(Atlantic) The Atlantic Community School District released its October 1 enrollment data to the Iowa Department of Education by October 15.
Atlantic Business Manager Lisa Jones released this statement to KSOM/KS95 News today. After two years of steady growth, total enrollment dropped by 107 students heading into the 2025–26 school year, the lowest enrollment in four years. Jones states that because certified enrollment determines FY26–27 funding, this decrease will result in reduced state aid for the upcoming year. (TAG, ELL, At-Risk, etc.) help offset part of the loss. Jones says that when factoring in weighted enrollment, there is a decline of 79.09 students. Atlantic Community Schools experienced a decrease in enrollment, dropping from 1,843 students in the previous school year to 1,736 students in the current school year.
“We’ve lost 65 resident students, meaning families have moved out of the district. That’s likely tied to factors outside our control — housing availability and local job opportunities,” said Jones. “This is an important topic for continued discussion with the City and Chamber of Commerce as we think about long-term community growth and retention.”
Jones says the good news is that open enrollment increased from 118 students last school year to 124 this school year. She says the open-enrolled-out students decreased from 41 to 15.
