Enrollment in two-thirds of Fox Valley schools is lower than it was last fall, mirroring a decade-long statewide trend, according to the districts' most recent annual head counts.

The state uses the figures to help determine how much money it gives districts and the maximum property taxes they can charge each year.

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Fifteen of 22 districts saw lower student counts, including Appleton, the sixth largest school district in the state and the largest in the region with 15,025 students, down 207 from 2008.

That 1.4 percent decrease was similar to the overall decline statewide, said Patrick Gasper, spokesman for the state Department of Public Instruction.

Student enrollment has dropped in about 60 percent of Wisconsin's 426 school systems for more than a decade.

Some school officials attribute the latest decline to the economic recession, which forced families to move because of job cuts and brought fewer newcomers because of a lack of jobs.

"I think there's an impact," said Don Hietpas, chief financial officer for Appleton schools. "In a typical year, we add some students to every grade level because of move-ins."

School districts submitted their official fall enrollment data to the DPI earlier this month as required by law.

Head counts, taken on the third Friday of September, provide information on the number of students sitting in desks in any given district this school year. The information is used to analyze space and staffing needs.

So-called "membership" is an adjusted number that takes into account movement of students in and out of districts through open enrollment. Membership data is entered into formulas for state aids and tax revenue caps.

Per-pupil state aid varies. In Appleton, each student represents $9,633 this year. In Shiocton, a much smaller district, the total is $9,424.

This year, the state raised the tax cap $200 per student. (Clarification: An earlier version of this story said the state lowered the per-pupil tax revenue cap from $275 to $200. The $75 reduction was of a proposed $275 increase, leaving a net increase of $200.)

Of the 22 districts, half have lower membership numbers. Appleton's number dropped slightly, by 57.

Growing districts

Among the districts still growing is Kimberly, which was up 71 students in the head count and 49 in membership."Our growth for the most part has been move-ins, houses turning over," Supt. Bob Mayfield said.

"Our new construction has had minimal growth. We were once the fastest growing district in the state, but the economy has slowed that to a trickle."

Kimberly will raise property taxes this year to make up for $1 million less in state aids. "Growth is not as positive as it once was and sounds like it will be less and less positive as the state reduces its commitment to education," Mayfield said.

Freedom and Menasha also saw growth with more than 60 new faces in each district's classrooms.

"We have had a lot of movement into the district," said Maggie Gagnon, Freedom business manager, citing two new housing developments as part of the reason.

Gagnon also thinks the district's increase in birth rates in recent years may be playing a role, with 47 more children entering the 4-year-old and 5-year-old kindergarten programs.

The number of children enrolling in other districts also has dropped, she said.

Hortonville enrollment, which had been growing steadily during the past decade, leveled off, said Dave Wuebben, district business manager.

This year's tally is up 28 students and membership is up 112. The latter is largely because the district moved from half-day kindergarten to all-day kindergarten, allowing the district to count those children as full time.

Open enrollment

Losing students who enroll outside of a home district can hurt, too.

"We are even for state aid purposes, but what's affected us is open enrollment," New London Supt. Bill Fitzpatrick said.

Seventy-six district students enrolled in other districts this year, and 35 students from other districts enrolled in New London schools.

"Most of it, I think, is virtual schools — Appleton, Ozaukee — all over," Fitzpatrick said.

Clintonville Supt. Tom O'Toole needs only to look to the younger grades to predict at least a few more years of declining enrollment. The district, with 1,534 students, has 38 fewer than a year ago.

"We're graduating classes of 140 to 150 and bringing in kindergarten classes in the 80s and 90s. That tells the story."

Kathy Walsh Nufer: 920-993-1000, ext. 1290, or knufer@postcrescent.com