Iowa schools' public and overall enrollment, 1980-2026

The graduation of the last baby boomers in 1983 and the farm crisis sent Iowa school enrollment on a dizzying plunge through the 1980s. In 2025-26, while the statewide total is above its 2009-12 trough, public enrollment is at its lowest ever in the modern era.

"Total served" includes certified enrollments for all public schools plus that of "accredited nonpublic" schools.
Chart: Jeff Morrison, Iowa Highway Ends/Between Two RiversSource: Iowa Department of Education, Des Moines Register archivesGet the dataCreated with Datawrapper