DeKalb County Schools & Education
DeKalb County, Indiana
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
52/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
92.6%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
92.6%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 92.6%
Per-Pupil Spending
$6,730
National avg $13,239
State avg $5,507
School Score
52/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 39/100
State Score Position
#7
of 92 counties by score
Education Data Brief: DeKalb County
Measured School Summary
DeKalb County performs at an average level with a school score of 52/100 and a solid graduation rate of 92.6%.
Funding Context
At $6,730 per pupil, DeKalb County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 33% above the Indiana average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 0.0 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 22% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read DeKalb County before comparing districts
County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.
Local context that changes the interpretation
14 public schools and 4 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.
Overall screen
52/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #7 of 92 Indiana counties with school score data.
Completion
92.6%
matches the state average
Funding context
$6,730
$1,223 above the state average
School coverage
14
4 districts represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
DeKalb County has 14 public schools across 4 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.
Verify local rules
Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.
What DeKalb County school data means before you move
County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.
Mixed school landscape
DeKalb County has enough school-level records to compare the local mix, but no single county metric should be treated as the answer. Use district shape, grade span, and data coverage together.
State position
#7
of 92 Indiana counties with school score data. The county score is 13 points above the state average.
Data confidence
Usable
3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.
K-12 continuity check
These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.
DeKalb Co Ctl United Sch Dist
Elementary to high school visible
3,641 students
6 listed schools in this county slice.
Garrett-Keyser-Butler Com Sch Corp
Elementary to high school visible
1,675 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
DeKalb Co Eastern Com Sch Dist
Elementary and high visible
1,235 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
Hamilton Community Schools
Elementary and high visible
352 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
DeKalb Co Ctl United Sch Dist is the largest listed district slice, with 6 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.
What the data cannot tell you
NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.
Questions to ask before choosing an address
Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in DeKalb County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different DeKalb County district systems?
What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?
If we need a program not visible in the NCES flags, which district office can confirm current offerings?
Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?
Education Overview
About Schools in DeKalb County, Indiana
This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.
A Snapshot of DeKalb's Educational Infrastructure
DeKalb County supports 6,903 students across 14 public schools, including eight elementary, two middle, and four high schools. Four distinct districts manage this infrastructure, providing a stable foundation for the county's youth.
High Graduation Rates and Efficient Spending
The county matches the state's 92.6% graduation rate, significantly exceeding the national average of 87%. While per-pupil expenditure of $6,730 sits above the state average, it remains well below the national mark of $13,000.
The Leading Districts of DeKalb
DeKalb County Central United School District is the largest provider, serving 3,641 students across six schools. The county currently offers no charter school options, with all 14 schools operating as traditional public institutions.
A Mix of Town and Rural Learning
Students attend schools in mostly town or rural settings, with an average school size of 493 students. DeKalb High School is the largest campus with 1,075 students, while several primary schools offer smaller, more intimate environments.
School Overview
Total Schools
14
in DeKalb County
Reported Enrollment
6,903
14 schools reporting
School Districts
4
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
4 School Districts in DeKalb County
DeKalb Co Ctl United Sch Dist
GuideGarrett-Keyser-Butler Com Sch Corp
DeKalb Co Eastern Com Sch Dist
Hamilton Community Schools
14 Public Schools in DeKalb County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 1 high-enrollment school; every NCES public school remains listed here.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 14 of 14 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeKalb High School | Profile | DeKalb Co Ctl United Sch Dist | Waterloo, 46793Town: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 1,075 |
| DeKalb Middle School | Record | DeKalb Co Ctl United Sch Dist | Waterloo, 46793Town: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 800 |
| J E Ober Elementary School | Record | Garrett-Keyser-Butler Com Sch Corp | Garrett, 46738Town: Fringe | KG–5 | Primary | 727 |
| McKenney-Harrison Elementary Sch | Record | DeKalb Co Ctl United Sch Dist | Auburn, 46706Town: Fringe | PK–5 | Primary | 644 |
| James R Watson Elementary School | Record | DeKalb Co Ctl United Sch Dist | Auburn, 46706Town: Fringe | PK–5 | Primary | 588 |
| Eastside Junior-Senior High School | Record | DeKalb Co Eastern Com Sch Dist | Butler, 46721Town: Distant | 7–12 | High | 585 |
| Garrett High School | Record | Garrett-Keyser-Butler Com Sch Corp | Garrett, 46738Town: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 572 |
| Garrett Middle School | Record | Garrett-Keyser-Butler Com Sch Corp | Garrett, 46738Town: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 376 |
| Butler Elementary School | Record | DeKalb Co Eastern Com Sch Dist | Butler, 46721Rural: Fringe | KG–6 | Primary | 357 |
| Country Meadow Elementary School | Record | DeKalb Co Ctl United Sch Dist | Ashley, 46705Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 314 |
| Riverdale Elementary School | Record | DeKalb Co Eastern Com Sch Dist | Saint Joe, 46785Rural: Distant | KG–6 | Primary | 293 |
| Waterloo Elementary School | Record | DeKalb Co Ctl United Sch Dist | Waterloo, 46793Town: Fringe | PK–5 | Primary | 220 |
| Hamilton Community High School | Record | Hamilton Community Schools | Hamilton, 46742Rural: Distant | 6–12 | High | 186 |
| Hamilton Community Elementary Sch | Record | Hamilton Community Schools | Hamilton, 46742Rural: Distant | KG–5 | Primary | 166 |
DeKalb High School
DeKalb Co Ctl United Sch Dist
Waterloo, 46793 / Town: Fringe
DeKalb Middle School
DeKalb Co Ctl United Sch Dist
Waterloo, 46793 / Town: Fringe
J E Ober Elementary School
Garrett-Keyser-Butler Com Sch Corp
Garrett, 46738 / Town: Fringe
McKenney-Harrison Elementary Sch
DeKalb Co Ctl United Sch Dist
Auburn, 46706 / Town: Fringe
James R Watson Elementary School
DeKalb Co Ctl United Sch Dist
Auburn, 46706 / Town: Fringe
Eastside Junior-Senior High School
DeKalb Co Eastern Com Sch Dist
Butler, 46721 / Town: Distant
Garrett High School
Garrett-Keyser-Butler Com Sch Corp
Garrett, 46738 / Town: Fringe
Garrett Middle School
Garrett-Keyser-Butler Com Sch Corp
Garrett, 46738 / Town: Fringe
Butler Elementary School
DeKalb Co Eastern Com Sch Dist
Butler, 46721 / Rural: Fringe
Country Meadow Elementary School
DeKalb Co Ctl United Sch Dist
Ashley, 46705 / Rural: Distant
Riverdale Elementary School
DeKalb Co Eastern Com Sch Dist
Saint Joe, 46785 / Rural: Distant
Waterloo Elementary School
DeKalb Co Ctl United Sch Dist
Waterloo, 46793 / Town: Fringe
Hamilton Community High School
Hamilton Community Schools
Hamilton, 46742 / Rural: Distant
Hamilton Community Elementary Sch
Hamilton Community Schools
Hamilton, 46742 / Rural: Distant
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$6,730
State avg $5,507
Compare Nearby Counties
Review DeKalb County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
Open CompareBrowse Public Schools
See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.
View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which Indiana counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in Indiana?
How should I read the school score in DeKalb County?
What is the graduation rate in DeKalb County?
How much does DeKalb County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in DeKalb County, Indiana — FAQ
What does the school system look like in DeKalb County, Indiana?
DeKalb County supports 6,903 students across 14 public schools, including eight elementary, two middle, and four high schools. Four distinct districts manage this infrastructure, providing a stable foundation for the county's youth.
How do schools in DeKalb County perform academically?
The county matches the state's 92.6% graduation rate, significantly exceeding the national average of 87%. While per-pupil expenditure of $6,730 sits above the state average, it remains well below the national mark of $13,000.
What are the major school districts in DeKalb County, Indiana?
DeKalb County Central United School District is the largest provider, serving 3,641 students across six schools. The county currently offers no charter school options, with all 14 schools operating as traditional public institutions.
What is the school experience like in DeKalb County?
Students attend schools in mostly town or rural settings, with an average school size of 493 students. DeKalb High School is the largest campus with 1,075 students, while several primary schools offer smaller, more intimate environments.
Counties with Similar School Profile
Data Sources
Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.
Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.