The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction’s new changes to its 1–5 star school ratings leave parents unclear on local school performance, according to a report by the Institute for Reforming Government.
The rating system assesses the performance of schools and districts for the public to see how schools are performing and where improvements may be needed.
However, even after the DPI invited educators to a 3-day meeting to set 2025 ratings benchmarks that could affect school board decisions and even property values, IRG said, just like last year, no district will receive a 1-star rating even if they are considered “underperforming.”
“Parents picking schools for their children deserve honesty, not spin. This new report card system rewards some low-performing schools and penalizes some of the best high-performing schools,” said IRG senior research director Quinton Klabon. “This is about transparency and trust. Wisconsin students and parents deserve report cards that tell the truth about every school so parents are empowered to make informed decisions for their students.”
