Buchanan County Schools & Education
Buchanan County, Iowa
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
68/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
96.6%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
96.6%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 92.3%
Per-Pupil Spending
$7,108
National avg $13,239
State avg $7,591
School Score
68/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 61/100
State Score Position
#31
of 99 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Buchanan County
Measured School Summary
Buchanan County performs at an average level with a school score of 68/100 and a solid graduation rate of 96.6%.
Funding Context
At $7,108 per pupil, Buchanan County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 11% above the Iowa average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 4.3 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 6% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Buchanan 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
18 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
68/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #31 of 99 Iowa counties with school score data.
Completion
96.6%
4.3 pts above the state average
Funding context
$7,108
$483 below the state average
School coverage
18
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
Buchanan County has 18 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 Buchanan 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
Buchanan 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
#31
of 99 Iowa counties with school score data. The county score is 7 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.
Independence Comm School District
Elementary and high visible
1,419 students
4 listed schools in this county slice.
Jesup Comm School District
Elementary to high school visible
1,069 students
6 listed schools in this county slice.
East Buchanan Comm School District
Elementary to high school visible
583 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
Wapsie Valley Comm School District
Elementary school only in this slice
275 students
5 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Wapsie Valley Comm School District is the largest listed district slice, with 7 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 Buchanan County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Buchanan 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 Buchanan County, Iowa
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.
Rural Roots and Educational Range
Buchanan County operates 18 public schools across four districts, providing a comprehensive education for 3,346 students. The landscape is dominated by 12 elementary schools, ensuring young learners have accessible neighborhood options.
Independence and Jesup Lead the Way
The Independence Community School District serves as the county's largest hub with 1,419 students, followed closely by Jesup's 1,069 students. The county focuses entirely on traditional public schooling with zero charter school presence.
Small Schools in a Rural Setting
Education here feels personal, with 16 of the 18 schools located in rural locales and an average school size of just 186 students. Independence Junior Senior High is the largest campus with 701 students, while East Elementary offers a smaller start for young children.
School Overview
Total Schools
18
in Buchanan County
Reported Enrollment
3,346
18 schools reporting
School Districts
4
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
4 School Districts in Buchanan County
Independence Comm School District
Jesup Comm School District
Wapsie Valley Comm School District
East Buchanan Comm School District
18 Public Schools in Buchanan County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Every NCES public school remains listed here; no school-level profile pages are included in the current generated coverage for this county.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 18 of 18 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independence Junior Senior High School | Record | Independence Comm School District | Independence, 50644Rural: Fringe | 7–12 | High | 701 |
| Jesup Elementary School | Record | Jesup Comm School District | Jesup, 50648Rural: Distant | PK–4 | Primary | 438 |
| West Elementary School | Record | Independence Comm School District | Independence, 50644Rural: Fringe | 3–6 | Primary | 381 |
| East Buchanan Elementary School | Record | East Buchanan Comm School District | Winthrop, 50682Rural: Distant | PK–6 | Primary | 309 |
| East Elementary School | Record | Independence Comm School District | Independence, 50644Town: Distant | KG–2 | Primary | 298 |
| Jesup High School | Record | Jesup Comm School District | Jesup, 50648Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 278 |
| Jesup Middle School | Record | Jesup Comm School District | Jesup, 50648Rural: Distant | 5–8 | Middle | 252 |
| Fairbank Elementary School | Record | Wapsie Valley Comm School District | Fairbank, 50629Rural: Distant | PK–6 | Primary | 195 |
| East Buchanan High School | Record | East Buchanan Comm School District | Winthrop, 50682Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 186 |
| East Buchanan Middle School | Record | East Buchanan Comm School District | Winthrop, 50682Rural: Distant | 7–8 | Middle | 88 |
| Triumph Elementary School | Record | Jesup Comm School District | Jesup, 50648Rural: Distant | KG–8 | Primary | 41 |
| Early Childhood Center | Record | Independence Comm School District | Independence, 50644Town: Distant | PK | Other | 39 |
| Perry #1 Elementary School | Record | Jesup Comm School District | Jesup, 50648Rural: Distant | KG–8 | Primary | 37 |
| Rural Elementary School #2 | Record | Wapsie Valley Comm School District | Fairbank, 50629Rural: Distant | KG–8 | Primary | 26 |
| Rural Elementary School #1 | Record | Wapsie Valley Comm School District | Fairbank, 50629Rural: Distant | KG–8 | Primary | 24 |
| Prairie Grove Elementary School | Record | Jesup Comm School District | Jesup, 50648Rural: Distant | KG–8 | Primary | 23 |
| Rural Elementary School #3 | Record | Wapsie Valley Comm School District | Hazleton, 50641Rural: Distant | KG–8 | Primary | 15 |
| Rural Elementary School #4 | Record | Wapsie Valley Comm School District | Fairbank, 50629Rural: Distant | KG–8 | Primary | 15 |
Independence Junior Senior High School
Independence Comm School District
Independence, 50644 / Rural: Fringe
Jesup Elementary School
Jesup Comm School District
Jesup, 50648 / Rural: Distant
West Elementary School
Independence Comm School District
Independence, 50644 / Rural: Fringe
East Buchanan Elementary School
East Buchanan Comm School District
Winthrop, 50682 / Rural: Distant
East Elementary School
Independence Comm School District
Independence, 50644 / Town: Distant
Jesup Middle School
Jesup Comm School District
Jesup, 50648 / Rural: Distant
Fairbank Elementary School
Wapsie Valley Comm School District
Fairbank, 50629 / Rural: Distant
East Buchanan High School
East Buchanan Comm School District
Winthrop, 50682 / Rural: Distant
East Buchanan Middle School
East Buchanan Comm School District
Winthrop, 50682 / Rural: Distant
Triumph Elementary School
Jesup Comm School District
Jesup, 50648 / Rural: Distant
Early Childhood Center
Independence Comm School District
Independence, 50644 / Town: Distant
Perry #1 Elementary School
Jesup Comm School District
Jesup, 50648 / Rural: Distant
Rural Elementary School #2
Wapsie Valley Comm School District
Fairbank, 50629 / Rural: Distant
Rural Elementary School #1
Wapsie Valley Comm School District
Fairbank, 50629 / Rural: Distant
Prairie Grove Elementary School
Jesup Comm School District
Jesup, 50648 / Rural: Distant
Rural Elementary School #3
Wapsie Valley Comm School District
Hazleton, 50641 / Rural: Distant
Rural Elementary School #4
Wapsie Valley Comm School District
Fairbank, 50629 / Rural: Distant
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$7,108
State avg $7,591
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Buchanan 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 Iowa counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in Iowa?
How should I read the school score in Buchanan County?
What is the graduation rate in Buchanan County?
How much does Buchanan County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Buchanan County, Iowa — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Buchanan County, Iowa?
Buchanan County operates 18 public schools across four districts, providing a comprehensive education for 3,346 students. The landscape is dominated by 12 elementary schools, ensuring young learners have accessible neighborhood options.
What are the major school districts in Buchanan County, Iowa?
The Independence Community School District serves as the county's largest hub with 1,419 students, followed closely by Jesup's 1,069 students. The county focuses entirely on traditional public schooling with zero charter school presence.
What is the school experience like in Buchanan County?
Education here feels personal, with 16 of the 18 schools located in rural locales and an average school size of just 186 students. Independence Junior Senior High is the largest campus with 701 students, while East Elementary offers a smaller start for young children.
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.