Circa 2003, it was the third largest school district in the state in terms of land area.

This is all due in part to the ending of the"doubling up" classroom policy by the Howard–Winneshiek Community School District.

Also beginning with the 2014–15 school year, children in Elma will have the open enrollment choice: their parents be able to decide if they want them at Howard–Winn, or Riceville.

Beginning in 2010, children in Ridgeway obtained the open enrollment choice, and Elma and Lime Springs/Chester were cut back to K–5.

[7] In 2013 the district board voted to close Elma Elementary School; Lime Springs-Chester remained open as the facilities in Cresco could not hold all grades.

In 2011 Sherill and Jeff Ryan bought the school and converted it into a shrimp farm.