MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee Public Schools is making a final push to help students find a school before the first day of classes, hosting an all-day Enrollment Day event Thursday at Wick Playfield.
The event is aimed in part at families who recently moved to Milwaukee or have not yet registered their children. Families can get help with school placement and enrollment for kindergarten through 12th grade while children take part in games and activities at the playfield.
For Bess Beuscher, an MPS employee and parent, that family-friendly setup is part of what makes the event useful.
"Well, A, there's something for the kids to do, so they're not just sitting there asking when the numbers come up," Beuscher said. "And it brings a lot to the community of what they have to offer, especially if you're new to MPS."
Beuscher came to the event hoping to transfer her daughter back to Fairview School, where she said her daughter has developed relationships with teachers, counselors and administrators over the years.
Watch: More families applying to MPS ahead of new school year
Amaidea Estrada was also at the fair looking for a K4 placement for her daughter, Pearl.
Estrada said getting help at the event was straightforward.
"But yeah, it was easy, not hard at all," Estrada said.
Estrada has already had several children attend MPS schools and said those experiences play a role in why she continues to choose the district.
"I didn't really have no issues with, like, the enrolling process, the teachers listening to what I have to say when it comes to my kids because this is my 4th child in school," Estrada said. "My other two graduated; my other 3rd 1, she's still in high school, so I never really had no bad experience with NPS schools. So."
The enrollment push comes as MPS reports stronger early application numbers compared with last year.
Nearly 2,000 families completed applications for K3, K4 or K5 during the district's February-March kindergarten enrollment period, according to MPS. That's an increase of about 22% from the same period last year.
More than 3,500 families completed ninth-grade applications during the October-November high school enrollment period, an increase of about 15% from the previous year.
Matthew Boswell, senior director of the MPS Department of Student Services, said the district has been putting additional attention on attracting families at both ends of the K-12 experience.
"So our advertising and our focus engagement, uh, is starting to pay off," Boswell said.
Boswell said some specialty programs continue to generate significant interest from families, including Montessori and language immersion options.
"Our Montessori program is always, a program that is very sought after in the city, as well as our language immersion, our traditional; it just really depends on the needs of our families and our community," Boswell said.
Applications, however, do not necessarily translate into students ultimately attending MPS.
Boswell said the district will get a clearer picture after the school year begins through Wisconsin's third-Friday student count.
"Well, 3rd Friday is always the telltale in the state of Wisconsin," Boswell said. "So that is our student count date when we provide information to the Department of Public Instruction."
For Estrada, there is little question about where she wants her daughter to attend.
"I'm with MPS, not no other option," Estrada said.
Families who still need a school can apply for kindergarten, high school or grades in between at schools where space remains available. MPS says its earlier kindergarten and high school enrollment windows give families the best opportunity to receive their first-choice placement, including neighborhood schools, schools attended by
Families unable to attend can enroll in person at MPS Central Services, 5225 W. Vliet St., from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays or online at mpsmke.com/enroll.
The first day of school is Tuesday, Sept. 1.
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