Clayton County Schools & Education
Clayton County, Iowa
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
44/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
88.5%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
88.5%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 92.3%
Per-Pupil Spending
$7,275
National avg $13,239
State avg $7,591
School Score
44/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 61/100
State Score Position
#93
of 99 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Clayton County
Measured School Summary
Clayton County performs at an average level with a school score of 44/100 and a solid graduation rate of 88.5%.
Funding Context
At $7,275 per pupil, Clayton County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 28% below the Iowa average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 3.8 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 4% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Clayton 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
11 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
44/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #93 of 99 Iowa counties with school score data.
Completion
88.5%
3.8 pts below the state average
Funding context
$7,275
$316 below the state average
School coverage
11
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
Clayton County has 11 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 Clayton 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
Clayton 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
#93
of 99 Iowa counties with school score data. The county score is 17 points below 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.
Clayton Ridge Comm School District
Elementary to high school visible
1,485 students
4 listed schools in this county slice.
MFL MarMac Comm School District
Elementary to high school visible
894 students
4 listed schools in this county slice.
Central Comm School District
Elementary and high visible
473 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Clayton Ridge Comm School District is the largest listed district slice, with 4 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 Clayton County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Clayton County district systems?
What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?
Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?
Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?
Education Overview
About Schools in Clayton 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 Broad Reach of Clayton Schools
Clayton County manages 11 public schools across three districts, serving a total of 3,059 students. The school level mix includes four elementary schools, two middle schools, four high schools, and one specialized academy. This diverse portfolio provides specialized pathways for students of all ages.
Unique District Options
The Clayton Ridge Community School District is the largest, enrolling 1,485 students and hosting the unique Iowa Virtual Academy. MFL MarMac and Central Community School Districts also provide essential services to nearly 1,400 combined students. Traditional districts remain the norm here, as no charter schools are currently in operation.
A Predominantly Rural Learning Landscape
Nine of the county’s 11 schools are located in rural areas, offering students a quiet and focused atmosphere. The Iowa Virtual Academy is the largest institution with 862 students, while traditional schools like Central Elementary are smaller at 263 students. This blend of virtual and rural schooling offers a unique flexibility not found in many other counties.
School Overview
Total Schools
11
in Clayton County
Reported Enrollment
3,059
11 schools reporting
School Districts
3
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
3 School Districts in Clayton County
Clayton Ridge Comm School District
MFL MarMac Comm School District
Central Comm School District
11 Public Schools in Clayton 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 11 of 11 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa Virtual Academy | Record | Clayton Ridge Comm School District | Guttenberg, 52052Rural: Distant | KG–12 | Virtual | 862 |
| MFL MarMac Elementary School | Record | MFL MarMac Comm School District | Monona, 52159Rural: Remote | PK–3 | Primary | 339 |
| Clayton Ridge Elementary School | Record | Clayton Ridge Comm School District | Garnavillo, 52052Rural: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 306 |
| Central Elementary | Record | Central Comm School District | Elkader, 52043Rural: Remote | PK–6 | Primary | 263 |
| MFL MarMac HS | Record | MFL MarMac Comm School District | Monona, 52159Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 262 |
| Central Middle School/High School | Record | Central Comm School District | Elkader, 52043Rural: Remote | 7–12 | High | 210 |
| Edgewood-Colesburg High School | Record | Edgewood-Colesburg Comm School District | Edgewood, 52042Rural: Distant | 7–12 | High | 207 |
| Clayton Ridge High School | Record | Clayton Ridge Comm School District | Guttenberg, 52052Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 192 |
| MFL MarMac Middle School | Record | MFL MarMac Comm School District | Mcgregor, 52157Town: Remote | 6–8 | Middle | 187 |
| Clayton Ridge Middle School | Record | Clayton Ridge Comm School District | Guttenberg, 52052Rural: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 125 |
| McGregor Intermediate School | Record | MFL MarMac Comm School District | Mcgregor, 52157Town: Remote | 4–5 | Primary | 106 |
Iowa Virtual Academy
Clayton Ridge Comm School District
Guttenberg, 52052 / Rural: Distant
MFL MarMac Elementary School
MFL MarMac Comm School District
Monona, 52159 / Rural: Remote
Clayton Ridge Elementary School
Clayton Ridge Comm School District
Garnavillo, 52052 / Rural: Remote
Central Elementary
Central Comm School District
Elkader, 52043 / Rural: Remote
Central Middle School/High School
Central Comm School District
Elkader, 52043 / Rural: Remote
Edgewood-Colesburg High School
Edgewood-Colesburg Comm School District
Edgewood, 52042 / Rural: Distant
Clayton Ridge High School
Clayton Ridge Comm School District
Guttenberg, 52052 / Rural: Distant
MFL MarMac Middle School
MFL MarMac Comm School District
Mcgregor, 52157 / Town: Remote
Clayton Ridge Middle School
Clayton Ridge Comm School District
Guttenberg, 52052 / Rural: Distant
McGregor Intermediate School
MFL MarMac Comm School District
Mcgregor, 52157 / Town: Remote
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$7,275
State avg $7,591
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Clayton 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 Clayton County?
What is the graduation rate in Clayton County?
How much does Clayton County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Clayton County, Iowa — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Clayton County, Iowa?
Clayton County manages 11 public schools across three districts, serving a total of 3,059 students. The school level mix includes four elementary schools, two middle schools, four high schools, and one specialized academy. This diverse portfolio provides specialized pathways for students of all ages.
What are the major school districts in Clayton County, Iowa?
The Clayton Ridge Community School District is the largest, enrolling 1,485 students and hosting the unique Iowa Virtual Academy. MFL MarMac and Central Community School Districts also provide essential services to nearly 1,400 combined students. Traditional districts remain the norm here, as no charter schools are currently in operation.
What is the school experience like in Clayton County?
Nine of the county’s 11 schools are located in rural areas, offering students a quiet and focused atmosphere. The Iowa Virtual Academy is the largest institution with 862 students, while traditional schools like Central Elementary are smaller at 263 students. This blend of virtual and rural schooling offers a unique flexibility not found in many other counties.
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.