Northwest Iowa — The Iowa Department of Education’s annual report for the fall shows enrollment in the 327 school districts dropped by nearly six-thousand (5,935) students from last year.
The Department of Education report says the one-point-two percent decline is the first drop in certified enrollment in ten years. Enrollment decreased at 215 school districts representing 66 percent of all public school districts in the state. Des Moines Public Schools had the largest decrease followed by Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Iowa City, Council Bluffs, Waterloo, Sioux City, Dubuque, Burlington, and West Des Moines. The report shows enrollment in home school assistance programs was up more than 16-hundred for a total of eight-thousand-735 students. Home school students receive some services through their local school district. The total number of students in schools was 484-thousand-159.
In our area, it’s a mixed bag. We checked with four schools, and half of them reported an increase in certified enrollment and half reported a decrease.
Iowa school districts report that certified enrollment is a figure that is weighed by several factors and does not represent actual students in desks.
At Sheldon, Superintendent Cory Myer says their enrollment is up. Last year, (2019-20) certified enrollment was at 1072.01, and this year (2020-21) it is at 1095.99. Myer says the long-term trend is for a slight increase.
At Sibley-Ocheyedan, Superintendent James Craig says their certified enrollment was down. Last year it was 735.3. This year it’s 708.7. He says their enrollment is on a slight downward trend.
At MOC/Floyd Valley, Superintendent Russ Adams says their certified enrollment is up. It was at 1486.44 last year and at 1797.98 this year. He says their enrollment fluctuates.
And at Central Lyon, Superintendent Brent Jorth says their certified enrollment is down. It was at 756 last year, and it’s at 745 this year. He says they are also on a slight downward trend, with lower numbers three out of the last five years after several years of increases.
