Monona County Schools & Education
Monona County, Iowa
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
75/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Higher Signal
Graduation Rate
94.2%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
94.2%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 92.3%
Per-Pupil Spending
$8,211
National avg $13,239
State avg $7,591
School Score
75/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 61/100
State Score Position
#7
of 99 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Monona County
Measured School Summary
Monona County has a higher measured school signal with a school score of 75/100 and a graduation rate of 94.2%, based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-score inputs.
Funding Context
Monona County spends $8,211 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 23% above the Iowa average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 1.9 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 8% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Monona 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
7 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
75/100
Higher measured signal. Ranks #7 of 99 Iowa counties with school score data.
Completion
94.2%
1.9 pts above the state average
Funding context
$8,211
$620 above the state average
School coverage
7
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
Monona County has 7 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 Monona 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
Monona 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
#7
of 99 Iowa counties with school score data. The county score is 14 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.
West Monona Comm School District
Elementary to high school visible
634 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
Whiting Comm School District
Elementary and high visible
170 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
West Monona 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 Monona County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Monona 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 Monona 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.
A Rural Network of Seven Public Schools
Monona County educates 1,256 students through seven public schools spread across two districts. The infrastructure includes three elementary and three high schools to ensure full coverage for local families.
High Investment Yields Strong Graduation Rates
The county invests $8,211 per pupil, which is significantly higher than the Iowa state average of $7,591. This funding supports a 94.2% graduation rate, well above the national benchmark of 87%.
West Monona Serves Most Students
West Monona Community School District is the county's largest, managing three schools and 634 students. The Whiting Community School District also serves the area, supporting 170 students across two schools.
Intimate Learning in Mostly Rural Settings
Six of the seven schools are in rural locales, creating an intimate educational atmosphere. Schools are small, averaging 179 students, with West Monona Elementary being the largest at 325 pupils.
School Overview
Total Schools
7
in Monona County
Reported Enrollment
1,256
7 schools reporting
School Districts
2
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
2 School Districts in Monona County
West Monona Comm School District
Whiting Comm School District
7 Public Schools in Monona 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 7 of 7 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Monona Elementary | Record | West Monona Comm School District | Onawa, 51040Town: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 325 |
| Maple Valley-Anthon Oto High School | Record | Maple Valley-Anthon Oto Comm School District | Mapleton, 51034Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 283 |
| West Monona High School | Record | West Monona Comm School District | Onawa, 51040Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 204 |
| Mapleton Elementary School | Record | Maple Valley-Anthon Oto Comm School District | Mapleton, 51034Rural: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 169 |
| West Monona Middle Sch | Record | West Monona Comm School District | Onawa, 51040Rural: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 105 |
| Whiting Elementary School | Record | Whiting Comm School District | Whiting, 51063Rural: Distant | PK–6 | Primary | 91 |
| Whiting Senior High School | Record | Whiting Comm School District | Whiting, 51063Rural: Distant | 7–12 | High | 79 |
West Monona Elementary
West Monona Comm School District
Onawa, 51040 / Town: Distant
Maple Valley-Anthon Oto High School
Maple Valley-Anthon Oto Comm School District
Mapleton, 51034 / Rural: Remote
West Monona High School
West Monona Comm School District
Onawa, 51040 / Rural: Fringe
Mapleton Elementary School
Maple Valley-Anthon Oto Comm School District
Mapleton, 51034 / Rural: Remote
West Monona Middle Sch
West Monona Comm School District
Onawa, 51040 / Rural: Fringe
Whiting Elementary School
Whiting Comm School District
Whiting, 51063 / Rural: Distant
Whiting Senior High School
Whiting Comm School District
Whiting, 51063 / Rural: Distant
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$8,211
State avg $7,591
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Monona 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 Monona County?
What is the graduation rate in Monona County?
How much does Monona County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Monona County, Iowa — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Monona County, Iowa?
Monona County educates 1,256 students through seven public schools spread across two districts. The infrastructure includes three elementary and three high schools to ensure full coverage for local families.
How do schools in Monona County perform academically?
The county invests $8,211 per pupil, which is significantly higher than the Iowa state average of $7,591. This funding supports a 94.2% graduation rate, well above the national benchmark of 87%.
What are the major school districts in Monona County, Iowa?
West Monona Community School District is the county's largest, managing three schools and 634 students. The Whiting Community School District also serves the area, supporting 170 students across two schools.
What is the school experience like in Monona County?
Six of the seven schools are in rural locales, creating an intimate educational atmosphere. Schools are small, averaging 179 students, with West Monona Elementary being the largest at 325 pupils.
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.