Howard County Schools & Education
Howard County, Iowa
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
79/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Higher Signal
Graduation Rate
95.7%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
95.7%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 92.3%
Per-Pupil Spending
$8,133
National avg $13,239
State avg $7,591
School Score
79/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 61/100
State Score Position
#3
of 99 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Howard County
Measured School Summary
Howard County has a higher measured school signal with a school score of 79/100 and a graduation rate of 95.7%, based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-score inputs.
Funding Context
Howard County spends $8,133 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 29% above the Iowa average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 3.4 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 7% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Howard 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
79/100
Higher measured signal. Ranks #3 of 99 Iowa counties with school score data.
Completion
95.7%
3.4 pts above the state average
Funding context
$8,133
$542 above the state average
School coverage
5
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
Howard 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 Howard 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
Howard 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
#3
of 99 Iowa counties with school score data. The county score is 18 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.
Howard-Winneshiek Comm School District
Elementary and high visible
1,040 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
Riceville Comm School District
Elementary and high visible
406 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Howard-Winneshiek 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 Howard County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Howard County district systems?
Where do students transition after the visible grade band, and is that next school inside the same district path?
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 Howard 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.
Five Schools Serve Howard County Students
Howard County operates five public schools for a total enrollment of 1,446 students. These schools are split between two districts, Howard-Winneshiek and Riceville, providing a focused educational network.
Howard-Winneshiek District Dominates Enrollment
The Howard-Winneshiek Community School District is the largest, enrolling 1,040 students across three facilities. Traditional public schools make up 100% of the landscape, as there are no charter schools in the county.
Mid-Sized Schools in a Town Setting
Three of the five schools are located in town settings, while two remain rural. Crestwood High School is the largest facility with 559 students, while the Cresco Early Childhood Center provides a small start with just 56 students.
School Overview
Total Schools
5
in Howard County
Reported Enrollment
1,446
5 schools reporting
School Districts
2
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
2 School Districts in Howard County
Howard-Winneshiek Comm School District
Riceville Comm School District
5 Public Schools in Howard 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crestwood High School | Record | Howard-Winneshiek Comm School District | Cresco, 52136Town: Remote | 7–12 | High | 559 |
| Crestwood Elementary School | Record | Howard-Winneshiek Comm School District | Cresco, 52136Town: Remote | KG–6 | Primary | 425 |
| Riceville Elementary School | Record | Riceville Comm School District | Riceville, 50466Rural: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 211 |
| Riceville High School | Record | Riceville Comm School District | Riceville, 50466Rural: Remote | 6–12 | High | 195 |
| Cresco Early Childhood Development Center | Record | Howard-Winneshiek Comm School District | Cresco, 52136Town: Remote | PK | Other | 56 |
Crestwood High School
Howard-Winneshiek Comm School District
Cresco, 52136 / Town: Remote
Crestwood Elementary School
Howard-Winneshiek Comm School District
Cresco, 52136 / Town: Remote
Riceville Elementary School
Riceville Comm School District
Riceville, 50466 / Rural: Remote
Riceville High School
Riceville Comm School District
Riceville, 50466 / Rural: Remote
Cresco Early Childhood Development Center
Howard-Winneshiek Comm School District
Cresco, 52136 / Town: Remote
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$8,133
State avg $7,591
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Howard 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 Howard County?
What is the graduation rate in Howard County?
How much does Howard County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Howard County, Iowa — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Howard County, Iowa?
Howard County operates five public schools for a total enrollment of 1,446 students. These schools are split between two districts, Howard-Winneshiek and Riceville, providing a focused educational network.
What are the major school districts in Howard County, Iowa?
The Howard-Winneshiek Community School District is the largest, enrolling 1,040 students across three facilities. Traditional public schools make up 100% of the landscape, as there are no charter schools in the county.
What is the school experience like in Howard County?
Three of the five schools are located in town settings, while two remain rural. Crestwood High School is the largest facility with 559 students, while the Cresco Early Childhood Center provides a small start with just 56 students.
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.