In the past 10 years, the Mason City Community School District has had only a handful of enrollment gains when reporting certified counts to the state. But this year, numbers
The Central Springs Community School District saw an increase in certified enrollment, but the number of students who open-enroll out has increased as well.
LE MARS County school districts have reported 2022-23 certified enrollment to their boards of education in October and November. Oct. 1 is the date on which enrollment numbers are counted for the.
lbradstream@timesrepublican.com
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Anson Elementary second-grade teacher Ginna Randall helps Juancarlo Ramirez Lagunas with some schoolwork on Friday. Ramirez is one of 5,332 students enrolled in the Marshalltown Community School District a reduction from last school year, but the district has proven it attracts students after setbacks.
The Marshalltown Community School District lost 87.9 students in the past year, according to certified enrollment from the Iowa Department of Education (DOE).
However, the loss was to be expected, as numerous public school districts across the state faced student population losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The annual certified enrollment is used by the DOE in the Iowa School Finance Formula for district funding, meaning districts receive money from the state based on the number of students. The more students, the higher amount of money.
REGIONALâEnrollment is down in public school districts across NâWest Iowa.
Just five districts saw an overall increase in certified enrollment for 2020-21, led by the Sheldon School District adding two dozen more students than last year for a certified enrollment total of 1,096. Okoboji School District came next, adding 17.6 students for a certified enrollment of 1,033.
The eight other districts reported enrollment decreases with several in the double digits. West Sioux School District had the sharpest decrease, dropping by 48.1 students for a certified enrollment 829.8.
The changes mean possible expansions in some districts while others look to gradually trim staff through early retirement to stay within shrinking budgets.