Open enrollment for Wisconsin schools begins Feb. 5

MADISON, Wis. (Civic Media) – The open enrollment period for the 2024-25 school year for Wisconsin public schools will begin on Feb. 5, according to the state Department of Public Instruction.

The open enrollment window goes until April 30.

In that time frame, parents and guardians can apply to send their children to any public school district in the state for next school year.

Parents that opt to send their kids out of their resident district will have to provide transportation. Districts can’t deny open enrollment applications due to cost.

The program is funded through an equalization aid formula, which transfers money between districts that send out or receive open-enrolled students.

According to data provided by the DPI, 73,280 students open-enrolled in the state for the 2022-23 school year, the most recent year that data was available. Ten years ago, 44,678 students open-enrolled. 20 years ago, the number of students open-enrolling was 12,378.

To apply for open enrollment, parents or guardians must fill out an application, which is available on the DPI website.