New Milwaukee Poll: 61% of Milwaukee Voters Want MPS to Close or Consolidate Schools Before Asking for More Taxpayer Money

Milwaukee poll: 61% of Milwaukee voters say MPS will need to close or consolidate schools. 49% also oppose another referendum, and 13% trust the school board to decide on closures. Surveyed: Change Research surveyed 1,038 registered Milwaukee voters. From October 2 to October 11, 2026. Margin of error ±3.4 points.

Key Findings:

• 61% say MPS will need to close or consolidate schools (20% disagree)
• 49% would vote against another MPS property tax referendum in 2027 (37% would support it)
• 13% would most trust the School Board to decide which schools close
• 59% support closing schools rather than raising taxes to fund MPS’s $355 million facilities plan
• 51% say there would not be enough good schools with open seats nearby if a school closed (27% say there would)

 

In the News:

• 61% Support Milwaukee School Closures? New Poll Raises Questions About MPS | 620 WTMJ Point Taken
• Milwaukee Voters Want MPS to Close Under-Enrolled Schools Before Asking for More Money — CBS 58

View the full report here.

Read the full poll report below:

CFC-MKE-Poll-Release_10.16.26-1