A New Chapter for West Bend High Schools: Merging Tradition with Practicality
In a significant shift for the West Bend community, West Bend East and West Bend West high schools will combine their operations for the 2027-28 school year. This merger marks the end of over 50 years of maintaining separate identities under the same roof.
The West Bend School District has operated these two high schools in a shared facility since the 1970s, a time when student numbers were booming. Superintendent Jen Wimmer noted that the building was originally designed with possible expansion in mind, as north and south additions could be added if necessary.
However, enrollment trends have changed. Over the past decade, student numbers have decreased by about 25%. Currently, the district serves approximately 1,800 high school students, but this number is expected to drop to around 1,500 before stabilizing.
Wimmer clarified, “It’s not like we’re closing a physical building down and having to move students or lose staff.” The schools will continue operating under the same roof, but now as a unified entity.
Initially, each high school had its own principal and academic model, as well as separate lunch schedules. Today, a single principal oversees both schools, and students share the same academic program and lunch periods.
This merger will end a longstanding rivalry between the schools, a unique aspect of local culture. Wimmer expressed, “I think that is the hardest thing for people who didn’t grow up here to understand and what is very unique to us… the rivalry of the athletic fields and the emotion of all of that. And that is what has made us feel special too.”
The decision to merge was carefully considered, following extensive community engagement, including meetings, focus groups, and surveys that collected over 2,500 responses. Key concerns included maintaining academic opportunities, student participation in activities, and financial sustainability.
Financially, the district expects to save about $645,000 in the first year by combining athletic programs, with potential savings reaching $1 million annually once new uniforms are purchased.
The West Bend School District currently serves 5,112 students, down from 6,814 in the 2015-16 school year. This decrease reflects broader demographic trends, including declining birth rates that have not been offset by new residents, according to the University of Wisconsin-Madison Applied Population Lab.
The lab’s report predicts a continued decline in high school enrollment, with a potential reduction of 257 to 357 students, averaging a 15% annual decrease. Additionally, a 2024 facilities referendum approved by West Bend voters included closing the Early Education Building and the district office.
West Bend is not alone in facing these challenges. Many school districts across Wisconsin are considering consolidation as a response to declining student numbers. Recent data from the Department of Public Instruction shows that eight out of 72 counties in Wisconsin are experiencing enrollment declines.
