Madison County Schools & Education
Madison County, Iowa
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
62/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
95.4%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
95.4%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 92.3%
Per-Pupil Spending
$6,844
National avg $13,239
State avg $7,591
School Score
62/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 61/100
State Score Position
#55
of 99 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Madison County
Measured School Summary
Madison County performs at an average level with a school score of 62/100 and a solid graduation rate of 95.4%.
Funding Context
At $6,844 per pupil, Madison County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 2% above the Iowa average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 3.1 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 10% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Madison 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
10 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
62/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #55 of 99 Iowa counties with school score data.
Completion
95.4%
3.1 pts above the state average
Funding context
$6,844
$747 below the state average
School coverage
10
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
Madison County has 10 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 Madison 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
Madison 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
#55
of 99 Iowa counties with school score data. The county score is 1 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.
Winterset Comm School District
Elementary to high school visible
1,669 students
4 listed schools in this county slice.
Interstate 35 Comm School District
Elementary to high school visible
842 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
Earlham Comm School District
Elementary to high school visible
635 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Winterset 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 Madison County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Madison 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 Madison 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.
Small Districts, Big Results
Madison County supports 3,146 students through 10 public schools spread across 3 districts. The infrastructure is well-balanced with 3 elementary, 4 middle, and 3 high schools. This layout provides a steady pipeline for students as they transition through their grade levels.
Winterset Leads the Local Schools
The Winterset Community School District is the county's largest, enrolling 1,669 students across 4 schools. Interstate 35 and Earlham districts also serve the region, with 842 and 635 students respectively. Traditional public schools remain the sole option here, as there are no charter schools in the county.
The Heart of the Town and Country
Nine of the county's 10 schools are located in rural settings, with the remaining school centered in a town locale. Winterset Senior High is the largest campus, housing 565 students, while the average across the county is 315. This environment offers a classic small-town feel that many families find ideal.
School Overview
Total Schools
10
in Madison County
Reported Enrollment
3,146
10 schools reporting
School Districts
3
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
3 School Districts in Madison County
Winterset Comm School District
Interstate 35 Comm School District
Earlham Comm School District
10 Public Schools in Madison 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 10 of 10 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winterset Senior High School | Record | Winterset Comm School District | Winterset, 50273Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 565 |
| Winterset Elementary School | Record | Winterset Comm School District | Winterset, 50273Town: Distant | PK–3 | Primary | 499 |
| Winterset Middle School | Record | Winterset Comm School District | Winterset, 50273Rural: Fringe | 4–6 | Middle | 358 |
| Interstate 35 Elementary School | Record | Interstate 35 Comm School District | Truro, 50257Rural: Distant | PK–4 | Primary | 334 |
| Earlham Elementary School | Record | Earlham Comm School District | Earlham, 50072Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 318 |
| Interstate 35 High School | Record | Interstate 35 Comm School District | Truro, 50257Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 274 |
| Winterset Junior High School | Record | Winterset Comm School District | Winterset, 50273Rural: Fringe | 7–8 | Middle | 247 |
| Interstate 35 Middle School | Record | Interstate 35 Comm School District | Truro, 50257Rural: Distant | 5–8 | Middle | 234 |
| Earlham Senior High School | Record | Earlham Comm School District | Earlham, 50072Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 185 |
| Earlham Middle School | Record | Earlham Comm School District | Earlham, 50072Rural: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 132 |
Winterset Senior High School
Winterset Comm School District
Winterset, 50273 / Rural: Fringe
Winterset Elementary School
Winterset Comm School District
Winterset, 50273 / Town: Distant
Winterset Middle School
Winterset Comm School District
Winterset, 50273 / Rural: Fringe
Interstate 35 Elementary School
Interstate 35 Comm School District
Truro, 50257 / Rural: Distant
Earlham Elementary School
Earlham Comm School District
Earlham, 50072 / Rural: Distant
Interstate 35 High School
Interstate 35 Comm School District
Truro, 50257 / Rural: Distant
Winterset Junior High School
Winterset Comm School District
Winterset, 50273 / Rural: Fringe
Interstate 35 Middle School
Interstate 35 Comm School District
Truro, 50257 / Rural: Distant
Earlham Senior High School
Earlham Comm School District
Earlham, 50072 / Rural: Distant
Earlham Middle School
Earlham Comm School District
Earlham, 50072 / Rural: Distant
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$6,844
State avg $7,591
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Madison 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 Madison County?
What is the graduation rate in Madison County?
How much does Madison County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Madison County, Iowa — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Madison County, Iowa?
Madison County supports 3,146 students through 10 public schools spread across 3 districts. The infrastructure is well-balanced with 3 elementary, 4 middle, and 3 high schools. This layout provides a steady pipeline for students as they transition through their grade levels.
What are the major school districts in Madison County, Iowa?
The Winterset Community School District is the county's largest, enrolling 1,669 students across 4 schools. Interstate 35 and Earlham districts also serve the region, with 842 and 635 students respectively. Traditional public schools remain the sole option here, as there are no charter schools in the county.
What is the school experience like in Madison County?
Nine of the county's 10 schools are located in rural settings, with the remaining school centered in a town locale. Winterset Senior High is the largest campus, housing 565 students, while the average across the county is 315. This environment offers a classic small-town feel that many families find ideal.
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.