Cherokee County Schools & Education
Cherokee County, Iowa
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
62/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
93.1%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
93.1%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 92.3%
Per-Pupil Spending
$7,295
National avg $13,239
State avg $7,591
School Score
62/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 61/100
State Score Position
#57
of 99 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Cherokee County
Measured School Summary
Cherokee County performs at an average level with a school score of 62/100 and a solid graduation rate of 93.1%.
Funding Context
At $7,295 per pupil, Cherokee County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 1% above the Iowa average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 0.8 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 4% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Cherokee 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
8 public schools and 3 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
62/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #57 of 99 Iowa counties with school score data.
Completion
93.1%
0.8 pts above the state average
Funding context
$7,295
$296 below the state average
School coverage
8
3 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
Cherokee County has 8 public schools across 3 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 Cherokee 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
Cherokee 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
#57
of 99 Iowa counties with school score data. The county score is roughly in line with 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.
Cherokee Comm School District
Elementary to high school visible
1,200 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn Comm School District
Elementary and high visible
386 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
River Valley Comm School District
Elementary school only in this slice
174 students
1 listed school in this county slice.
District reality check
Cherokee 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 Cherokee County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Cherokee 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 Cherokee 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.
The Educational Fabric of Cherokee
Cherokee County operates eight public schools, including four elementary, two middle, and two high schools. Three districts serve a total enrollment of 2,154 students. The network is designed to provide consistent educational access across the county’s agricultural landscape.
District Leadership and Enrollment
The Cherokee Community School District is the largest provider, educating 1,200 students in its three schools. Other major providers include the Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn and River Valley districts. No charter schools exist in the county, maintaining a traditional district focus.
The Intimacy of Rural Schooling
All eight schools in the county are classified as rural, creating a tight-knit community feel for every student. The average school size is relatively small at 269 students, with Cherokee Elementary being the largest at 492 students. Smaller environments like MMCRU High School, with 203 students, allow for personalized attention.
School Overview
Total Schools
8
in Cherokee County
Reported Enrollment
2,154
8 schools reporting
School Districts
3
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
3 School Districts in Cherokee County
Cherokee Comm School District
Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn Comm School District
River Valley Comm School District
8 Public Schools in Cherokee 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 8 of 8 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherokee Elementary School | Record | Cherokee Comm School District | Cherokee, 51012Rural: Fringe | PK–4 | Primary | 492 |
| Cherokee Middle School | Record | Cherokee Comm School District | Cherokee, 51012Rural: Fringe | 5–8 | Middle | 355 |
| Washington High School | Record | Cherokee Comm School District | Cherokee, 51012Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 353 |
| Alta-Aurelia Middle Sch | Record | Alta-Aurelia Comm School District | Aurelia, 51005Rural: Distant | 5–8 | Middle | 231 |
| MMCRU High School | Record | Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn Comm School District | Marcus, 51035Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 203 |
| MMCRU Marcus Elementary | Record | Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn Comm School District | Marcus, 51035Rural: Remote | PK–4 | Primary | 183 |
| River Valley Elementary | Record | River Valley Comm School District | Washta, 51061Rural: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 174 |
| Aurelia Elementary School | Record | Alta-Aurelia Comm School District | Aurelia, 51005Rural: Distant | PK–4 | Primary | 163 |
Cherokee Elementary School
Cherokee Comm School District
Cherokee, 51012 / Rural: Fringe
Cherokee Middle School
Cherokee Comm School District
Cherokee, 51012 / Rural: Fringe
Washington High School
Cherokee Comm School District
Cherokee, 51012 / Rural: Fringe
Alta-Aurelia Middle Sch
Alta-Aurelia Comm School District
Aurelia, 51005 / Rural: Distant
MMCRU High School
Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn Comm School District
Marcus, 51035 / Rural: Remote
MMCRU Marcus Elementary
Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn Comm School District
Marcus, 51035 / Rural: Remote
River Valley Elementary
River Valley Comm School District
Washta, 51061 / Rural: Remote
Aurelia Elementary School
Alta-Aurelia Comm School District
Aurelia, 51005 / Rural: Distant
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$7,295
State avg $7,591
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Cherokee 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 Cherokee County?
What is the graduation rate in Cherokee County?
How much does Cherokee County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Cherokee County, Iowa — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Cherokee County, Iowa?
Cherokee County operates eight public schools, including four elementary, two middle, and two high schools. Three districts serve a total enrollment of 2,154 students. The network is designed to provide consistent educational access across the county’s agricultural landscape.
What are the major school districts in Cherokee County, Iowa?
The Cherokee Community School District is the largest provider, educating 1,200 students in its three schools. Other major providers include the Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn and River Valley districts. No charter schools exist in the county, maintaining a traditional district focus.
What is the school experience like in Cherokee County?
All eight schools in the county are classified as rural, creating a tight-knit community feel for every student. The average school size is relatively small at 269 students, with Cherokee Elementary being the largest at 492 students. Smaller environments like MMCRU High School, with 203 students, allow for personalized attention.
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.