Sioux Center Community School District Superintendent Gary McEldowney says Iowa’s Education Savings Account (ESA) program has had relatively little impact on the public school district, even as it faces enrollment declines following years of growth.
The ESA program allows eligible Iowa families to use state funding for tuition and other approved education expenses at accredited private schools.
McEldowney says enrollment dropped by about 60 students last school year and was trending toward another decline of about 40 students at the time of the interview. He says those losses create financial challenges because fewer students mean less funding.
However, McEldowney did not attribute those declines to the ESA program. He points instead to the community’s longstanding pattern of private-school attendance when explaining why he considers the program’s local impact minimal.
A Longstanding Pattern Of Private-School Attendance
“Last year, we had 747 students that live in our school district that attended thirteen different private schools in the area,” McEldowney said.
The Iowa Department of Education’s 2025–26 certified enrollment report lists 747 students residing in the Sioux Center Community School District as utilizing Education Savings Accounts. That figure alone does not indicate how many transferred from the public school district because of the program.
McEldowney says the local history is important when considering the program’s effects.
“But if you look back historically, I mean, I’m not from here, but people know that, you know, that’s the way it’s been for decades,” he said. “So, the ESA thing has been very minimally impact on Sioux Center Community School District.”
Community Support Across School Systems
McEldowney also emphasized the relationships that support the public school district, including cooperation with the city, Dordt University, and Sioux Center Christian School.
He says high expectations for students are accompanied by support from throughout the community, including residents who support school funding measures and local businesses and individuals who offer assistance.
“We have so many generous businesses in town. We have so many generous individuals in town,” McEldowney said. “And it’s very genuine.”
He says that willingness to help extends beyond an initial offer, with supporters following up to find out what the district needs. McEldowney described those relationships as an important part of the support available to Sioux Center’s public schools.
Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that the 747 figure did not identify ESA recipients. State-certified enrollment data lists 747 Sioux Center district residents as utilizing Education Savings Accounts for 2025–26.
