September Family Survey Results

September 2025

• Aligned with the Mequon-Thiensville School District’s (MTSD) strategic goal to foster meaningful communication and engagement, the district regularly surveys parents and guardians to gather feedback that informs decision-making and continuous improvement. The September 2025 Family Survey sought input during the first month of the 2025-2026 school year on a range of topics, including summer communications, registration and enrollment, food service, 4K Wrap Care, family experiences, school transitions, transportation, Summer Academy participation, and overall family satisfaction and support needs.
• The survey was distributed via email and e-newsletters from September 22 to October 1, 2025 through Thought Exchange. Parents and guardians were encouraged to complete one response per household, with participation designed to be accessible and anonymous to ensure confidentiality. In total, 379 responses were received—representing approximately 19% of all MTSD households. Feedback from open-ended questions was analyzed qualitatively using AI to identify common themes and areas for improvement across district goals.

Introduction & Methodology

PARTICIPATION

Breakdown of Participation

• I am completing this survey as a parent or guardian of a student in the following grade level (% of MTSD total enrollment)

4K 13% (5%)

5K - 5th 54% (37%)

6th - 8th 30% (22%)

9th - 12th 32% (33%)

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PARTICIPATION

Breakdown of Participation

• What schools do your students attend? (% of MTSD total enrollment)

Donges Bay 25% (15%)

Oriole Lane 15% (14%)

Wilson 22% (17%)

Lake Shore 14% (10%)

Steffen 16% (12%)

Homestead 32% (33%)

FAMILY NET PROMOTER SCORE�(NPS)

How likely would you be to recommend the Mequon-Thiensville School District to a friend or family member who was looking for a school to send their child to?

FAMILY NET PROMOTER SCORE (NPS)

What about MTSD do you value the most?

Promoters (9-10): 218 total or 58%

• Quality of Teachers/Staff: Respondents overwhelmingly praised the high quality and genuine care of MTSD teachers and staff, highlighting their knowledge, approachability, dedication, and the supportive, welcoming environment they create for students.
• Quality of Education: Respondents noted the district’s strong academic standards, diverse and rigorous curriculum, and focus on critical thinking and life skills, reflecting a holistic commitment to educational excellence.
• Community and Culture: Respondents highly value MTSD’s strong sense of community, inclusiveness, and supportive school culture, which foster belonging and enhance the overall educational experience.

FAMILY NET PROMOTER SCORE (NPS)

What about MTSD do you value the most?

(Continued…)

• Class Size/Teachers: Many respondents express concern over large class sizes, particularly in elementary schools, emphasizing the need for smaller classes and more individualized instruction. They advocate for stronger teacher quality, accountability, and staffing investments to improve educational outcomes for all students.
• Communication and Transparency: Many participants call for improved communication between schools and families, citing frustration with limited updates and infrequent parent-teacher interactions. They believe more consistent, transparent communication would strengthen trust, engagement, and collaboration within the school community.�
• Discipline and Behavior: Some families express concern over inconsistent and ineffective discipline policies, noting that disruptive behavior hinders learning. They advocate for stricter, fairer, and more consistently enforced rules to promote respect, accountability, and a positive learning environment.

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FAMILY NET PROMOTER SCORE (NPS)

How can we improve your experience?

Passives (7-8): 107 total or 24%

• Class Size/Teachers: Many respondents express concern over large class sizes, particularly in elementary schools, emphasizing the need for smaller classes and more individualized instruction. They advocate for stronger teacher quality, accountability, and staffing investments to improve educational outcomes for all students.
• Communication and Transparency: Many participants call for improved communication between schools and families, citing frustration with limited updates and infrequent parent-teacher interactions. They believe more consistent, transparent communication would strengthen trust, engagement, and collaboration within the school community.�
• Discipline and Behavior: Some families express concern over inconsistent and ineffective discipline policies, noting that disruptive behavior hinders learning. They advocate for stricter, fairer, and more consistently enforced rules to promote respect, accountability, and a positive learning environment.

FAMILY NET PROMOTER SCORE (NPS)

How can we do better?

Detractors (0-6): 8 total or 2%

• Communication: Calls for clearer, faster, and more transparent communication from schools, particularly on safety matters and important updates. Respondents seek timely responses, better online accessibility, and consistent information sharing across all schools to reduce frustration and build trust within the community.
• Curriculum and Instruction: Beliefs that the curriculum and teaching methods are too rigid and fail to challenge advanced learners, leaving their needs unmet. Parents express frustration with limited individualized instruction and teacher preparedness, leading some to consider alternative educational options.
• Leadership and Accountability: Concerns over inconsistent leadership and accountability, calling for school leaders to enforce rules fairly and transparently. Many cite issues of favoritism and leniency, emphasizing the need for more engaged, responsible, and consistent leadership across all school activities.

BEGINNING OF THE YEAR

The online registration process and back-to-school information were clearly communicated:

GOAL-SETTING

I have connected with my student/s regarding their academic goals for the school year:

NEW TO MTSD

My family is brand new to MTSD (does not include 4K):

DISTRICT REPUTATION

The quality and reputation of the Mequon-Thiensville School District was a strong determining factor in choosing to enroll my child in the district:

NEW BUILDING TRANSFER

I have a current MTSD student who transitioned to a new building within the school district (e.g. 5th to 6th grader, 8th to 9th grader, new building transfer):

NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION

My student attended the orientation event for the transition to a new school building:

NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION

My student gained clarity and confidence at the orientation that helped ease their transition to the new school:

STUDENT PREPARATION

My student/s felt prepared and welcomed by their new school in advance of the start of the school year (e.g. experiences with building tours, meet-the-teacher nights, orientations, etc.)

TRANSPORTATION

My student/s use bus transportation at least 2 days per week:

TRANSPORTATION

The school’s transportation (bus) service is reliable:

TRANSPORTATION

My student/s feel safe riding the bus:

SCHOOL MEALS

My student/s participate in MTSD’s school meal program through Aramark Food Service:

SCHOOL MEALS

Information about school meals, including access to the free and reduced lunch application, menus, and account/payment information was clearly communicated and easy to access:

SCHOOL MEALS

The Aramark Food Service Program meets my family’s school meal needs:

SCHOOL SAFETY

My student/s feel safe at school:

4K WRAP CARE

My student participates in the 4K Wrap Program through the Mequon-Thiensville Recreation Department:

4K WRAP CARE

How likely would you be to recommend the 4K Wrap Program to future 4K families?:

SUMMER ACADEMY

One or more of my students attended the Mequon-Thiensville Recreation Department’s Summer Academy:

SUMMER ACADEMY

How likely would you be to recommend the Recreation Department’s Summer Academy to a friend with children interested in summer academic programming?:

Key Takeaways

• The majority of responses came from parents/guardians of students in Kindergarten through Grade 5 (54%).
• 88% of respondents reported that their student/s felt prepared and welcome in advance of the start of the school year.
• 91% of respondents agree that the online registration process was clearly communicated.
• 92% of respondents agree that their student/s feel safe at school.
• 88% of respondents who use bus transportation feel that it is reliable and 88% feel that it is safe.
• 91% of families brand new to MTSD agree that the District's quality and reputation was a strong determining factor in choosing to enroll their child/ren at MTSD.
• 82% of families with a student transitioning into a new building (ie. 5th into 6th grade, 8th into 9th grade) felt the orientation process helped ease the transition.
• The Family Net Promoter Score registered at 56, which is one of the district’s highest recorded Family NPS.

Survey Next Steps

• Building administrators will analyze individual school-building results.

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• Building administrators will share a summary of their school-specific data points and themes with staff members and families.

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• A full September Family Survey Report will be posted on the MTSD website and linked in the October Momentum newsletter.

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• District leadership will consider what action steps (immediate vs. gradual via Strategic Plan) should be taken following the overall survey results.