Mahaska County Schools & Education
Mahaska County, Iowa
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
57/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
92.7%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
92.7%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 92.3%
Per-Pupil Spending
$7,113
National avg $13,239
State avg $7,591
School Score
57/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 61/100
State Score Position
#68
of 99 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Mahaska County
Measured School Summary
Mahaska County performs at an average level with a school score of 57/100 and a solid graduation rate of 92.7%.
Funding Context
At $7,113 per pupil, Mahaska County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 6% below the Iowa average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 0.4 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 6% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Mahaska 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
8 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
57/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #68 of 99 Iowa counties with school score data.
Completion
92.7%
0.4 pts above the state average
Funding context
$7,113
$478 below the state average
School coverage
8
2 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
Mahaska County has 8 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 Mahaska 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
Mahaska 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
#68
of 99 Iowa counties with school score data. The county score is 4 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.
Oskaloosa Comm School District
Elementary to high school visible
2,081 students
5 listed schools in this county slice.
North Mahaska Comm School District
Elementary and high visible
616 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Oskaloosa 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 Mahaska County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Mahaska 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 Mahaska 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 in the Heart of Mahaska
Mahaska County operates 8 public schools within 2 districts, serving a total student body of 2,823. The system includes 3 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 2 high schools, plus 2 specialized programs. This compact structure focuses resources on a few key campuses to serve the community.
Oskaloosa's Centralized School Hub
The Oskaloosa Community School District is the primary provider, educating 2,081 students across 5 schools. North Mahaska Community School District serves the remaining 616 students in the county. With 0% charter school presence, the community remains deeply invested in its local public institutions.
Town Staples and Rural Gems
The county features 6 schools in rural locales and 2 in town settings, creating a balanced geographic spread. Oskaloosa Elementary is the largest school by far with 886 students, while the county average stands at 353. Students experience a mix of larger town-based campuses and smaller rural facilities.
School Overview
Total Schools
8
in Mahaska County
Reported Enrollment
2,823
8 schools reporting
School Districts
2
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
2 School Districts in Mahaska County
Oskaloosa Comm School District
North Mahaska Comm School District
8 Public Schools in Mahaska 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 8 of 8 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oskaloosa Elementary School | Record | Oskaloosa Comm School District | Oskaloosa, 52577Town: Remote | KG–5 | Primary | 886 |
| Oskaloosa High School | Record | Oskaloosa Comm School District | Oskaloosa, 52577Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 600 |
| Oskaloosa Middle School | Record | Oskaloosa Comm School District | Oskaloosa, 52577Rural: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 454 |
| North Mahaska Elementary School | Record | North Mahaska Comm School District | New Sharon, 50207Rural: Distant | PK–6 | Primary | 346 |
| North Mahaska Jr-Sr High School | Record | North Mahaska Comm School District | New Sharon, 50207Rural: Distant | 7–12 | High | 270 |
| Fremont Elementary | Record | Eddyville-Blakesburg- Fremont CSD | Fremont, 52561Rural: Distant | PK–6 | Primary | 126 |
| Oskaloosa Early Childhood Center - PK | Record | Oskaloosa Comm School District | Oskaloosa, 52577Town: Remote | PK | Other | 99 |
| Oskaloosa Virtual Academy | Record | Oskaloosa Comm School District | OSKALOOSA, 52577Rural: Fringe | KG–12 | Virtual | 42 |
Oskaloosa Elementary School
Oskaloosa Comm School District
Oskaloosa, 52577 / Town: Remote
Oskaloosa High School
Oskaloosa Comm School District
Oskaloosa, 52577 / Rural: Fringe
Oskaloosa Middle School
Oskaloosa Comm School District
Oskaloosa, 52577 / Rural: Fringe
North Mahaska Elementary School
North Mahaska Comm School District
New Sharon, 50207 / Rural: Distant
North Mahaska Jr-Sr High School
North Mahaska Comm School District
New Sharon, 50207 / Rural: Distant
Fremont Elementary
Eddyville-Blakesburg- Fremont CSD
Fremont, 52561 / Rural: Distant
Oskaloosa Early Childhood Center - PK
Oskaloosa Comm School District
Oskaloosa, 52577 / Town: Remote
Oskaloosa Virtual Academy
Oskaloosa Comm School District
OSKALOOSA, 52577 / Rural: Fringe
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$7,113
State avg $7,591
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Mahaska 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 Mahaska County?
What is the graduation rate in Mahaska County?
How much does Mahaska County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Mahaska County, Iowa — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Mahaska County, Iowa?
Mahaska County operates 8 public schools within 2 districts, serving a total student body of 2,823. The system includes 3 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 2 high schools, plus 2 specialized programs. This compact structure focuses resources on a few key campuses to serve the community.
What are the major school districts in Mahaska County, Iowa?
The Oskaloosa Community School District is the primary provider, educating 2,081 students across 5 schools. North Mahaska Community School District serves the remaining 616 students in the county. With 0% charter school presence, the community remains deeply invested in its local public institutions.
What is the school experience like in Mahaska County?
The county features 6 schools in rural locales and 2 in town settings, creating a balanced geographic spread. Oskaloosa Elementary is the largest school by far with 886 students, while the county average stands at 353. Students experience a mix of larger town-based campuses and smaller rural facilities.
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.