DES MOINES- The number of students who enrolled in Iowa's public schools for the
2011-12 school year decreased slightly from the year before, according to the official
certified enrollment report released today by the Iowa Department of Education.
A total of 473,213 students in kindergarten through 12th grade enrolled in public schools statewide. That represents a decrease of 0.06 percent, or 280 students, from the 2010-11 school year.
This is the 14th consecutive year that enrollment has declined in Iowa's public schools. Enrollment peaked in the 1972-73 school year, with 645,000 students.
Of Iowa's 351 school districts, 218 (62 percent) reported an enrollment decrease in the 2011-12 school year, while 129 districts (37 percent) reported an increase. Four Iowa districts reported no change from the 2010-11 school year.
Des Moines, Iowa City and Waukee reported the largest one-year number increases, while Waukee, Creston and Gilbert reported the largest one-year percentage increases (see charts below).
One-Year Trend - Increase of Students - Percent*
School District
2010-11 Enrollment
2011-12 Enrollment
Percent Increase
WAUKEE
6,680
7,111
6%
CRESTON
1,319
1,399
6%
GILBERT
1,199
1,265
6%
ROCK VALLEY
610
641
5%
STORM LAKE
2,082
2,182
5%
* Excludes reorganized districts and districts in whole-grade sharing agreements
One-Year Trend - Increase of Students Numbers*
School District
2010-11
Enrollment
2011-12
Enrollment
Student Increase
DES MOINES
30,975
31,546
571
IOWA CITY
12,011
12,453
442
WAUKEE
6,680
7,111
431
ANKENY
8,652
8,964
312
PLEASANT VALLEY
3,784
3,960
176
* Excludes reorganized districts and districts in whole-grade sharing agreements
Under state law, certified enrollment is used in the formula that determines state funding for public school districts. Certified enrollment is based on the number of students living in each school district. It also includes the "weighting," or additional funding for students in certain programs, such as students who receive assistance in learning the English language.
The certified enrollment count is taken by districts on the first day of October each school year. Official numbers are confirmed by the Iowa Department of Education.
Iowa school districts that reported the largest increases or decreases in the percentage and/or number of students over the past five years are:
Five-Year Trend - Increase of Students - Percent*
School District
2007-08 Enrollment
2011-12 Enrollment
Percent Increase
WAUKEE
5,488
7,111
30%
BONDURANT-FARRAR
1,167
1,391
19%
NORTH POLK
1,109
1,298
17%
ANKENY
7,703
8,964
16%
COLLEGE
3,945
4,508
14%
* Excludes reorganized districts and districts in whole-grade sharing agreements
Five-Year Trend - Increase of Students Numbers*
School District
2007-08
Enrollment
2011-12
Enrollment
Student Increase
WAUKEE
5,488
7,111
1,623
ANKENY
7,703
8,964
1,261
IOWA CITY
11,718
12,453
735
COLLEGE
3,945
4,508
563
JOHNSTON
5,637
6,148
511
* Excludes reorganized districts and districts in whole-grade sharing agreements
Five-Year Trend - Decrease of Students Percent*
School District
2007-08 Enrollment
2011-12 Enrollment
Percent Decrease
CORWITH-WESLEY
155
113
-27%
STRATFORD
226
165
-27%
MELCHER-DALLAS
390
295
-24%
EXIRA
305
233
-24%
TRI-COUNTY
350
268
-23%
* Excludes reorganized districts and districts in whole-grade sharing agreements
Five-Year Trend - Decrease of Students Numbers*
School District
2007-08 Enrollment
2011-12 Enrollment
Student Decrease
CEDAR RAPIDS
17,746
16,778
-968
FORT DODGE
3,983
3,656
-327
KEOKUK
2,295
1,973
-322
NEWTON
3,327
3,036
-291
COUNCIL BLUFFS
9,297
9,033
-264
* Excludes reorganized districts and districts in whole-grade sharing agreements