Wisconsin · Seymour · Outagamie County · CESA 07

Seymour Community School District

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

On the ballot · November 3, 2026

Seymour Community School District: one referendum question

Shall the Seymour Community School District, Outagamie and Shawano Counties, Wisconsin be authorized to exceed the revenue limit specified in Section 121.91, Wisconsin Statutes, by $5,000,000 per year for three years, beginning with the 2027-2028 school year and ending with the 2029-2030 school year, for non-recurring purposes consisting of operational and maintenance expenses, including expenses related to staffing and to maintain programs and services?

Question as filed with DPI; not yet confirmed against a published notice

Enrollment
1,962
2024-25
Revenue-limit members
1,866
2025-26 funding count
Enrollment, 5 yr
−12.4%
headcount change · peers −4.1%
Forward ELA z
−0.28
last 3 tested years
Cost / member
$17,978
2024-25
Mill rate
7.97
statewide K-12 6.90
Home value
−2%
5-yr avg vs. 20 nearby districts
Survey responses
717
latest staff + parent
Enrollment

1,962 students in 2024-25, −12.4% over five years while the regional peer median moved −4.1%.

Achievement

Forward Exam results average −0.28 (ELA) and −0.37 (math) on a z scale over the last three tested years, where 0 is the average Wisconsin district. ACT composite: 18.6 against a statewide median of 19.2.

Spending

$17,978 total cost per member in 2024-25, above the regional peer median of $17,211 and below the statewide median of $18,324.

Taxes

The school tax rate is 7.97 mills (2025-26), against a statewide K-12 median of 6.90; the 2025-26 levy is $12.0M, 0% of it referendum-approved debt.

Revenue limit

$15,647 per member under the state revenue limit, against a statewide K-12 median of $13,575; voters have decided 4 operating questions, passing 3, most recently Apr 2024 (non-recurring, passed).

Survey results

717 parents and staff responses in the latest surveys. No survey index falls in the bottom third of surveyed districts.

School Perceptions surveyed Seymour's parents and staff. Each index below averages several survey items on a 1–5 scale. The percentile places the district among every Wisconsin district that took the same survey that school year; 50th is the middle.

Parent survey, 2020-21 n = 512

IndexDistrict (1–5)StatewideRegionalPercentile among surveyed districtsChange vs. prior survey
Child experience3.563.983.96——
Communication and involvement3.594.004.00——
District governance2.533.513.51——

Likelihood to recommend the district (0–10): 4.65 in 2021-22, statewide median 7.23.

Staff survey, 2020-21 n = 205

IndexDistrict (1–5)StatewideRegionalPercentile among surveyed districtsChange vs. prior survey
District governance2.723.263.26——
Educational quality3.443.703.71——
Resource adequacy4.114.014.01——
Student discipline2.452.822.82——
Voice & supervisor support3.563.623.62——

Likelihood to recommend the district (0–10): 5.74 in 2021-22, statewide median 6.40.

Statewide = mean across surveyed Wisconsin districts; regional = surveyed districts in the same region. Change compares the district's index with its previous survey of the same audience.

Seymour enrolled 1,962 students in 2024-25 (September membership). Since 2009-10 its enrollment has fallen 23%; the median regional peer shrank 6% and the median Wisconsin district shrank 12%. The chart indexes each series to its 2009-10 level.

SeymourRegional peers (median)Wisconsin (median district)
103968881742009-102013-142017-182024-25

Students, 2025-26

Student group2025-262020-21Median WI district
Students with disabilities16.0%13.5%16.6%
English learners1.0%1.2%2.4%
Economically disadvantaged37.0%38.6%36.7%
White76.6%79.1%85.3%
Amer Indian7.7%8.8%0.4%
Two or More7.5%6.4%3.9%
Hispanic6.5%4.6%6.8%
Asian1.1%0.7%0.9%
Black0.4%0.4%1.0%
Pacific Isle0.1%0.0%0.1%

Community (ACS 2024)

MeasureSeymourMedian WI district
Median household income$83,671$77,317
Poverty rate7.2%8.3%
Adults with a bachelor's degree or more19.8%25.4%
Households with children26.6%25.9%
Residents 65 and older19.5%20.5%
Median home value$251,300$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 Seymour averaged $213,900, 2% below the median of the 20 districts within 25 miles ($217,590). That ranks 13th of 21 in the area and at the 55th percentile of Wisconsin districts (state median $205,920).

ACS 5-year releaseSeymourNearby medianDifferenceWisconsin median
2016–20$174,700$179,000−2%$172,200
2017–21$195,400$188,100+4%$182,750
2018–22$217,800$222,250−2%$210,250
2019–23$230,300$239,250−4%$227,050
2020–24$251,300$256,700−2%$241,800
Five-release average$213,900$217,590−2%$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 Seymour's: Hortonville Area (19 mi, $301,800); De Pere (15 mi, $285,140); Howard-Suamico (14 mi, $283,900); Freedom Area (8 mi, $282,520); Pulaski Community (12 mi, $276,620); West De Pere (14 mi, $265,900); Wrightstown Community (15 mi, $262,540); Kimberly Area (16 mi, $253,860); Kaukauna Area (17 mi, $226,280); Shiocton (13 mi, $220,800); Neenah Joint (23 mi, $214,380); Ashwaubenon (12 mi, $214,240); Appleton Area (17 mi, $205,720); Bonduel (17 mi, $203,760); New London (22 mi, $198,760); Green Bay Area Public (15 mi, $185,480); Little Chute Area (15 mi, $184,260); Menasha Joint (22 mi, $161,620); Shawano (22 mi, $157,940); Clintonville (23 mi, $141,320).

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. Seymour's revenue-limit membership for 2025-26 is 1,866.

School yearEnrolled studentsRevenue-limit membershipPer enrolled student
2020-212,1092,1691.03
2021-222,1122,1131.00
2022-232,0832,0610.99
2023-241,9982,0081.01
2024-251,9621,9490.99
2025-26—1,866—

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

In spring 2025, 51% of Seymour students met or exceeded Forward standards in ELA and 49% 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, Seymour averaged −0.28 in ELA and −0.37 in math over the last three tested years, against −0.34 and −0.21 in its first three years on file.

SeymourRegional peers (median)Average Wisconsin district (0)

ELA

+0.58+0.15−0.29−0.72−1.162015-162019-202024-25

Math

+0.85+0.40−0.06−0.52−0.982015-162019-202024-25

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

MeasureSeymourRegional peersWisconsin medianYear
Attendance rate93.0%94.8%94.3%2024-25
Chronic absenteeism17.3%8.7%10.9%2024-25
ACT composite (grade 11)18.619.619.22024-25
Enrolled in college the first fall100.0%100.0%100.0%2024-25
Suspensions and expulsions per 1,00038.421.533.02024-25

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

Seymour's total cost per member was $17,978 in 2024-25, against $17,211 for the median regional peer and $18,324 for the median Wisconsin district. Local property tax paid for 29% of revenue, against 38% statewide.

SeymourRegional peers (median)Wisconsin (median district)
$19,848$17,144$14,440$11,735$9,0312006-072010-112014-152018-192024-25

The revenue limit allows $15,647 per member for 2025-26, above the statewide K-12 median of $13,575 and above the regional peer median of $12,600. 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 4 operating questions, passing 3, most recently apr 2024 (non-recurring, passed).

SeymourRegional peers (median)Wisconsin (median district)
$16,550$14,217$11,883$9,550$7,2162005-062009-102013-142017-182021-222025-26

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 $12.0M, at a rate of 7.97 mills per $1,000 of equalized value (statewide K-12 median 6.90). 0% of the levy repays referendum-approved debt (Fund 39).

Levy yearTotal levyGeneral fund (Fund 10)Referendum debt (Fund 39)Mill rate
2020-21$8.3M$6.6M$1.4M9.55
2021-22$8.1M$5.8M$2.0M8.49
2022-23$9.3M$5.7M$3.3M8.26
2023-24$10.3M$4.3M$5.0M8.16
2024-25$11.1M$8.2M$1.1M8.10
2025-26$12.0M$11.1M$0.0M7.97
SeymourRegional peers (median)Wisconsin (median district)
10.939.718.507.286.062006-072010-112014-152018-192025-26

The median residential property-tax bill inside the district, all governments, was $3,079 in 2025 (statewide median $2,766). The full bill on the median home comes to 3.5% of median household income, and the school portion on that home ($251,300) is about $2,036.

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

A home at Seymour's median value, about $337,000 at the current assessment, owes roughly $4,270 in property tax for taxes payable 2026. The school district's part is $2,680 (56% 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 $300 less than the average regional peer's median home.

Taxing authoritySeymourRegional peers (average)
School district$2,680 56%$2,260 45%
Technical college$230 5%$200 4%
County$920 19%$1,150 23%
City, village or town$740 16%$1,020 20%
Special districts$190 4%$380 8%
State school levy tax credit−$490−$440
Total$4,270$4,570
Median home value$337,000$344,000

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 $337,000 home at each group's tax rates

Holding the house constant separates tax rates from home values. Taxed at Seymour's rates the home owes $4,270; at the regional peers' rates it would owe $4,490 on average.

Taxing authoritySeymourRegional peers (average)
School district$2,680 56%$2,210 45%
Technical college$230 5%$200 4%
County$920 19%$1,170 24%
City, village or town$740 16%$1,000 20%
Special districts$190 4%$350 7%
State school levy tax credit−$490−$430
Total$4,270$4,490
Tax as a share of home value1.27%1.33%

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 10 referendum questions since 1996 and approved 8.

ElectionTypePurposeAmountYesResult
Apr 2024Operating3 Year non recurring referendum$15.0M50.9%Passed
Apr 2021CapitalTechnology Education Addition and renovation as well as improvements to site at middle ...$6.5M70.6%Passed
Apr 2017OperatingNA$1.9M57.2%Passed
Feb 2007Operatingoperational and maintenance costs at Rock Ledge Elementary School and Black Creek Eleme...$0.1M74.6%Passed
Feb 2007Capitalconstructing additions to and renovating the existing facilities at Rock Ledge Elementa...$9.9M76.4%Passed
Apr 2002Operatingrecurring purposes$0.6M40.5%Failed
Apr 2002Capitalconstruct new Seymour Primary Center and addition to Black Creek School; upgrade and im...$12.0M44.1%Failed
Feb 1999Capitalschool building$4.0M68.9%Passed
Oct 1996Capitalaquatic center$3.8M59.1%Passed
Oct 1996Capitalathletic center$4.2M60.9%Passed

DPI referenda file, 1993 onward.

93% of Seymour's teachers stayed in the district into 2025-26, against 92% for the median regional peer and 91% statewide; 4% left Wisconsin public schools. Average teacher salary was $65,971, against $62,792 for the median peer and $61,273 statewide.

SeymourRegional peers (median)Wisconsin (median district)
95%92%90%88%86%2016-172018-192020-212022-232024-25

Staff by role, 2016-17 to 2025-26

RoleHeadcount, firstHeadcount, lastChangePeer median change
Administrators1312−8%+18%
Teachers145143−1%+8%
Aides/Paraprofessionals4350+16%+3%
Pupil Services1016+60%+24%
Other66156+136%0%

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 Seymour 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 Seymour 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
Freedom AreaOutagamie06Rural91,564$16,730
West De PereBrown07Suburb114,004$17,109
Pulaski CommunityBrown07Town134,204$16,265
Wrightstown CommunityBrown07Town191,373$15,504
New LondonWaupaca06Town222,261$15,577
ShawanoShawano08Town222,384$18,599
BrillionCalumet07Town26958$17,065
Oconto Falls PublicOconto08Town271,797$18,239
HilbertCalumet07Rural27472$17,313
KewauneeKewaunee07Town38955$18,228
AlgomaKewaunee07Town43707$17,866
Kiel AreaManitowoc07Town451,226$18,035

“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.