Des Moines, IA (Northwestiowanow.com) — The Iowa Department of Education says certified enrollment in the state’s public schools and accredited non-public schools is down about 1 percent this year.

KICD previously reported the official count in Spencer on October 1st was 1,863.9 full-time equivalents, down 83.3 from the 2024/25 school year. Of the districts in the KICD Broadcast area with over one thousand student population, only two grew: Estherville Lincoln Central was up 3.6 percent to 1,151.3 bodies, and Cherokee was up 2.4 percent to 1,026.8.

Storm Lake remains the largest district at 2,618.2, down 43.8 students.

Spirit Lake is down 24.2 to 1,125.7; Sheldon is down 27.1 to 1,114.2; and Okoboji has slipped below the 1 thousand mark, down 38.7 to 976.7 full-time equivalents.
Six other districts in our nine counties saw increased student counts this fall: Alta-Aurelia, Clay Central Everly, Marcus Meridan Cleghorn, Sioux Central, South O’Brien, and West Bend Mallard.

In addition to indicating the population of a district, the numbers also determine how much state funding each district receives. Spencer serves 1,732.3 resident students, picks up 123 who open enroll IN to the district, and lose only 3.6 who open enroll out of the district.