One thing that concerns every school district throughout Iowa at this time of year is certified enrollment, with many taking a close look at the trends they’re seeing with their student populations.

For the Perry School District, there wasn’t much change from last year to this year’s enrollment figures, though Superintendent Clark Wicks says there are some hidden numbers that are positive signs. Officially, Perry’s 2019-20 enrollment for k-12 is 1,811.90, up from 1,811.74 from the previous year. Wicks says while a .16 increase may not seem like a big deal, he points out that the Class of 2019 had nearly 170 students. Meanwhile, the incoming kindergarten class has about 135 students, meaning there were around 35 students added in other classes throughout the District. Additionally, Wicks says there are strong numbers at the preschool level in Perry, so he’s confident that enrollment will soon see bigger jumps.

He adds, the encouraging trends continue elsewhere in this year’s figures. “One other positive: I know enrollment out has always been a concern for us, and that decreased (by) about 18 students. So that’s a positive, because our ultimate goal is to be able to retain students (and) attract (new). And we want to be a place that people want to learn and settle in here in Perry, and continue with a vibrant economy and a vibrant school.”

Certified enrollment is the biggest factor in determining a school’s funding, as they are awarded a certain amount per pupil by the State. Wicks says that’s why superintendents around Iowa pay such close attention to the figures. To learn more about current topics with the Perry School District, click the link below to listen to the recent Perry Fareway Let’s Talk Dallas County program with Wicks.

https://www.raccoonvalleyradio.com/2019/11/12/lets-talk-dallas-county-11-12-2019-clark-wicks/