Clarke County Schools & Education
Clarke County, Iowa
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
65/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
91.7%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
91.7%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 92.3%
Per-Pupil Spending
$8,153
National avg $13,239
State avg $7,591
School Score
65/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 61/100
State Score Position
#45
of 99 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Clarke County
Measured School Summary
Clarke County performs at an average level with a school score of 65/100 and a solid graduation rate of 91.7%.
Funding Context
Clarke County spends $8,153 per student, which is on the lower end of adequate and may require careful resource allocation to maintain quality.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 6% above the Iowa average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 0.6 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 7% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Clarke 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
65/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #45 of 99 Iowa counties with school score data.
Completion
91.7%
0.6 pts below the state average
Funding context
$8,153
$562 above 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
Clarke 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 Clarke 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
Clarke 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
#45
of 99 Iowa counties with school score data. The county score is 4 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.
Clarke Comm School District
Elementary to high school visible
1,358 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
Murray Comm School District
Elementary and high visible
298 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Clarke 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 Clarke County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Clarke 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 Clarke 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 School Landscape of Clarke
Clarke County operates five public schools within two primary districts, serving 1,656 students. The system is split into two elementary schools, one middle school, and two high schools. This streamlined infrastructure provides a clear path for students from kindergarten through graduation.
Core Districts in Clarke
The Clarke Community School District is the dominant provider, serving 1,358 students across its three schools. Murray Community School District serves the remaining students in the county with two local schools. There are no charter schools, keeping the focus on these two established community districts.
Balanced Town and Rural Schools
The county features a mix of three town-based schools and two rural facilities, offering diverse environments for students. Clarke Community Elementary is the largest school with 611 students, while Murray Elementary is the smallest with only 148. This range allows families to choose between a larger town experience or a very intimate rural setting.
School Overview
Total Schools
5
in Clarke County
Reported Enrollment
1,656
5 schools reporting
School Districts
2
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
2 School Districts in Clarke County
Clarke Comm School District
Murray Comm School District
5 Public Schools in Clarke 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clarke Community Elementary School | Record | Clarke Comm School District | Osceola, 50213Town: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 611 |
| Clarke Community High School | Record | Clarke Comm School District | Osceola, 50213Town: Distant | 9–12 | High | 442 |
| Clarke Middle School | Record | Clarke Comm School District | Osceola, 50213Town: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 305 |
| Murray Jr/Sr High | Record | Murray Comm School District | Murray, 50174Rural: Distant | 6–12 | High | 150 |
| Murray Elementary School | Record | Murray Comm School District | Murray, 50174Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 148 |
Clarke Community Elementary School
Clarke Comm School District
Osceola, 50213 / Town: Distant
Clarke Community High School
Clarke Comm School District
Osceola, 50213 / Town: Distant
Clarke Middle School
Clarke Comm School District
Osceola, 50213 / Town: Distant
Murray Jr/Sr High
Murray Comm School District
Murray, 50174 / Rural: Distant
Murray Elementary School
Murray Comm School District
Murray, 50174 / Rural: Distant
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$8,153
State avg $7,591
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Clarke 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 Clarke County?
What is the graduation rate in Clarke County?
How much does Clarke County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Clarke County, Iowa — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Clarke County, Iowa?
Clarke County operates five public schools within two primary districts, serving 1,656 students. The system is split into two elementary schools, one middle school, and two high schools. This streamlined infrastructure provides a clear path for students from kindergarten through graduation.
What are the major school districts in Clarke County, Iowa?
The Clarke Community School District is the dominant provider, serving 1,358 students across its three schools. Murray Community School District serves the remaining students in the county with two local schools. There are no charter schools, keeping the focus on these two established community districts.
What is the school experience like in Clarke County?
The county features a mix of three town-based schools and two rural facilities, offering diverse environments for students. Clarke Community Elementary is the largest school with 611 students, while Murray Elementary is the smallest with only 148. This range allows families to choose between a larger town experience or a very intimate rural setting.
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.