As the school year comes to a close and Iowa families consider their options for next fall, the latest certified enrollment numbers point to a remarkable trend: Iowa’s nonpublic schools are serving thousands more students than they were before Education Savings Accounts began.
New certified enrollment data for the 2025–26 school year shows that Iowa’s nonpublic school enrollment has climbed to 41,892 students, up from 33,692 students in 2022–23, the last school year before ESAs were implemented. That is an increase of 8,200 students, or 24.3 percent, in just three years.
That marks a sharp break from the years before ESAs, when enrollment was largely flat.
From 2015–16 through 2022–23, Iowa nonpublic school enrollment saw some modest gains and some declines, but no sustained upward movement. In 2015–16, Iowa nonpublic schools enrolled 33,920 students. By 2022–23, enrollment stood at 33,692 students, slightly below where it had been seven years earlier.
Since then, the picture has changed.
Enrollment increased by 2,503 students in 2023–24, the first year of Iowa’s ESA program. It grew by another 3,161 students in 2024–25, and then by 2,536 more students in 2025–26. Over three years, Iowa nonpublic schools added more than 8,000 students.
As the ESA application period continues, Iowa families are already making decisions for next school year. The certified enrollment numbers from the first three ESA years offer an encouraging sign for what may come next.
More Families Are Choosing Nonpublic Schools
Before ESAs, Iowa’s nonpublic school enrollment had been relatively stable for several years. Some years saw increases, while others saw declines, but the overall trend was mostly flat.
The first three years of ESAs have changed that pattern.
By 2025–26, certified enrollment had reached 41,892 students, the highest point in the multi-year data set reviewed. That increase suggests that many parents are using the opportunity to choose the school that works best for their child.
The upward movement has also been consistent. Iowa nonpublic schools have now posted three consecutive years of significant enrollment gains since ESAs became available.
For families, those numbers represent more than a statistical change. They represent thousands of children whose parents are choosing a nonpublic school option that better fits their needs, values, goals, or circumstances.
The Increase Is Coming From Existing Schools and New Schools
The increase is not only the result of additional schools entering the data. Continuing schools also account for a majority of the added enrollment.
Looking at schools that were present in both 2022–23 and 2025–26, continuing schools added more than 5,100 students. Many schools that were already serving Iowa families before ESAs began have expanded substantially during the first three years of the program.
At the same time, the number of nonpublic schools in the certified enrollment data has also increased. Iowa had 183 nonpublic schools in the data in 2022–23. By 2025–26, that number had grown to 232 schools, a net increase of 49 schools over three years.
School choice is not only about helping families access existing seats. It is also about creating the conditions for more options to exist. Both are happening in Iowa: established schools are serving more students, and additional school options are appearing for families.
Enrollment Gains Reach Across Many Schools and Communities
The gains are not limited to a handful of large schools.
In fact, the share of total enrollment represented by the largest schools has declined slightly over time. In 2022–23, the top 20 schools accounted for about 31 percent of nonpublic enrollment. By 2025–26, the top 20 accounted for about 28 percent.
That means enrollment is spreading more broadly across the sector.
If most of the increase were concentrated only among a few large schools, it would suggest a narrower trend. Instead, the numbers point to widespread gains across many different schools and communities.
The number of very small schools has also increased, which appears to reflect the entry of new or newly reported schools into the certified enrollment data. At the same time, the number of larger schools has grown as well. In 2022–23, Iowa had 13 nonpublic schools with enrollment of 400 or more students. By 2025–26, that number had grown to 23.
That combination tells a larger story: new and smaller schools are emerging, while established schools are also scaling up to serve more families.
Some Iowa Nonpublic Schools Are Growing Quickly
Several schools saw especially strong enrollment increases from 2022–23 to 2025–26.
Among continuing schools, Kuemper High School had one of the largest gains, growing from 280 students in 2022–23 to 482 students in 2025–26. That is an increase of 202 students.
Grand View Christian Elementary School also saw major growth, increasing from 371 students to 563 students, a gain of 192 students. Grand View Christian’s middle school also expanded significantly, rising from 157 students to 297 students, an increase of 140 students.
Des Moines Christian Secondary School grew from 663 students to 825 students, adding 162 students over the three-year period.
Other fast-growing schools include Isaac Newton Christian Academy, which increased by 150 students; St. Edmond Catholic, which added 142 students; John F. Kennedy Catholic School, which added 122 students; Hillcrest Academy, which grew by 118 students; Assumption High School, which added 115 students; and Saint Albert School, which added 114 students.
These schools are not all the same size, and they do not all serve the same communities. That is part of what makes the trend significant. The gains are showing up among large schools, mid-sized schools, and smaller schools that have expanded rapidly since ESAs began.
The Sector Is Getting Larger and More Diverse
One interesting trend is that average and median school sizes have not increased as sharply as total enrollment.
That may seem surprising at first, but it makes sense when looking at the full picture.
Total enrollment has risen rapidly, but many new or smaller schools have entered the data. That pulls the median school size downward, even while more students are being served overall.
In 2022–23, the median nonpublic school enrollment was 136 students. By 2025–26, it had declined to 126.5 students. This does not mean schools are shrinking overall. Rather, it reflects the changing composition of the sector as more small schools appear in the data while many existing schools continue to grow.
Iowa’s nonpublic school sector is not just getting larger. It is becoming more diverse in size and structure.
That variety matters for families. A healthy school choice environment should include a range of options, including large schools, small schools, faith-based schools, independent schools, specialized schools, and schools serving different community needs. Recent enrollment gains point to a broader set of choices for Iowa families.
The ESA Era Represents a Turning Point
Before ESAs, Iowa nonpublic school enrollment was mostly flat. From 2015–16 to 2022–23, enrollment changed very little overall. Some years saw gains, while others saw losses, but there was no sustained upward movement.
Since ESAs began, Iowa has seen three consecutive years of significant enrollment gains.
Nonpublic schools added 2,503 students in 2023–24, 3,161 students in 2024–25, and 2,536 students in 2025–26. Altogether, that is 8,200 additional students since the last pre-ESA year.
The number of schools has grown as well, from 183 in 2022–23 to 232 in 2025–26.
Now, families are already applying for the next school year.
As this school year ends, parents across the state are considering whether a nonpublic school might be the right fit for their child. The ESA application period is in progress, and the first three years of enrollment data raise an important question: what will enrollment look like in the fourth school year with ESAs?
That remains to be seen. But the first three years show a strong and encouraging pattern: when families have greater access to educational choice, many are ready to use it.
Bottom Line
Iowa’s certified enrollment data shows that the ESA era has brought a major expansion of nonpublic school enrollment.
The increase is substantial. It reaches across many schools and communities. It includes both continuing schools and new schools. And it reflects a sharp shift from the pre-ESA trend.
After years of flat or declining enrollment, Iowa nonpublic schools are now serving thousands more students. With the ESA application period currently underway, families have another opportunity to choose the educational environment they believe is right for their children.
The first three years of ESA-era enrollment tell a powerful story. As Iowa families apply for the fourth year of ESAs, the future of educational choice in the state looks bright.