Menomonie School District Considers Closing Elementary School

A Menomonie elementary school may be permanently closed as it struggles with declining enrollment and increasing costs over ten years.

The School District of the Menomonie Area is considering closing Downsville Elementary School, an increasingly common consideration in districts across the state over recent years. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, school districts have largely seen a decline in enrollment on top of higher costs with inflation. Those trends have led to countless operational referendums across the state with more on the ballot in the April 1st election.

According to a WEAU report, District Administrator Joe Zydowsky says it doesn’t appear Downsville Elementary School will have a full class for the 2025-2026 school year. The school had a class of about 115 students in 2015, which has fallen to around 75 students this school year.

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers has proposed massive spending increases on education in the 2025-2027 biennial budget. In addition to increased funding, the budget proposal also calls for free breakfast and lunch for all students and investments in literacy coaches and tutors to improve reading scores. Speaking on the proposal at a school in Eau Claire last month, Governor Evers said “There’s no reason why Eau Claire School District needs to go to referendum every couple years just to keep some doors open.”

If the School District of the Menomonie Area does decide to close Downsville Elementary School, the students would be likely be transferred to Oaklawn Elementary School, River Heights Elementary School, or Knapp Elementary School. Zydowsky is also hoping staff at the school will be able to fill other roles in the district to prevent layoffs.