Ersys Logo Ersys Name

Picture of valves

Public school systems play a crucial role in shaping local economies, influencing everything from property values to workforce development. The economic impact of local public schools extends far beyond education, affecting businesses, government budgets, and community well-being. Below are key ways in which public schools contribute to local economic health.

  1. Boosting Property Values and Municipal Revenue A strong public school system increases demand for housing in the district, driving up property values. Studies consistently show that homes in high-performing school districts command higher prices than comparable homes in weaker districts. Higher property values, in turn, generate more property tax revenue for local governments, which can be reinvested in infrastructure, public safety, and other community services.

    Additionally, businesses are more likely to establish themselves in areas with well-regarded schools, knowing that educated communities attract skilled workers and stable families. This creates a positive feedback loop where better schools lead to economic growth, which then further supports school funding.

  2. Workforce Development and Economic Competitiveness Public schools are the primary source of skilled labor for local industries. By providing foundational education, vocational training, and college preparation, schools ensure that businesses have access to qualified employees. Areas with strong school systems tend to have lower unemployment rates and higher average incomes because educated workers are more productive and adaptable to changing job markets.

    Investments in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) programs, career and technical education (CTE), and partnerships with local businesses further enhance workforce readiness. Companies often consider school quality when deciding where to locate, as they need a pipeline of talent to sustain operations.

  3. Direct Employment and Local Spending Public schools are among the largest employers in many communities, providing jobs for teachers, administrators, custodians, and support staff. These employees spend their salaries locally, supporting restaurants, retail stores, and service providers. The multiplier effect means that every dollar spent on school payroll circulates through the economy multiple times, stimulating additional business activity.

    Beyond salaries, schools also contribute to local economies through construction projects (e.g., building new facilities or renovating old ones), purchasing supplies from area vendors, and contracting services like transportation and food supply. These expenditures create jobs and generate tax revenue.

  4. Reducing Long-Term Public Costs Quality education correlates with lower crime rates, reduced reliance on social welfare programs, and better public health outcomes. Students who graduate from strong school systems are less likely to require government assistance, engage in criminal activity, or face chronic unemployment. This reduces the burden on taxpayers, who would otherwise fund prisons, healthcare for the uninsured, and social services.

    Early childhood education programs, in particular, have been shown to yield high long-term returns by improving graduation rates and future earnings while decreasing incarceration costs.

  5. Attracting and Retaining Families and Businesses Families with children prioritize school quality when choosing where to live. Communities with reputable schools experience population growth, which sustains local businesses and services. Conversely, declining school performance can lead to outmigration, shrinking the tax base and harming economic vitality.

    Similarly, corporations evaluating relocation opportunities assess school systems to ensure employees will have access to good education for their children. A weak school system can deter investment, while a strong one can attract high-paying jobs and stimulate economic diversification.

Conclusion

The local public school system is not just an educational institution but a cornerstone of economic stability and growth. By enhancing property values, developing a skilled workforce, employing residents, reducing public costs, and attracting businesses, schools create a thriving economic ecosystem. Policymakers and community leaders must recognize that investing in education yields broad economic benefits, making it one of the most impactful ways to ensure long-term prosperity.

The following report contains those school districts that are completely or partially within the county. The school districts are sorted in a left to right order based on the number of students that are estimated to live in the county, although they may actually attend a school outside the county boundary. Except where noted all figures are for the entire disctrict population and not just that portion that are in the county.

Where available, the district's name contains a link to that district's website.
 
Wisconsin Heights School District
Deerfield Community School District  
Edgerton School District  
Marshall School District  
Mount Horeb Area School District  
Stoughton Area School District  
DeForest Area School District  
Oregon School District  
Monona Grove School District  
Waunakee Community School District  
McFarland School District  
Verona Area School District  
Middleton-Cross Plains School District  
Sun Prairie Area School District  
Madison Metropolitan School District  
Grade Span of Agency
Number of Schools
Total Classroom Teachers
Student/Teachers

    Prekindergarten
    Kindergarten
    Grade 1
    Grade 2
    Grade 3
    Grade 4
    Grade 5
    Grade 6
    Grade 7
    Grade 8
    Grade 9
    Grade 10
    Grade 11
    Grade 12
PK thru 12 Students
Ungraded Students
Adult Education and Other Students
Special Ed IEP Students
Total Students

White
Black
Asian
Hispanic
Native American
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
Undefined or Multiple Races

Prekindergarten Teachers
Kindergarten Teachers
Elementary Teachers
Secondary Teachers
Ungraded Class Teachers
Total FTE Teachers

Elementary School Counselors
Secondary School Counselors
School Counselors
Total Counselors

School Administrators
School Administrative Support Staff
Instr. Coord. and Super. to Staff
Student Support Services Staff
Librarians/media specialists
Library/Media Support Staff
School Psychologists
Paraprofessionals/Instructional Aides
Total School Staff

LEA Administrators
LEA Administrative Support Staff
Total LEA Staff

All Other Support Staff
Total Other Staff
PK-12
54
2,047
12.51

1,564
1,806
1,825
1,832
1,810
1,860
1,753
1,693
1,686
1,707
1,847
1,849
1,918
2,097
25,247
0
0
358
25,605

9,932
4,637
1,883
6,284
77
7
2,427

102
107
859
924
55
2,047

0
44
4
48

85
90
28
381
43
0
40
358
997

14
107
149

809
809
PK-12
16
664
12.96

498
529
537
553
581
628
621
595
570
566
673
707
673
680
8,411
0
0
195
8,606

4,636
1,061
887
959
49
8
793

20
37
272
330
5
664

9
11
0
20

30
46
21
78
14
7
10
195
380

10
28
59

210
210
PK-12
12
546
13.22

268
393
458
474
515
478
519
517
545
552
573
610
589
568
7,059
0
0
162
7,221

4,626
328
871
732
21
3
457

5
23
288
230
0
546

14
9
0
23

17
30
24
80
10
6
10
162
314

9
21
54

167
167
PK-12
12
413
14.26

308
354
381
413
405
433
419
412
438
442
433
460
438
458
5,794
0
0
96
5,890

3,485
372
251
1,264
4
4
386

12
19
165
217
0
413

7
10
0
17

17
31
29
47
12
11
12
96
225

12
19
59

117
117
PK-12
9
344
16.40

131
221
265
263
275
310
290
363
396
472
482
614
727
830
5,639
0
0
1
5,640

3,730
568
147
659
53
2
479

6
13
95
230
0
344

6
12
0
18

16
41
13
31
6
0
8
1
103

6
0
19

25
25
PK-12
7
350
12.84

255
289
300
307
300
312
320
300
350
331
370
302
319
355
4,410
0
0
85
4,495

3,638
70
152
337
1
2
200

10
15
146
179
0
350

5
6
0
11

14
22
5
33
6
6
7
85
173

6
10
21

98
98
PK-12
7
298
12.70

190
232
259
244
264
250
264
273
242
285
313
295
290
295
3,696
0
0
90
3,786

2,839
153
116
304
12
4
268

13
15
107
158
5
298

4
6
0
10

15
17
7
25
6
1
7
90
161

5
11
22

69
69
PK-12
8
323
12.98

239
264
270
265
274
284
300
291
304
335
311
335
321
317
4,110
0
0
84
4,194

3,419
84
48
321
6
2
226

5
11
146
161
0
323

7
8
0
15

14
23
10
31
6
12
8
84
177

4
11
25

164
164
PK-12
7
306
13.77

295
290
321
322
289
323
330
297
293
275
296
272
281
269
4,153
0
0
60
4,213

3,329
126
132
296
4
1
265

15
16
135
140
0
306

5
5
0
10

14
15
8
42
6
4
7
60
148

4
4
15

125
125
PK-12
6
221
12.54

185
195
212
186
194
179
182
201
200
171
218
203
221
222
2,769
0
0
2
2,771

2,234
113
47
202
2
2
166

9
11
75
116
10
221

3
5
0
8

11
10
8
59
4
2
4
2
91

4
10
22

50
50
PK-12
6
169
14.21

152
133
139
169
148
189
175
171
159
180
177
203
179
217
2,391
0
0
11
2,402

2,120
25
24
121
1
0
99

7
11
59
92
0
169

2
3
0
5

7
10
5
41
4
2
4
11
77

4
4
13

46
46
PK-12
5
84
11.03

64
55
60
49
71
65
53
65
52
68
70
78
88
77
915
0
0
12
927

595
39
13
196
1
0
71

4
3
32
44
1
84

1
3
0
4

4
5
2
13
1
2
2
12
39

3
4
9

30
30
PK-12
4
133
14.75

112
131
131
167
127
137
135
146
131
147
136
131
159
136
1,926
0
0
36
1,962

1,630
17
15
192
1
1
70

4
8
54
67
0
133

1
3
0
4

5
13
2
22
2
1
4
36
83

3
5
10

63
63
PK-12
3
66
11.31

52
56
63
40
62
32
61
65
53
53
59
45
58
47
746
0
0
1
747

631
18
11
54
2
0
30

3
4
28
30
1
66

1
1
0
2

2
2
2
17
2
1
1
1
25

2
3
8

11
11
PK-12
3
62
12.64

63
49
61
54
49
63
53
63
40
63
59
66
52
44
779
0
0
4
783

681
11
10
22
1
0
54

3
3
25
30
1
62

1
1
1
3

3
1
0
29
2
3
1
4
43

2
5
7

17
17


Sources: STI: PopStats and STI: Colossus

Advertisers