Wisconsin · Greenfield · Milwaukee County · CESA 01

Greenfield School District

District briefing, fall 2026: enrollment, achievement, finances and property taxes.

On the ballot · November 3, 2026

Greenfield School District: 2 referendum questions

Question 1

Shall the School District of Greenfield, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin that the revenues included in the School District budget be authorized to exceed the revenue limit specified in Section 121.91, Wisconsin Statutes by $5,000,000 beginning in the 2027-28 school year and every school year thereafter, through the 2030-31 school year, on a non-recurring basis for the purpose of operational expenditures related to sustaining class size, maintaining and supporting instructional programming, attracting and retaining high-quality staff, maintaining student mental health supports, staying current with educational technology, maintaining student transportation services, and other educational expenditures?

Source: county clerk notice

Question 2

Shall the foregoing resolution of the Board of Education of the School District of Greenfield be approved: BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Education of the School District of Greenfield, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin shall be issued pursuant to Chapter 67 of the Wisconsin Statues, general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $35,000,000 for the public purpose of paying the cost of school facility improvement projects consisting of capital maintenance and improvement, safety, security, and other site improvements at schools of the School District; and acquisition of furnishings, fixtures, and equipment?

Source: county clerk notice

Enrollment
3,759
2024-25
Revenue-limit members
3,387
2025-26 funding count
Enrollment, 5 yr
+5.1%
headcount change · peers −0.1%
Forward ELA z
−0.43
last 3 tested years
Cost / member
$16,597
2024-25
Mill rate
6.77
statewide K-12 6.90
Home value
−33%
5-yr avg vs. 30 nearby districts
Teachers staying
89%
2025-26
Enrollment

3,759 students in 2024-25, +5.1% over five years while the regional peer median moved −0.1%.

Achievement

Forward Exam results average −0.43 (ELA) and −0.75 (math) on a z scale over the last three tested years, where 0 is the average Wisconsin district. ACT composite: 17.6 against a statewide median of 19.2.

Spending

$16,597 total cost per member in 2024-25, below the regional peer median of $16,920 and below the statewide median of $18,324.

Taxes

The school tax rate is 6.77 mills (2025-26), against a statewide K-12 median of 6.90; the 2025-26 levy is $22.2M, 13% of it referendum-approved debt.

Revenue limit

$14,393 per member under the state revenue limit, against a statewide K-12 median of $13,575; voters have decided 2 operating questions, passing 1, most recently Nov 2022 (non-recurring, passed).

Greenfield enrolled 3,759 students in 2024-25 (September membership). Since 2009-10 its enrollment has grown 28%; the median regional peer shrank 2% and the median Wisconsin district shrank 12%. The chart indexes each series to its 2009-10 level. Private schools inside the district's boundaries enroll 6.7% of school-age children (2024-25), against 9.7% in the median district.

GreenfieldRegional peers (median)Wisconsin (median district)
13212010795832009-102013-142017-182024-25

Students, 2025-26

Student group2025-262020-21Median WI district
Students with disabilities12.7%10.9%16.6%
English learners10.1%8.4%2.4%
Economically disadvantaged51.1%38.5%36.7%
White43.4%53.5%85.3%
Hispanic34.2%26.1%6.8%
Asian9.4%9.2%0.9%
Two or More7.3%6.0%3.9%
Black5.3%4.2%1.0%
Amer Indian0.4%0.7%0.4%
Pacific Isle0.2%0.4%0.1%

Community (ACS 2024)

MeasureGreenfieldMedian WI district
Median household income$67,776$77,317
Poverty rate8.9%8.3%
Adults with a bachelor's degree or more30.9%25.4%
Households with children20.5%25.9%
Residents 65 and older21.3%20.5%
Median home value$247,100$241,800

Home values against nearby districts

Across the five most recent Census releases (2016–20 to 2020–24), the median owner-occupied home in Greenfield averaged $211,600, 33% below the median of the 30 nearest districts (all within 17 miles) ($316,300). That ranks 24th of 31 in the area and at the 53rd percentile of Wisconsin districts (state median $205,920).

ACS 5-year releaseGreenfieldNearby medianDifferenceWisconsin median
2016–20$171,600$269,300−36%$172,200
2017–21$184,400$284,350−35%$182,750
2018–22$219,400$320,450−32%$210,250
2019–23$235,500$340,500−31%$227,050
2020–24$247,100$362,800−32%$241,800
Five-release average$211,600$316,300−33%$205,920

U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, median value of owner-occupied homes (table B25077), in nominal dollars. Consecutive releases share four of their five survey years, so the average is a smoothed level rather than five independent years. Nearby districts are those whose NCES office address lies within 25 miles of Greenfield's, limited to the 30 nearest: Maple Dale-Indian Hill (15 mi, $587,800); Whitefish Bay (11 mi, $460,600); North Cape (13 mi, $395,340); Shorewood (10 mi, $393,620); Fox Point J2 (16 mi, $392,360); Elmbrook (11 mi, $384,460); Hamilton (16 mi, $356,640); Muskego-Norway (10 mi, $355,600); Raymond #14 (11 mi, $340,140); Yorkville J2 (15 mi, $336,660); Washington-Caldwell (13 mi, $334,520); Norway J7 (10 mi, $333,680); Pewaukee (16 mi, $333,440); Franklin Public (5 mi, $323,320); New Berlin (5 mi, $318,200); Nicolet Union High School (13 mi, $314,400); Waukesha (13 mi, $293,300); Menomonee Falls (16 mi, $291,260); Wauwatosa (8 mi, $290,040); Oak Creek-Franklin Joint (5 mi, $283,200); Whitnall (4 mi, $277,300); Greendale (2 mi, $268,980); Glendale-River Hills (12 mi, $248,680); Brown Deer (15 mi, $202,540); South Milwaukee (6 mi, $197,900); Saint Francis (7 mi, $193,300); Racine Unified (17 mi, $186,260); Cudahy (6 mi, $185,700); West Allis-West Milwaukee (4 mi, $178,780); Milwaukee (6 mi, $155,540).

Enrollment and the funding count

Wisconsin's revenue limit, which caps what a district may raise from general state aid and the property tax combined, is set per member using a three-year rolling average of membership: each September's full-time-equivalent count plus 40% of summer-school FTE. Greenfield's revenue-limit membership for 2025-26 is 3,387.

School yearEnrolled studentsRevenue-limit membershipPer enrolled student
2020-213,4713,3970.98
2021-223,4983,3700.96
2022-233,6413,3620.92
2023-243,6053,3760.94
2024-253,7593,4170.91
2025-26—3,387—

DPI revenue limit worksheets (three-year average membership) and DPI September membership. Years without a membership count show a dash.

In spring 2025, 49% of Greenfield students met or exceeded Forward standards in ELA and 46% in math, against 54% and 57% in the median Wisconsin district.

On a z scale, which puts every year on the same footing across the 2023-24 rescaling, Greenfield averaged −0.43 in ELA and −0.75 in math over the last three tested years, against −0.24 and −0.65 in its first three years on file.

GreenfieldRegional peers (median)Average Wisconsin district (0)

ELA

+0.99+0.55+0.12−0.32−0.752015-162019-202024-25

Math

+1.11+0.56+0.01−0.54−1.092015-162019-202024-25

Wisconsin rescaled the Forward Exam in 2023-24. Z-scores standardize each year's result against every comparable district that year (0 = the average district; +1 = one standard deviation above), so years on either side of a test or cut-score change can be compared. Testing was canceled in spring 2020.

Attendance, ACT, college-going and discipline

MeasureGreenfieldRegional peersWisconsin medianYear
Attendance rate93.4%94.5%94.3%2024-25
Chronic absenteeism13.0%9.6%10.9%2024-25
ACT composite (grade 11)17.620.719.22024-25
Enrolled in college the first fall100.0%100.0%100.0%2024-25
Suspensions and expulsions per 1,000152.149.133.02024-25

DPI WISEdash files. Chronic absenteeism = share of students missing 10% or more of enrolled days.

Greenfield's total cost per member was $16,597 in 2024-25, against $16,920 for the median regional peer and $18,324 for the median Wisconsin district. Local property tax paid for 36% of revenue, against 38% statewide.

GreenfieldRegional peers (median)Wisconsin (median district)
$19,255$16,851$14,447$12,043$9,6382006-072010-112014-152018-192024-25

The revenue limit allows $14,393 per member for 2025-26, above the statewide K-12 median of $13,575 and above the regional peer median of $13,218. The limit counts general state aid and the property tax together, so state aid changes move the levy rather than total revenue. Voters have decided 2 operating questions, passing 1, most recently nov 2022 (non-recurring, passed).

GreenfieldRegional peers (median)Wisconsin (median district)
$15,081$13,303$11,526$9,749$7,9712005-062009-102013-142017-182021-222025-26

Total district cost per member and revenue shares: DPI comparative cost data. Revenue limit: DPI revenue limit worksheets; statewide comparison is K-12 districts only.

The district's 2025-26 levy is $22.2M, at a rate of 6.77 mills per $1,000 of equalized value (statewide K-12 median 6.90). 13% of the levy repays referendum-approved debt (Fund 39).

Levy yearTotal levyGeneral fund (Fund 10)Referendum debt (Fund 39)Mill rate
2020-21$20.6M$15.1M$4.4M8.88
2021-22$20.7M$14.8M$5.0M8.70
2022-23$21.9M$12.6M$8.1M8.27
2023-24$22.2M$17.3M$3.6M7.64
2024-25$22.1M$17.3M$3.4M6.95
2025-26$22.2M$17.9M$2.9M6.77
GreenfieldRegional peers (median)Wisconsin (median district)
13.1911.419.637.866.082006-072010-112014-152018-192025-26

The median residential property-tax bill inside the district, all governments, was $4,416 in 2025 (statewide median $2,766). The full bill on the median home comes to 6.4% of median household income, and the school portion on that home ($247,100) is about $1,717.

Property tax on the median home, by taxing authority, payable 2026

A home at Greenfield's median value, about $306,000 at the current assessment, owes roughly $5,610 in property tax for taxes payable 2026. The school district's part is $2,070 (34% before credits); the rest goes to the county, the city, village or town, the technical college district and special districts such as sanitary and lake districts, less the state's school levy tax credit. That bill is $710 less than the average regional peer's median home.

Taxing authorityGreenfieldRegional peers (average)
School district$2,070 34%$2,900 42%
Technical college$230 4%$250 4%
County$960 16%$1,080 16%
City, village or town$1,990 33%$1,940 28%
Special districts$810 13%$730 11%
State school levy tax credit−$450−$590
Total$5,610$6,320
Median home value$306,000$416,000

Each column is the tax on that district's own median home; peer columns average the districts in the group. The percentage is each authority's share of the bill before credits.

The same $306,000 home at each group's tax rates

Holding the house constant separates tax rates from home values. Taxed at Greenfield's rates the home owes $5,610; at the regional peers' rates it would owe $4,910 on average.

Taxing authorityGreenfieldRegional peers (average)
School district$2,070 34%$2,200 41%
Technical college$230 4%$190 4%
County$960 16%$820 15%
City, village or town$1,990 33%$1,550 29%
Special districts$810 13%$590 11%
State school levy tax credit−$450−$440
Total$5,610$4,910
Tax as a share of home value1.84%1.61%

Wisconsin Department of Revenue, Town, Village and City Taxes, 2025 levies (taxes payable 2026): each taxing body's levy over the full value it is spread on. The school rate is the district's own levy over its equalized value; county, municipal, technical college and special-district rates are averages over the towns, villages and cities the district covers, weighted by its value in each, so a home in any one of them pays somewhat more or less. The school levy tax credit is the state-paid credit DOR spreads by municipality; the lottery and gaming credit and first dollar credit, applied per parcel, are not included. Median home value: Census ACS 2024 5-year median for owner-occupied homes, brought to January 1, 2025 values by the change in the district's TIF-out equalized value since 2022. The parcel-based median bill above runs lower because it covers every residential parcel, including vacant lots, condominiums and smaller homes, and is net of the per-parcel credits.

Levy by fund and equalized value: DPI and Department of Revenue. Typical bill: parcel-level residential bills inside the district boundary; school portion applies the school mill rate to the ACS median home value and is an estimate.

Voters have decided 9 referendum questions since 2002 and approved 6.

ElectionTypePurposeAmountYesResult
Nov 2022OperatingResolution authorizing the School District budget exceed the revenue limit by $5,000,00...$20.0M61.9%Passed
Apr 2008Capital$5,975,000 for the cost of constructing a swimming pool addition to the high school and...$6.0M52.1%Passed
Apr 2008Capital$410,000 for the cost of demolition work; constructing a new utility building on the hi...$0.4M54.7%Passed
Feb 2007CapitalConstructing and equipping a new High School auditorium$4.3M53.6%Passed
Feb 2007CapitalHigh School renovations$37.8M57.3%Passed
Apr 2003Capitaldemolish existing HS and construct new HS including pool; equipment/furnishings/fixtures$39.9M38.6%Failed
Apr 2003Capitalconstruct addition and/or remodel and improve Edgewood and Glenwood schools; furnishing...$5.0M50.8%Passed
Apr 2002Operatingoeprating costs and maintenance of facilities$0.5M34.1%Failed
Apr 2002Capitalconstruct new HS facility, demolish existing school; site development; repair projects ...$45.5M39.7%Failed

DPI referenda file, 1993 onward.

89% of Greenfield's teachers stayed in the district into 2025-26, against 90% for the median regional peer and 91% statewide; 7% left Wisconsin public schools. Average teacher salary was $73,446, against $71,017 for the median peer and $61,273 statewide.

GreenfieldRegional peers (median)Wisconsin (median district)
97%93%90%87%83%2016-172018-192020-212022-232024-25

Staff by role, 2016-17 to 2025-26

RoleHeadcount, firstHeadcount, lastChangePeer median change
Administrators18180%+8%
Teachers237264+11%+1%
Aides/Paraprofessionals38380%+4%
Pupil Services1521+40%+9%
Other242214−12%+4%

DPI All Staff files: distinct people by role. Peer median change across the regional peers.

DPI All Staff files, person-level, linked year to year.

Wherever this briefing sets Greenfield beside other districts, it uses the group below. A group figure is the middle value across its members (the property-tax tables on the median home use the average instead), each counted equally, so one large member cannot dominate it.

Regional peers 12 districts

The 12 Wisconsin districts of the same type most like Greenfield on four measures: distance and CESA (30% of the weight), total cost per member (30%), the Census child poverty rate (25%) and locale, meaning city, suburb, town or rural (15%). Districts under 400 students are not eligible.

DistrictCountyCESALocaleMiles awayEnrollmentCost per member
GreendaleMilwaukee01Suburb22,434$18,628
WhitnallMilwaukee01Suburb42,110$17,236
West Allis-West MilwaukeeMilwaukee01Suburb48,149$16,599
Franklin PublicMilwaukee01Suburb54,488$15,589
Saint FrancisMilwaukee01Suburb6806$20,666
CudahyMilwaukee01Suburb62,262$18,402
Oak Creek-Franklin JointMilwaukee01Suburb76,325$16,203
South MilwaukeeMilwaukee01Suburb72,778$17,371
Muskego-NorwayWaukesha01Suburb104,758$16,787
ElmbrookWaukesha01Suburb108,124$16,005
Whitefish BayMilwaukee01Suburb112,817$14,544
Menomonee FallsWaukesha01Suburb154,066$17,052

“Wisconsin median” is the middle value across Wisconsin districts; property-tax and revenue-limit comparisons use K-12 districts only, because elementary and union high school districts overlap the same territory.