The Iowa Department of Education has released the 2025 fall certified enrollment numbers for public school districts, public charter schools, and accredited nonpublic schools. This data is especially significant because Iowa allocates funding to public school districts based on enrollment counts taken on October 1 of each year. These certified enrollment figures are used to determine district funding for the following fiscal year—in this case, the 2026–2027 school year.

Iowa experienced an overall student decline of approximately 1 percent this year, as total enrollment fell from 520,021 to 515,221 students. As the graph below demonstrates, the total number of enrolled students in Iowa (public, charter, and private) has ebbed and flowed over the past two decades.

When examining total K–12 enrollment in public schools across the state, it is clear those schools drive the overall trend, as the graph of public school enrollment nearly mirrors the graph of total enrollment.  In 2025, the number of students enrolled in Iowa’s public schools fell by more than 7,000, to 473,329—a decline of 1.5 percent.

While many news outlets have reported increases in private school enrollment in recent years, a deeper dive into the data reveals a more nuanced story. Private school enrollment increased by 2,536 students in 2025—only about one-third of the number of students lost by public schools. Over time, private schools have experienced more stable enrollment trends than their public counterparts.

As enrollment data is used in policy discussions, it is important to focus on long-term trends rather than individual year-to-year changes. For example, the COVID-19 pandemic had a noticeable impact on student enrollment statewide.  While some enrollment levels have since stabilized, additional factors—such as declining birth rates, open enrollment options, and family schooling choices—continue to influence enrollment patterns across Iowa.  Viewed in this broader context, enrollment shifts reflect structural changes rather than isolated events. Understanding these long-term trends is essential for policymakers, school leaders, and taxpayers as they plan for the future. For more information on your local school district, visit ITR Report Card.