Wisconsin · West De Pere · Brown County · CESA 07

West De Pere School District

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

On the ballot · November 3, 2026

West De Pere School District: one referendum question

Shall the School District of West De Pere, Brown and Outagamie Counties, Wisconsin be authorized to exceed the revenue limit specified in Section 121.91, Wisconsin Statutes, by $4,900,000 per year for five years, beginning with the 2027-2028 school year and ending with the 2031-2032 school year, for non-recurring purposes consisting of operational and maintenance expenses?

Source: county clerk notice

Enrollment
4,004
2024-25
Revenue-limit members
3,854
2025-26 funding count
Enrollment, 5 yr
+3.5%
headcount change · peers −8.7%
Forward ELA z
+0.54
last 3 tested years
Cost / member
$17,109
2024-25
Mill rate
7.04
statewide K-12 6.90
Home value
+19%
5-yr avg vs. 18 nearby districts
Teachers staying
95%
2025-26
Enrollment

4,004 students in 2024-25, +3.5% over five years while the regional peer median moved −8.7%.

Achievement

Forward Exam results average +0.54 (ELA) and +0.51 (math) on a z scale over the last three tested years, where 0 is the average Wisconsin district. ACT composite: 20.9 against a statewide median of 19.2.

Spending

$17,109 total cost per member in 2024-25, above the regional peer median of $16,776 and below the statewide median of $18,324.

Taxes

The school tax rate is 7.04 mills (2025-26), against a statewide K-12 median of 6.90; the 2025-26 levy is $26.8M, 44% of it referendum-approved debt.

Revenue limit

$11,838 per member under the state revenue limit, against a statewide K-12 median of $13,575; voters have decided 3 operating questions, passing 2, most recently May 2006 (recurring, passed).

West De Pere enrolled 4,004 students in 2024-25 (September membership). Since 2009-10 its enrollment has grown 40%; the median regional peer shrank 21% 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 7.3% of school-age children (2024-25), against 9.7% in the median district.

West De PereRegional peers (median)Wisconsin (median district)
14712810991722009-102013-142017-182024-25

Students, 2025-26

Student group2025-262020-21Median WI district
Students with disabilities13.3%10.8%16.6%
English learners2.2%1.9%2.4%
Economically disadvantaged21.3%25.2%36.7%
White76.5%78.3%85.3%
Two or More7.0%5.7%3.9%
Hispanic6.6%5.3%6.8%
Asian5.2%4.8%0.9%
Black2.6%2.5%1.0%
Amer Indian2.1%3.4%0.4%
Pacific Isle0.1%—0.1%

Community (ACS 2024)

MeasureWest De PereMedian WI district
Median household income$86,596$77,317
Poverty rate7.2%8.3%
Adults with a bachelor's degree or more37.0%25.4%
Households with children28.9%25.9%
Residents 65 and older16.0%20.5%
Median home value$330,700$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 West De Pere averaged $265,900, 19% above the median of the 18 districts within 25 miles ($223,540). That ranks 5th of 19 in the area and at the 74th percentile of Wisconsin districts (state median $205,920).

ACS 5-year releaseWest De PereNearby medianDifferenceWisconsin median
2016–20$221,800$189,700+17%$172,200
2017–21$226,800$194,400+17%$182,750
2018–22$256,400$226,850+13%$210,250
2019–23$293,800$245,600+20%$227,050
2020–24$330,700$265,500+25%$241,800
Five-release average$265,900$223,540+19%$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 West De Pere's: De Pere (1 mi, $285,140); Howard-Suamico (10 mi, $283,900); Freedom Area (12 mi, $282,520); Pulaski Community (18 mi, $276,620); Wrightstown Community (10 mi, $262,540); Kimberly Area (18 mi, $253,860); Luxemburg-Casco (19 mi, $246,700); Denmark (14 mi, $241,540); Kaukauna Area (16 mi, $226,280); Shiocton (25 mi, $220,800); Ashwaubenon (2 mi, $214,240); Seymour Community (14 mi, $213,900); Appleton Area (21 mi, $205,720); Brillion (19 mi, $190,320); Green Bay Area Public (5 mi, $185,480); Little Chute Area (16 mi, $184,260); Reedsville (21 mi, $180,220); Hilbert (22 mi, $177,840).

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. West De Pere's revenue-limit membership for 2025-26 is 3,854.

School yearEnrolled studentsRevenue-limit membershipPer enrolled student
2020-213,8053,7530.99
2021-223,8613,7760.98
2022-233,9143,7770.96
2023-243,9833,8050.96
2024-254,0043,8240.96
2025-26—3,854—

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

In spring 2025, 65% of West De Pere students met or exceeded Forward standards in ELA and 67% 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, West De Pere averaged +0.54 in ELA and +0.51 in math over the last three tested years, against +0.52 and +0.64 in its first three years on file.

West De PereRegional peers (median)Average Wisconsin district (0)

ELA

+0.91+0.68+0.45+0.230.002015-162019-202024-25

Math

+1.30+0.87+0.43+0.00−0.432015-162019-202024-25

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

MeasureWest De PereRegional peersWisconsin medianYear
Attendance rate95.6%94.6%94.3%2024-25
Chronic absenteeism4.7%9.2%10.9%2024-25
ACT composite (grade 11)20.919.619.22024-25
Enrolled in college the first fall100.0%100.0%100.0%2024-25
Suspensions and expulsions per 1,00039.436.433.02024-25

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

West De Pere's total cost per member was $17,109 in 2024-25, against $16,776 for the median regional peer and $18,324 for the median Wisconsin district. Local property tax paid for 36% of revenue, against 38% statewide.

West De PereRegional peers (median)Wisconsin (median district)
$19,243$16,871$14,498$12,126$9,7542006-072010-112014-152018-192024-25

The revenue limit allows $11,838 per member for 2025-26, below the statewide K-12 median of $13,575 and below the regional peer median of $12,946. 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 3 operating questions, passing 2, most recently may 2006 (recurring, passed).

West De PereRegional peers (median)Wisconsin (median district)
$14,200$12,587$10,975$9,362$7,7502005-062009-102013-142017-182021-222025-26

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 $26.8M, at a rate of 7.04 mills per $1,000 of equalized value (statewide K-12 median 6.90). 44% of the levy repays referendum-approved debt (Fund 39).

Levy yearTotal levyGeneral fund (Fund 10)Referendum debt (Fund 39)Mill rate
2020-21$21.9M$15.4M$6.3M9.64
2021-22$22.6M$12.6M$9.8M9.11
2022-23$22.6M$11.4M$11.0M7.95
2023-24$22.6M$13.0M$9.2M7.04
2024-25$25.1M$12.7M$11.9M7.04
2025-26$26.8M$14.3M$11.9M7.04
West De PereRegional peers (median)Wisconsin (median district)
12.2910.799.287.786.272006-072010-112014-152018-192025-26

The median residential property-tax bill inside the district, all governments, was $4,438 in 2025 (statewide median $2,766). The full bill on the median home comes to 4.9% of median household income, and the school portion on that home ($330,700) is about $2,328.

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

A home at West De Pere's median value, about $441,000 at the current assessment, owes roughly $6,650 in property tax for taxes payable 2026. The school district's part is $3,110 (43% 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 $1,480 more than the average regional peer's median home.

Taxing authorityWest De PereRegional peers (average)
School district$3,110 43%$2,500 44%
Technical college$240 3%$220 4%
County$1,200 17%$1,070 19%
City, village or town$1,690 23%$1,290 23%
Special districts$1,010 14%$580 10%
State school levy tax credit−$590−$490
Total$6,650$5,170
Median home value$441,000$368,000

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 $441,000 home at each group's tax rates

Holding the house constant separates tax rates from home values. Taxed at West De Pere's rates the home owes $6,650; at the regional peers' rates it would owe $6,280 on average.

Taxing authorityWest De PereRegional peers (average)
School district$3,110 43%$3,010 44%
Technical college$240 3%$260 4%
County$1,200 17%$1,290 19%
City, village or town$1,690 23%$1,580 23%
Special districts$1,010 14%$720 11%
State school levy tax credit−$590−$590
Total$6,650$6,280
Tax as a share of home value1.51%1.42%

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 1999 and approved 7.

ElectionTypePurposeAmountYesResult
Apr 2025CapitalResolution authorizing general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $9,925,000$9.9M69.3%Passed
Nov 2018CapitalINITIAL RESOLUTION NUMBER II AUTHORIZING GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO E...$9.9M50.6%Passed
Nov 2018CapitalINITIAL RESOLUTION NUMBER I AUTHORIZING GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EX...$64.8M65.5%Passed
May 2006OperatingPaying operation and maintenance costs associated with the new elementary schoool.$0.8M54.4%Passed
May 2006CapitalThe construction and equiping of a new elementary school$17.5M60.4%Passed
May 2000Operatingoperation and maintenance costs$0.4M59.1%Passed
May 2000Capitalconstruct addtition to and renovates to HS, MS, Westwood ES, technology and land$29.4M67.2%Passed
Nov 1999Operatingoperating & maintenance costs$0.3M46.4%Failed
Nov 1999Capitalremodel, renovate, equip & construct addition to Westwood e.s & h.s.$20.1M48.1%Failed

DPI referenda file, 1993 onward.

95% of West De Pere's teachers stayed in the district into 2025-26, against 94% for the median regional peer and 91% statewide; 2% left Wisconsin public schools. Average teacher salary was $63,466, against $65,358 for the median peer and $61,273 statewide.

West De PereRegional peers (median)Wisconsin (median district)
98%95%92%89%86%2016-172018-192020-212022-232024-25

Staff by role, 2016-17 to 2025-26

RoleHeadcount, firstHeadcount, lastChangePeer median change
Administrators1418+29%+1%
Teachers220240+9%+6%
Aides/Paraprofessionals7478+5%+17%
Pupil Services1423+64%+13%
Other7993+18%+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 West De Pere 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 West De Pere 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
AshwaubenonBrown07Suburb42,183$18,842
De PereBrown07Suburb84,340$15,074
Wrightstown CommunityBrown07Town91,373$15,504
Seymour CommunityOutagamie07Town111,962$17,978
Green Bay Area PublicBrown07City1121,031$18,601
Howard-SuamicoBrown07Suburb125,732$18,095
Little Chute AreaOutagamie06Suburb141,292$16,459
Kaukauna AreaOutagamie06Suburb145,002$14,584
Kimberly AreaOutagamie06Suburb174,757$14,550
DenmarkBrown07Rural171,511$16,487
BrillionCalumet07Town18958$17,065
Howards GroveSheboygan07Suburb44853$17,417

“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.