School Enrollment Down Overall Across Iowa, Increasing at Suburban Schools

KCRG & AP

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By Becky Ogann

Story Created: Nov 24, 2009 at 12:52 PM CST

Story Updated: Nov 24, 2009 at 2:10 PM CST

CEDAR RAPIDS - Officials say enrollment overall in Iowa's public and private schools continue to show a slide.

The Iowa Department of Education is reporting enrollment in the state's public and private schools has decreased for 11 consecutive years. According to education officials, the state's public and private schools served 510,916 students during 2008-09, a decrease of nearly 4,000 from the year before.

However, the education department also reports some districts are bucking that downward trend. Enrollment is increasing at suburban schools near Cedar Rapids, Des Moines and Iowa City.

While Cedar Rapids has seen a decrease of 207 students this year to 16,755, the Linn-Mar school district has 6,377 students this year, an increase of about 216 from the year before.

On the flip side, enrollment hit a new high at Iowa's community colleges, topping 100,000 for the first time ever. That's up 14% from last year.

The Iowa Department of Education says community college enrollment typically increases during economic downturns.

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