Hardin County Schools & Education
Hardin 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
92.6%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
92.6%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 92.3%
Per-Pupil Spending
$7,675
National avg $13,239
State avg $7,591
School Score
65/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 61/100
State Score Position
#46
of 99 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Hardin County
Measured School Summary
Hardin County performs at an average level with a school score of 65/100 and a solid graduation rate of 92.6%.
Funding Context
At $7,675 per pupil, Hardin County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 6% above the Iowa average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 0.3 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 1% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Hardin 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
14 public schools and 7 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 #46 of 99 Iowa counties with school score data.
Completion
92.6%
0.3 pts above the state average
Funding context
$7,675
$84 above the state average
School coverage
14
7 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
Hardin County has 14 public schools across 7 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 Hardin 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
Hardin 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
#46
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.
Iowa Falls Comm School District
Elementary to high school visible
1,278 students
4 listed schools in this county slice.
Eldora-New Providence Comm School District
Elementary and high visible
522 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
AGWSR Comm School District
Elementary and high visible
424 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
Hubbard-Radcliffe Comm School District
Elementary and middle visible
377 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
AGWSR 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 Hardin County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Hardin 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 Hardin 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.
Diverse School Levels Across Seven Districts
Hardin County supports 14 public schools, including seven elementary and four high schools, for nearly 3,000 students. This network is managed by seven different school districts, offering families a variety of local options.
Consistent Performance and Solid Investment
The county maintains a 92.6% graduation rate, which slightly exceeds the Iowa state average. Per-pupil expenditure stands at $7,675, closely matching the state average of $7,591 but trailing the $13,000 national benchmark.
Iowa Falls District Anchor the Area
The Iowa Falls Community School District is the largest provider, serving 1,278 students across four schools. The county also features one charter school, which represents about 7% of the total public schools in the region.
A Predominantly Rural Learning Environment
Ten of the county's 14 schools sit in rural locales, with an average enrollment of 214 students per school. Iowa Falls - Alden High School is the largest facility with 412 students, while several primary schools maintain smaller, intimate cohorts.
School Overview
Total Schools
14
in Hardin County
Reported Enrollment
2,996
14 schools reporting
School Districts
7
districts
Charter Schools
1
7% of total
School Level Breakdown
7 School Districts in Hardin County
Iowa Falls Comm School District
AGWSR Comm School District
Eldora-New Providence Comm School District
BCLUW Comm School District
Hubbard-Radcliffe Comm School District
Alden Comm School District
Choice Charter Schools
14 Public Schools in Hardin 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 14 of 14 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa Falls - Alden High School | Record | Iowa Falls Comm School District | Iowa Falls, 50126Town: Distant | 9–12 | High | 412 |
| Rock Run Elementary | Record | Iowa Falls Comm School District | Iowa Falls, 50126Town: Distant | 2–5 | Primary | 294 |
| Riverbend Middle School | Record | Iowa Falls Comm School District | Iowa Falls, 50126Town: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 288 |
| Pineview Elementary | Record | Iowa Falls Comm School District | Iowa Falls, 50126Town: Distant | PK–1 | Primary | 284 |
| Eldora-New Providence Elementary School | Record | Eldora-New Providence Comm School District | Eldora, 50627Rural: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 280 |
| South Hardin High School | Record | Eldora-New Providence Comm School District | Eldora, 50627Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 242 |
| South Hardin Middle School | Record | Hubbard-Radcliffe Comm School District | Hubbard, 50122Rural: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 193 |
| AGWSR High School | Record | AGWSR Comm School District | Ackley, 50601Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 192 |
| AGWSR Elementary School | Record | AGWSR Comm School District | Ackley, 50601Rural: Remote | KG–5 | Primary | 191 |
| Hubbard-Radcliffe Elementary School | Record | Hubbard-Radcliffe Comm School District | Radcliffe, 50230Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 184 |
| Alden Elementary School | Record | Alden Comm School District | Alden, 50006Rural: Distant | PK–6 | Primary | 159 |
| BCLUW Middle School | Record | BCLUW Comm School District | Union, 50258Rural: Remote | 5–8 | Middle | 150 |
| Choice Charter School | Record | Choice Charter Schools | Union, 50258Rural: Remote | 9–12 | Charter | 86 |
| The Cougars Den | Record | AGWSR Comm School District | Ackley, 50601Rural: Distant | PK–KG | Primary | 41 |
Iowa Falls - Alden High School
Iowa Falls Comm School District
Iowa Falls, 50126 / Town: Distant
Rock Run Elementary
Iowa Falls Comm School District
Iowa Falls, 50126 / Town: Distant
Riverbend Middle School
Iowa Falls Comm School District
Iowa Falls, 50126 / Town: Distant
Pineview Elementary
Iowa Falls Comm School District
Iowa Falls, 50126 / Town: Distant
Eldora-New Providence Elementary School
Eldora-New Providence Comm School District
Eldora, 50627 / Rural: Remote
South Hardin High School
Eldora-New Providence Comm School District
Eldora, 50627 / Rural: Remote
South Hardin Middle School
Hubbard-Radcliffe Comm School District
Hubbard, 50122 / Rural: Distant
AGWSR Elementary School
AGWSR Comm School District
Ackley, 50601 / Rural: Remote
Hubbard-Radcliffe Elementary School
Hubbard-Radcliffe Comm School District
Radcliffe, 50230 / Rural: Distant
Alden Elementary School
Alden Comm School District
Alden, 50006 / Rural: Distant
BCLUW Middle School
BCLUW Comm School District
Union, 50258 / Rural: Remote
The Cougars Den
AGWSR Comm School District
Ackley, 50601 / Rural: Distant
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$7,675
State avg $7,591
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Hardin 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 Hardin County?
What is the graduation rate in Hardin County?
How much does Hardin County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Hardin County, Iowa — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Hardin County, Iowa?
Hardin County supports 14 public schools, including seven elementary and four high schools, for nearly 3,000 students. This network is managed by seven different school districts, offering families a variety of local options.
How do schools in Hardin County perform academically?
The county maintains a 92.6% graduation rate, which slightly exceeds the Iowa state average. Per-pupil expenditure stands at $7,675, closely matching the state average of $7,591 but trailing the $13,000 national benchmark.
What are the major school districts in Hardin County, Iowa?
The Iowa Falls Community School District is the largest provider, serving 1,278 students across four schools. The county also features one charter school, which represents about 7% of the total public schools in the region.
What is the school experience like in Hardin County?
Ten of the county's 14 schools sit in rural locales, with an average enrollment of 214 students per school. Iowa Falls - Alden High School is the largest facility with 412 students, while several primary schools maintain smaller, intimate cohorts.
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.