Calhoun County Schools & Education
Calhoun County, Iowa
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
63/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
96.1%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
96.1%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 92.3%
Per-Pupil Spending
$6,797
National avg $13,239
State avg $7,591
School Score
63/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 61/100
State Score Position
#51
of 99 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Calhoun County
Measured School Summary
Calhoun County performs at an average level with a school score of 63/100 and a solid graduation rate of 96.1%.
Funding Context
At $6,797 per pupil, Calhoun County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 3% above the Iowa average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 3.8 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 10% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Calhoun 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
5 public schools and 2 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
63/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #51 of 99 Iowa counties with school score data.
Completion
96.1%
3.8 pts above the state average
Funding context
$6,797
$794 below the state average
School coverage
5
2 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
Calhoun County has 5 public schools across 2 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 Calhoun 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.
Small-system county
Calhoun County has a compact public-school footprint. A single school change, boundary rule, or district update can move the lived experience more than the county score suggests.
State position
#51
of 99 Iowa counties with school score data. The county score is 2 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.
South Central Calhoun Comm School District
Elementary to high school visible
916 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
Prairie Valley Comm School District
Elementary school only in this slice
230 students
1 listed school in this county slice.
District reality check
South Central Calhoun Comm School District is the largest listed district slice, with 3 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 Calhoun County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Calhoun 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 Calhoun 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.
Streamlined Success in Calhoun
Calhoun County operates five public schools within two primary districts, serving 1,496 students total. This focused infrastructure consists of two elementary schools, one middle school, and two high schools.
South Central Calhoun Dominates
South Central Calhoun Community School District is the largest, educating 916 students across three facilities. The county maintains a traditional educational model with no charter schools currently operating.
Rural Living and Moderate School Sizes
All five schools in the county are located in rural areas, offering a quiet environment for learning. The average school size is 299 students, with Manson Northwest Webster Junior High/High School being the largest at 350 students.
School Overview
Total Schools
5
in Calhoun County
Reported Enrollment
1,496
5 schools reporting
School Districts
2
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
2 School Districts in Calhoun County
South Central Calhoun Comm School District
Prairie Valley Comm School District
5 Public Schools in Calhoun 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 5 of 5 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manson Northwest Webster Junior High/High School | Record | Manson Northwest Webster Comm School District | Manson, 50563Rural: Remote | 7–12 | High | 350 |
| South Central Calhoun Middle School | Record | South Central Calhoun Comm School District | Rockwell City, 50579Rural: Remote | 4–8 | Middle | 327 |
| South Central Calhoun Elementary Building | Record | South Central Calhoun Comm School District | Rockwell City, 50579Rural: Remote | PK–3 | Primary | 311 |
| South Central Calhoun High School | Record | South Central Calhoun Comm School District | Lake City, 51449Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 278 |
| Prairie Valley Elementary School | Record | Prairie Valley Comm School District | Farnhamville, 50538Rural: Remote | PK–4 | Primary | 230 |
Manson Northwest Webster Junior High/High School
Manson Northwest Webster Comm School District
Manson, 50563 / Rural: Remote
South Central Calhoun Middle School
South Central Calhoun Comm School District
Rockwell City, 50579 / Rural: Remote
South Central Calhoun Elementary Building
South Central Calhoun Comm School District
Rockwell City, 50579 / Rural: Remote
South Central Calhoun High School
South Central Calhoun Comm School District
Lake City, 51449 / Rural: Remote
Prairie Valley Elementary School
Prairie Valley Comm School District
Farnhamville, 50538 / Rural: Remote
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$6,797
State avg $7,591
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Calhoun 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 Calhoun County?
What is the graduation rate in Calhoun County?
How much does Calhoun County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Calhoun County, Iowa — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Calhoun County, Iowa?
Calhoun County operates five public schools within two primary districts, serving 1,496 students total. This focused infrastructure consists of two elementary schools, one middle school, and two high schools.
What are the major school districts in Calhoun County, Iowa?
South Central Calhoun Community School District is the largest, educating 916 students across three facilities. The county maintains a traditional educational model with no charter schools currently operating.
What is the school experience like in Calhoun County?
All five schools in the county are located in rural areas, offering a quiet environment for learning. The average school size is 299 students, with Manson Northwest Webster Junior High/High School being the largest at 350 students.
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.