(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic Community School District Director of Finance, Lisa Jones, at the request of school board candidate Justin Williams, provided a report on the District’s certified enrollment count which was due to the Iowa Dept of Education on Wednesday, October 15th. Jones said each year, the district counts all students enrolled as of October 1st. The count helps determine funding from the state for the following school year.

This year, according to Jones, total enrollment decreased by 107 students, as compared to last year. Most of the decline (65 students), she said, “is due to families moving out of the Atlantic area for reasons such as jobs or housing, outside of the school district’s control.” Jones said also, :It’s important to note that while the total number of resident students is down, our open enrolled-in students have increased (from 118 to 124) and open enrolled-out students have decreased (from 41 to 15)  which is very good news. ”

2026-27 students she said, generate $7,988 each but students can carry a different weighted funding depending on their program. This means Atlantic Community School District funding for next year will be affected differently than the headcount number, and, according to Lisa Jones, most likely reflects only a decrease of 79.09 students.