Iowa School Staffing Trends: Fewer Students, More Non-Teaching Staff

District data from the 1990s to today shows a widening gap between enrollment and staffing—especially outside the classroom.

Iowa’s school districts are serving fewer students than they did a generation ago, yet many are employing significantly more non-instructional staff—often 30% to 70% more than in the 1990s. That contrast is not limited to one region or one type of district. It shows up in large districts, mid-sized communities, and even in Iowa’s smallest schools. The o…