MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin’s teacher workforce is grappling with high turnover rates despite a stable number of educators relative to declining student enrollment, according to a new Badger Institute report released this week.
The report, the third in a series on the state’s teaching landscape, challenges the notion of a widespread teacher shortage. From 2009-10 to 2023-24, the number of teachers statewide dipped only slightly, while student enrollment fell significantly. As a result, the teacher-to-student ratio is higher than it has been in at least 15 years.
However, turnover rates have surged. In 2022-23, turnover in core subjects like English, math, and science exceeded 15%, the highest since at least 1996. The overall transfer rate between districts climbed to 4.8% in recent years, four times the pre-2010 average of 1-1.6%.
“Turnover is a significant issue, and it’s only going to grow more pressing as enrollment continues to decline,” said Wyatt Eichholz, the report’s author and policy associate at the Badger Institute.
Teacher headcounts in most subjects have declined. English teachers dropped from 5,001 in 2010 to 4,263 in 2023-24, and math teachers fell from 4,535 in 2022 to under 4,200 in 2024. Science and social studies, however, have seen stable or increasing numbers.
Turnover varies by subject. Science teachers saw turnover rise from 5.4% in 2009-10 to 16.7% in 2022-23, while English teachers jumped from 8.9% in 1997-98 to 16.7% in the same period. Art teacher turnover hit 17.1% in 2023, and general music peaked at 20.8% before falling to 15% in 2024.
Small districts with 3,000 or fewer students, often in rural areas like Price, Wood, and Rusk counties, face the highest turnover, particularly from transfers. These districts have seen sharp enrollment drops, pushing teacher-to-student ratios higher. For example, the ratio of English teachers per 1,000 students in small districts rose from 6 to over 7. Medium and large districts, meanwhile, have kept ratios steady.
Milwaukee Public Schools, the state’s largest district with over 60,000 students, has also seen significant enrollment declines, impacting staffing.
While exits from the profession have historically declined, recent years show an uptick. Transfers, however, are the main driver of turnover, especially in small districts. The report raises questions about whether high transfer rates reflect a merit-based system, teacher dissatisfaction, or desperate hiring by districts.
