A week ago today, Charter Oak-Ute High School graduated its 55th and last class of students. Story: KTIV.
One line in the story is practically boilerplate text in this era: Low enrollment numbers and lack of funding are responsible for the school’s closure. The same sentence would apply to Ainsworth and Grand Junction, who didn’t just lose a high school but their school buildings entirely.
In the 2016 city population estimates released last week, Charter Oak, Ute, and Soldier were among the majority of Iowa towns that have lost population since the beginning of the decade, while Ankeny crowded out Dubuque as the state’s ninth-largest city.
UPDATE 5/31: Wednesday is last day for non-seniors at Charter Oak-Ute. Story from Iowa Public Radio.