort and work. You can get the most up to date information on our district website by clicking on the SDW Optimizing our Future tab.

This work will be addressed in three phases as outlined below:

PHASE 01: INFORMATION SHARING April - May Hold public information sessions on District-wide SDW enrollment and our objective for calendar year 2025.

PHASE 02: GATHERING INPUT May - October Refinement of final plan proposal(s) along with internal and external communication/input sessions.

PHASE 03: PRESENTING A RECOMMENDATION October - December Recommendation brought forward for Board of Education consideration.

We know this work will come with its own challenges, and no doubt, strong emotions. We all have connections to specific places that have been part of our educational development. We believe this is a credit to the quality of the experiences we provide as a District. However, by working together and staying ahead of the realities of the future, we know we can maintain the high-quality education that underpins those experiences. No matter the number of buildings within SDW, we will continue teaching current and future generations of students the skills to be community, college, and career ready.

LONG RANGE PLANNING WEBSITE

3

Calendar of Events DECEMBER

2025

APPLY FOR

ANNUAL REGISTRATION

SCHOOL CHOICE DECEMBER 2025

December 11, 2025

Dual Language Parent Information Night

JANUARY 2026 JANUARY

2026

SUMMER SCHOOL

January 5 - January 30

School Choice

January 5 - January 30

Charter Application Window

STEM Elementary - Lottery Drawing: Week of February 9th STEM Middle School - Lottery Drawing: Week of February 9th WAHP - (Waukesha Academy of Health Professions) WEPA - (Waukesha Engineering PreparatoryAcademy) Montesssori School of Waukesha

FEBRUARY

2026

Monday, January 6, 2026 Wednesday, January 7, 2026 Thursday, January 8, 2026

South, WAHP, WEPA Open House West Open House North Open House

Monday, January 12, 2026 Butler Open House Wednesday, January 14, 2026 Les Paul Open House Thursday, January 15, 2026 Horning Open House

MARCH

2026

Tuesday, January 20, 2026

Before 4K Parent Night

Thursday, January 22, 2026

Dual Language Parent Information Night

Monday, January 5 Friday, February 27, 2026

4K Enrollment Application Window Lottery Drawing: March 13, 2026

APRIL

Monday, February 2 April 30, 2026

State of WI - Open Enrollment Application Window

Friday, March 13, 2026

4K Lottery drawing

2026

4

Enrollment Projections APPLY FOR SCHOOL CHOICE

ANNUAL REGISTRATION

Birth Rate

SUMMER SCHOOL

7th Largest District in WI

Current brick and mortar enrollment as of the 24-25 school year - 9,675 students with a 2% decline in enrollment per school year.

By 2030 - down 10% to 8,707 students - $15 million in budget reductions with additional rightsizing of employee groups.

By 2035 - down another 10% to 7,837 students $30 million in budget reductions with additional rightsizing of employee groups.

In 2035 - we would be the current size of Elmbrook, which has five elementary schools, two middle schools and two high schools.

5

Option E: Elementary Schools 4K - 5

DUAL LANGUAGE ELEMENTARY

TRADITIONAL ELEMENTARY

Elementary: Gr. 4k-5 TOTAL CAPACITY: 4,370

HADFIELD Capacity: 467

HILLCREST MEADOWBROOK PRAIRIE Capacity: 370 Capacity: 304 Capacity: 436

Rose Glen Capacity: 558

SUMMIT VIEW Capacity: 608

25-26 Enrollment: 3,782 25-26 Capacity: 87%

Middle School: Gr. 6-8 BANTING BETHESDA HEYER Capacity: 558 Capacity: 558 Capacity: 511

TOTAL CAPACITY: 1,850 K-8 STEM @ Les Paul

SECONDARY SCHOOLS

24-25 Enrollment: 3,932 24-25 Capacity: 90%

BUTLER MS: Dual CapacitY: 925

HorNING MS: Dual CapacitY: 925

Total CapacitY: 825 24-25 Capacity: 70% 25-26 Capacity: 74%

24-25 Enrollment: 1,869 24-25 Capacity: 101% 25-26 Enrollment: 1,770 25-26 Capacity: 96%

HIGH School: Gr. 9-12 TOTAL CAPACITY: 4,333 NORth HS: Dual Capacity: 1,228

SOuth HS: Dual Capacity: 1,282

24-25 Enrollment: 3,175 24-25 Capacity: 73%

WEST HS: Dual Capacity: 1,823

25-26 Enrollment: 3,100 25-26 Capacity: 72%

Building Changes/Repurpose or Closure K-8 STEM School at Les Paul Two middle schools: Butler MS and Horning MS Three elementary dual language sites at Banting, Bethesda and Heyer based on enrollment Close, repurpose or sell Hawthorne Close, repurpose Lowell Close, repurpose or sell Whittier

Potential Sale of Buildings:

18%

SEAT REDUCTION (2,456)

East/WTA Moves to Lowell

Pleasant Hill Saratoga/Saratoga Complex Whiterock

15%

Est. Budget Savings

$3.2 - $3.7 Million * Not including potential sale of district property

Includes staffing and building operational savings

SEAT REDUCTION (1,976)

6

Option E: Elementary Boundaries CURRENT ELEMENTARY BOUNDARIES

DRAFT BOUNDARIES Three Dual Language schools based on enrollment

BANTING Capacity: 558

BETHESDA HEYER Capacity: 558 Capacity: 511

EST. WALKING & TRANSPORTATION

84%

16% 0-2 MILE WALK RADIUS Inner rings = 1 Mile walk radius Outer rings = 2 mile walk radius

BUSSING

* Not including hazardous areas

7

Option E: Middle School Boundaries CURRENT MIDDLE SCHOOL BOUNDARIES

DRAFT BOUNDARIES

EST. WALKING & TRANSPORTATION

48%

Inner rings = 1 Mile walk radius Outer rings = 2 mile walk radius

0-2 MILE WALK RADIUS

52%

BUSSING

* Not including hazardous areas

8

Option E: Considerations INITIAL CONSIDERATIONS Budget/Building 1.Continue short and long-term budget planning, including any potential real estate transactions.

2.Review the capital improvement plan and revise the deferred maintenance schedule for the buildings remaining in our operating footprint.

3.Review potential building modifications given Optimizing Our Future decisions and consider priorities and financial commitment.

4.Review/Revise drop off pick up routes, parking, and overall site traffic patterns for some schools.

Teaching and Learning and Student Services 1.Re-evaluate 4K and other Early Learning offerings at each school.

Is a full-day 4K offering at each elementary school a priority?

Learningneeded for early childhood education, Consider the space and the eaching numberand of sections Re-evaluate 4K and ot given the increasing population.

2.Re-evaluate the student services staffing structure, specifically deans/behavior support staff and determine the financial impact.

9

Option F: Elementary Schools 4K-6 Grade TRADITIONAL ELEMENTARY

Elementary: Gr. 4k-6 TOTAL CAPACITY: 4,850 LOWEll HADFIELD HILLCREST MEADOWBROOK PRAIRIE Capacity: 467 Capacity: 370 Capacity: 480 Capacity: 304 Capacity: 436

24-25 Enrollment: 4,493 24-25 Capacity: 93% 25-26 Enrollment: 4,360 25-26 Capacity: 90%

MIDDLE SCHOOLS

DUAL LANGUAGE ELEMENTARY

Middle School: Gr. 7-8 Rose Glen Capacity: 558

SUMMIT VIEW Capacity: 608

TOTAL CAPACITY: 1,850 24-25 Enrollment: 1,308 24-25 Capacity: 71%

HEYER BANTING BETHESDA Capacity: 558 Capacity: 558 Capacity: 511

BUTLER MS: Dual CapacitY: 925

K-8 STEM @ Les Paul Total CapacitY: 825 24-25 Capacity: 70% 25-26 Capacity: 74%

25-26 Enrollment: 1,192 25-26 Capacity: 64%

HIGH School: Gr. 9-12 TOTAL CAPACITY: 4,333 24-25 Enrollment: 3,175 24-25 Capacity: 73%

HorNING MS: Dual CapacitY: 925

HIGH SCHOOLS

25-26 Enrollment: 3,100 25-26 Capacity: 72% NORth HS: Dual Capacity: 1,228

SOuth HS: Dual Capacity: 1,282

WEST HS: Dual Capacity: 1,823

Building Changes/Repurpose or Closure K-8 STEM School at Les Paul Two middle schools: Butler MS and Horning MS Three elementary dual language sites at Banting, Bethesda, and Heyer based on enrollment Close or repurpose Whittier

15%

SEAT REDUCTION (1,976)

East/WTA Potential Sale of Buildings: Pleasant Hill Saratoga/Saratoga Complex Whiterock

Est. Budget Savings

$2.4-$2.9 Million

Moves to Whittier

11% Includes staffing and building operational savings

* Not including potential sale of district property

SEAT REDUCTION (1,553)

10

Option F: Elementary Boundaries CURRENT ELEMENTARY BOUNDARIES

DRAFT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BOUNDARIES W/ DUAL LANGUAGE SCHOOLS Three Dual Language schools based on enrollment

BANTING Capacity: 558

BETHESDA HEYER Capacity: 558 Capacity: 511

EST. WALKING & TRANSPORTATION

76%

24%

0-2 MILE WALK RADIUS

Inner rings = 1 Mile walk radius Outer rings = 2 mile walk radius

BUSSING

* Not including hazardous areas

11

Option F: Middle School Boundaries CURRENT MIDDLE SCHOOL BOUNDARIES

DRAFT MIDDLE SCHOOL BOUNDARIES

EST. WALKING & TRANSPORTATION

48%

12

Inner rings = 1 Mile walk radius Outer rings = 2 mile walk radius

0-2 MILE WALK RADIUS

52%

BUSSING

* Not including hazardous areas

12

Option F: Considerations INITAL CONSIDERATIONS Budget/Building Budget/Building Continue short and long-term budget planning, including any potential real estate transaction.

Review the capital improvement plan and revise the deferred maintenance schedule for the buildings remaining in our operating footprint.

Review potential building modifications given Optimizing Our Future decisions and consider priorities and financial commitment.

Review/Revise drop off pick up routes, parking, and overall site traffic patterns.

1.Continue short and long-term budget planning, including any potential real estate transactions.

2.Review the capital improvement plan and revise the deferred maintenance schedule for the buildings remaining in our operating footprint.

3.Review potential building modifications given Optimizing Our Future decisions and consider priorities and financial commitment.

4.Review/Revise drop off pick up routes, parking, and overall site traffic patterns.

Teaching and Learning and Student Services 1.Articulate a vision for the 6th grade student experience at the elementary schools; to include a.Extra-curricular offerings b.Elective offerings c.Advanced math and music offerings 2.Review/revise the curriculum review timeline to allow for students in 6th grade to continue with current K-5 resources for math and literature. a.Math (iReady) est. $113,000 b.Literacy (Benchmark) TBD 3.Re-evaluate 4K and other Early Learning offerings at each school. a.Is a full-day 4K offering at each elementary school a priority? b.Consider space and the number of sections needed for early childhood, given the increase in population.

4.Re-evaluate the student services staffing structure, specifically deans/behavior support staff and determine the financial impact.

13

TRADITIONAL ELEMENTARY

Option G: 4K-6, 7-12 School Structure Elementary: Gr. 4k-6 LOWEll HADFIELD HILLCREST MEADOWBROOK PRAIRIE Capacity: 467 Capacity: 370 Capacity: 480 Capacity: 304 Capacity: 436

DUAL LANGUAGE ELEMENTARY

24-25 Enrollment: 4,493 24-25 Capacity: 93% 25-26 Enrollment: 4,360 25-26 Capacity: 90%

SUMMIT VIEW Rose Glen Capacity: 558 Capacity: 608

SECONDARY SCHOOLS

TOTAL CAPACITY: 4,850

K-8 STEM @ Les Paul

BANTING Capacity: 558

BETHESDA Capacity: 558

Total Capacity: 825 24-25 Capacity: 70% 25-26 Capacity: 74%

HEYER Capacity: 511

HIGH School: Gr. 7-12 TOTAL CAPACITY: 4,333 24-25 Enrollment: 4,483 24-25 Capacity: 103%

NORth HS: Dual Capacity: 1,228

SOuth HS: Dual Capacity: 1,282

25-26 Enrollment: 4,292 25-26 Capacity: 99%

WEST HS: Dual Capacity: 1,823

Building Changes/Repurpose or Closure K-8 STEM School at Les Paul K-6 Sites: Banting, Bethesda, Hadfield, Heyer, Hillcrest, Lowell, Meadowbrook, Prairie, Rose Glen, & Summit View 7-12 Sites: North, South, and West Close, sell or repurpose Butler MS Close, sell or repurpose Horning MS Close or repurpose Hawthorne Close or repurpose Whittier (possible South overflow site)

28% SEAT REDUCTION (3,826)

East/WTA Moves to Hawthorne

Potential Sale of Buildings: Pleasant Hill Saratoga/Saratoga Complex Whiterock

25% Est. Budget Savings

$4.0-4.6 Million

Includes staffing and building operational savings

* Not including potential sale of district property

SEAT REDUCTION (3,356)

14

Option G: Proposed Boundaries CURRENT SECONDARY BOUNDARIES

DRAFT HIGH SCHOOL SCHOOL BOUNDARIES

EST. WALKING & TRANSPORTATION 73%

27%

1-2 MILE WALK RADIUS Inner rings = 1 Mile walk radius Outer rings = 2 mile walk radius

BUSSING

* Not including hazardous areas

15

7-12 Buildings Traffic Proposed second parent pick up/drop off using doors off of 700 hallways Review/revise traffic patterns as needed

NORTH HIGH SCHOOL

Traffic Propose second parent pick up/drop off at Door 22 (staff parking lot) Review/revise traffic patterns as needed

SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL

Traffic

Propose second parent pick up/drop off in back of the building Review/revise traffic patterns as needed

WEST HIGH SCHOOL

Total Capacity: 4,333 24-25 Enrollment: 4,483 24-25 Capacity: 103%

for all three buildings

25-26 Enrollment: 4,292 25-26 Capacity: 99%

16

Option G: Common Building Use

Cafeteria

Locker Rooms

Bathrooms

Common spaces in the building, such as the cafeteria, locker rooms and bathrooms, would be available for all students throughout the building.

INITIAL CONSIDERATIONS Budget/Building 1.Continue short and long-term budget planning, including any potential real estate transactions.

2.Review the capital improvement plan and revise the deferred maintenance schedule for the buildings remaining in our operating footprint.

3.Review potential building modifications given Optimizing Our Future decisions and consider priorities and financial commitment.

4.Determine if there will be a dedicated space for 7th and 8th grade core classes (Math and ELA).

5.Review the number and the location of bathrooms to determine if additional bathrooms are recommended for building modifications.

6.Evaluate middle school and high school library materials and storage space used for curriculum resources.

7.Determine the number of phy-ed classes that can be scheduled at one time based on gym capacity 8.Identify grade level organization for the locker room space.

9.Investigate the use of lab time for science classes rather than one teacher having a lab area and a separate class area.

10.Engage in athletic and activities planning for shared spaces (auditorium, track, etc.).

Teaching and Learning and Student Services (In addition to Option E and F Considerations) 1.Review/Revise the curriculum review timeline to ensure a K-6 and 7-12 resource plan and consider financial commitments and budget impact.

2.Course catalog revisions: Revise the 7th & 8th grade electives pathways with consideration around spaces (kitchen, etc.).

Determine what current 9-12 grade classes would be available for middle school students, and how these factors into student credits and GPA.

17

This full analysis was presented on October 8, 2025, to the School Board of Waukesha.