Wisconsin · Reedsburg · Sauk County · CESA 05

Reedsburg School District

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

On the ballot · November 3, 2026

Reedsburg School District: one referendum question

Shall the School District of Reedsburg, Sauk and Juneau Counties, Wisconsin be authorized to issue pursuant to Chapter 67 of the Wisconsin Statutes, general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $83,000,000 for the public purpose of paying the cost of a school building project consisting of: construction of a new middle school on district-owned land, site improvements, and acquisition of furnishings, fixtures and equipment?

Source: newspaper legal notice

Enrollment
2,676
2024-25
Revenue-limit members
2,567
2025-26 funding count
Enrollment, 5 yr
−5.8%
headcount change · peers −2.8%
Forward ELA z
−0.42
last 3 tested years
Cost / member
$17,810
2024-25
Mill rate
7.00
statewide K-12 6.90
Home value
+12%
5-yr avg vs. 11 nearby districts
Teachers staying
96%
2025-26
Enrollment

2,676 students in 2024-25, −5.8% over five years while the regional peer median moved −2.8%.

Achievement

Forward Exam results average −0.42 (ELA) and +0.12 (math) on a z scale over the last three tested years, where 0 is the average Wisconsin district. ACT composite: 18.8 against a statewide median of 19.2.

Spending

$17,810 total cost per member in 2024-25, below the regional peer median of $18,254 and below the statewide median of $18,324.

Taxes

The school tax rate is 7.00 mills (2025-26), against a statewide K-12 median of 6.90; the 2025-26 levy is $18.5M, 39% of it referendum-approved debt.

Revenue limit

$12,252 per member under the state revenue limit, against a statewide K-12 median of $13,575; voters have decided 17 operating questions, passing 5, most recently Apr 2026 (non-recurring, passed).

Reedsburg enrolled 2,676 students in 2024-25 (September membership). Since 2009-10 its enrollment has grown 5%; the median regional peer shrank 8% 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 10.5% of school-age children (2024-25), against 9.7% in the median district.

ReedsburgRegional peers (median)Wisconsin (median district)
1141079992852009-102013-142017-182024-25

Students, 2025-26

Student group2025-262020-21Median WI district
Students with disabilities21.3%18.0%16.6%
English learners4.8%4.4%2.4%
Economically disadvantaged41.8%47.9%36.7%
White79.6%82.9%85.3%
Hispanic13.0%10.0%6.8%
Two or More5.1%3.6%3.9%
Black1.4%1.9%1.0%
Amer Indian0.6%1.0%0.4%
Asian0.4%0.6%0.9%
Pacific Isle—0.0%0.1%

Community (ACS 2024)

MeasureReedsburgMedian WI district
Median household income$77,681$77,317
Poverty rate7.8%8.3%
Adults with a bachelor's degree or more24.7%25.4%
Households with children32.2%25.9%
Residents 65 and older21.0%20.5%
Median home value$246,000$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 Reedsburg averaged $209,700, 12% above the median of the 11 districts within 25 miles ($187,920). That ranks 3rd of 12 in the area and at the 52nd percentile of Wisconsin districts (state median $205,920).

ACS 5-year releaseReedsburgNearby medianDifferenceWisconsin median
2016–20$168,900$161,000+5%$172,200
2017–21$186,000$165,800+12%$182,750
2018–22$213,200$183,000+17%$210,250
2019–23$234,400$205,000+14%$227,050
2020–24$246,000$227,500+8%$241,800
Five-release average$209,700$187,920+12%$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 Reedsburg's: Sauk Prairie (22 mi, $299,460); River Valley (24 mi, $220,100); Baraboo (13 mi, $205,460); Wonewoc-Union Center (14 mi, $201,460); Ithaca (18 mi, $192,020); Wisconsin Dells (14 mi, $187,920); Weston (9 mi, $187,380); Royall (20 mi, $176,320); Hillsboro (19 mi, $170,920); Richland (23 mi, $163,960); Mauston (18 mi, $158,760).

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. Reedsburg's revenue-limit membership for 2025-26 is 2,567.

School yearEnrolled studentsRevenue-limit membershipPer enrolled student
2020-212,6562,7261.03
2021-222,6802,6841.00
2022-232,6902,6230.98
2023-242,6792,6120.97
2024-252,6762,5930.97
2025-26—2,567—

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

In spring 2025, 47% of Reedsburg students met or exceeded Forward standards in ELA and 59% 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, Reedsburg averaged −0.42 in ELA and +0.12 in math over the last three tested years, against −0.04 and −0.21 in its first three years on file.

ReedsburgRegional peers (median)Average Wisconsin district (0)

ELA

+0.35+0.10−0.14−0.38−0.632015-162019-202024-25

Math

+0.30+0.02−0.25−0.53−0.812015-162019-202024-25

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

MeasureReedsburgRegional peersWisconsin medianYear
Attendance rate93.2%93.7%94.3%2024-25
Chronic absenteeism18.4%11.7%10.9%2024-25
ACT composite (grade 11)18.819.419.22024-25
Enrolled in college the first fall100.0%100.0%100.0%2024-25
Suspensions and expulsions per 1,00014.738.533.02024-25

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

Reedsburg's total cost per member was $17,810 in 2024-25, against $18,254 for the median regional peer and $18,324 for the median Wisconsin district. Local property tax paid for 34% of revenue, against 38% statewide.

ReedsburgRegional peers (median)Wisconsin (median district)
$19,185$16,962$14,738$12,514$10,2902006-072010-112014-152018-192024-25

The revenue limit allows $12,252 per member for 2025-26, below the statewide K-12 median of $13,575 and below the regional peer median of $13,841. 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 17 operating questions, passing 5, most recently apr 2026 (non-recurring, passed).

ReedsburgRegional peers (median)Wisconsin (median district)
$14,488$12,815$11,141$9,467$7,7932005-062009-102013-142017-182021-222025-26

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 $18.5M, at a rate of 7.00 mills per $1,000 of equalized value (statewide K-12 median 6.90). 39% of the levy repays referendum-approved debt (Fund 39).

Levy yearTotal levyGeneral fund (Fund 10)Referendum debt (Fund 39)Mill rate
2020-21$12.6M$9.9M$2.6M7.93
2021-22$12.8M$10.1M$2.6M7.63
2022-23$14.6M$9.4M$5.0M7.63
2023-24$15.2M$9.7M$5.2M7.00
2024-25$16.7M$10.1M$6.4M7.00
2025-26$18.5M$11.0M$7.3M7.00
ReedsburgRegional peers (median)Wisconsin (median district)
11.109.948.787.616.452006-072010-112014-152018-192025-26

The median residential property-tax bill inside the district, all governments, was $3,374 in 2025 (statewide median $2,766). The full bill on the median home comes to 3.9% of median household income, and the school portion on that home ($246,000) is about $1,722.

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

A home at Reedsburg's median value, about $340,000 at the current assessment, owes roughly $4,860 in property tax for taxes payable 2026. The school district's part is $2,380 (45% 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 $230 more than the average regional peer's median home.

Taxing authorityReedsburgRegional peers (average)
School district$2,380 45%$2,540 50%
Technical college$200 4%$220 4%
County$1,030 19%$1,160 23%
City, village or town$1,440 27%$990 19%
Special districts$240 5%$190 4%
State school levy tax credit−$440−$490
Total$4,860$4,630
Median home value$340,000$354,000

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 $340,000 home at each group's tax rates

Holding the house constant separates tax rates from home values. Taxed at Reedsburg's rates the home owes $4,860; at the regional peers' rates it would owe $4,460 on average.

Taxing authorityReedsburgRegional peers (average)
School district$2,380 45%$2,400 49%
Technical college$200 4%$220 4%
County$1,030 19%$1,150 23%
City, village or town$1,440 27%$950 19%
Special districts$240 5%$190 4%
State school levy tax credit−$440−$460
Total$4,860$4,460
Tax as a share of home value1.43%1.31%

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 23 referendum questions since 1995 and approved 8.

ElectionTypePurposeAmountYesResult
Apr 2026OperatingNon-recurring referendum to exceed revenue limit by $2,500,000 per year for four years.$10.0M58.4%Passed
Nov 2024OperatingNon-recurring referendum to exceed revenue limit by $4,000,000 per year for four years$16.0M46.9%Failed
Nov 2024CapitalGeneral obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $14,000,000 to pay the cost of a sc...$14.0M50.8%Passed
Oct 2017CapitalBuild a new elementary school, a new transportation facility, site purchase and improve...$32.0M70.2%Passed
Apr 2010OperatingIncrease Revenue Limits to Maintain Current Programming and Services$4.0M37.4%Failed
Apr 2009OperatingIncrease Revenue Limits to Fund Start-Up of 4-year-old Kindergarten Program.$1.2M29.5%Failed
Apr 2009OperatingIncrease Revenue Limits to Maintain Current Programming and Services$2.4M40.0%Failed
Apr 2003Operatingmaintain current programs and services$0.8M55.4%Passed
Apr 2003Operatingmaintain current programs and services$0.3M55.4%Passed
Apr 2003Operatingmaintain current programs and services$0.3M55.4%Passed
Apr 2003Operatingmaintain current programs and services$0.3M55.4%Passed
Feb 2003Operatingimprove programming and services$0.5M32.9%Failed
Feb 2003Operatingone percent additional salary increase for teaching staff$0.1M38.2%Failed
Feb 2003Operatingmaintain current programming and services$0.8M46.8%Failed
Feb 2003Operatingmaintain current programming and services$0.3M46.8%Failed
Feb 2003Operatingmaintain current programming and services$0.3M46.8%Failed
Feb 2003Operatingmaintain current programming and services$0.3M46.8%Failed
Apr 1998Operatingexceed revenue cap$0.7M40.6%Failed
Feb 1998Operatingexceed revenue cap$0.7M48.0%Failed
Sep 1996Capitalnew hs w/audit$17.5M52.7%Passed
May 1996CapitalQ 2: aud shell$0.8M37.4%Failed
May 1996CapitalQ 1: land purch, new h.s., various renov.$18.7M42.5%Failed
Apr 1995Capitalnew hs$22.5M28.6%Failed

DPI referenda file, 1993 onward.

96% of Reedsburg's teachers stayed in the district into 2025-26, against 91% for the median regional peer and 91% statewide; 2% left Wisconsin public schools. Average teacher salary was $73,024, against $61,184 for the median peer and $61,273 statewide.

ReedsburgRegional peers (median)Wisconsin (median district)
99%95%91%87%83%2016-172018-192020-212022-232024-25

Staff by role, 2016-17 to 2025-26

RoleHeadcount, firstHeadcount, lastChangePeer median change
Administrators12120%0%
Teachers179192+7%−2%
Aides/Paraprofessionals76760%−2%
Pupil Services1419+36%0%
Other116127+9%−7%

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 Reedsburg 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 Reedsburg 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
BarabooSauk05Town142,850$17,820
Wisconsin DellsSauk05Town171,808$18,294
MaustonJuneau05Rural171,439$17,486
Sauk PrairieSauk05Town182,594$19,008
Portage CommunityColumbia05Town262,113$18,141
LodiColumbia05Town281,514$19,088
New LisbonJuneau05Rural28557$18,669
PoynetteColumbia05Rural32993$19,574
Adams-Friendship AreaAdams05Rural331,443$17,990
Pardeeville AreaColumbia05Rural36866$16,493
Fall RiverColumbia05Town48490$18,338
ColumbusColumbia05Town491,173$18,214

“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.