Clay County Schools & Education
Clay County, Iowa
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
74/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Higher Signal
Graduation Rate
97.0%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
97.0%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 92.3%
Per-Pupil Spending
$7,438
National avg $13,239
State avg $7,591
School Score
74/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 61/100
State Score Position
#9
of 99 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Clay County
Measured School Summary
Clay County has a higher measured school signal with a school score of 74/100 and a graduation rate of 97.0%, based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-score inputs.
Funding Context
At $7,438 per pupil, Clay County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 20% above the Iowa average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 4.7 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 2% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Clay 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
6 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
74/100
Higher measured signal. Ranks #9 of 99 Iowa counties with school score data.
Completion
97.0%
4.7 pts above the state average
Funding context
$7,438
$153 below the state average
School coverage
6
2 districts represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
This county screens well on the combined school metrics available here. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
Clay County has 6 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 Clay 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
Clay 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
#9
of 99 Iowa 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.
Spencer Comm School District
Elementary to high school visible
2,230 students
5 listed schools in this county slice.
Clay Central-Everly Comm School District
Elementary school only in this slice
72 students
1 listed school in this county slice.
District reality check
Spencer Comm School District is the largest listed district slice, with 5 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 Clay County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Clay 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 Clay 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.
Education Infrastructure in Clay
Clay County supports six public schools within two districts, serving a total of 2,302 students. The network includes four elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. This concentrated system focuses resources on a central educational hub for the region.
Spencer Community Schools Lead
The Spencer Community School District is the primary educator in the county, managing five schools and 2,230 students. In contrast, the Clay Central-Everly district operates as a very small outlier with just 72 students. The county’s public system is entirely traditional, with no charter schools currently operating.
A Lively Town School Experience
With four of its six schools located in town locales, Clay County offers a centralized, suburban-style education feel. Spencer High School is the largest campus with 712 students, while the county average school size is 384 students. This density supports a wider variety of extracurriculars and advanced placement opportunities.
School Overview
Total Schools
6
in Clay County
Reported Enrollment
2,302
6 schools reporting
School Districts
2
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
2 School Districts in Clay County
Spencer Comm School District
Clay Central-Everly Comm School District
6 Public Schools in Clay 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 6 of 6 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spencer High School | Record | Spencer Comm School District | Spencer, 51301Town: Remote | 9–12 | High | 712 |
| Spencer Middle School | Record | Spencer Comm School District | Spencer, 51301Rural: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 514 |
| Lincoln Elementary School | Record | Spencer Comm School District | Spencer, 51301Town: Remote | 3–5 | Primary | 467 |
| Fairview Park Elementary | Record | Spencer Comm School District | Spencer, 51301Town: Remote | 1–2 | Primary | 308 |
| Johnson Elementary | Record | Spencer Comm School District | Spencer, 51301Town: Remote | PK–KG | Primary | 229 |
| Clay Central-Everly Elementary | Record | Clay Central-Everly Comm School District | Royal, 51357Rural: Distant | PK–6 | Primary | 72 |
Spencer High School
Spencer Comm School District
Spencer, 51301 / Town: Remote
Spencer Middle School
Spencer Comm School District
Spencer, 51301 / Rural: Fringe
Lincoln Elementary School
Spencer Comm School District
Spencer, 51301 / Town: Remote
Fairview Park Elementary
Spencer Comm School District
Spencer, 51301 / Town: Remote
Johnson Elementary
Spencer Comm School District
Spencer, 51301 / Town: Remote
Clay Central-Everly Elementary
Clay Central-Everly Comm School District
Royal, 51357 / Rural: Distant
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$7,438
State avg $7,591
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Clay 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 Clay County?
What is the graduation rate in Clay County?
How much does Clay County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Clay County, Iowa — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Clay County, Iowa?
Clay County supports six public schools within two districts, serving a total of 2,302 students. The network includes four elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. This concentrated system focuses resources on a central educational hub for the region.
What are the major school districts in Clay County, Iowa?
The Spencer Community School District is the primary educator in the county, managing five schools and 2,230 students. In contrast, the Clay Central-Everly district operates as a very small outlier with just 72 students. The county’s public system is entirely traditional, with no charter schools currently operating.
What is the school experience like in Clay County?
With four of its six schools located in town locales, Clay County offers a centralized, suburban-style education feel. Spencer High School is the largest campus with 712 students, while the county average school size is 384 students. This density supports a wider variety of extracurriculars and advanced placement opportunities.
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.