Can I use Pottawattamie County's school score to choose a house?

No. Use the Pottawattamie County school score as a first-pass county screen, then verify the exact district, attendance boundary, transfer rules, and grade pathway for any address you are considering.

Does SchoolsByCounty confirm school attendance boundaries in Pottawattamie County?

No. SchoolsByCounty publishes NCES and Census-backed public-school records. Attendance zones, magnet eligibility, charter lotteries, transportation, and transfer rules must be confirmed with local districts.

How should parents compare public schools in Pottawattamie County?

Start with the 34 listed public schools and 7 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Pottawattamie County Schools & Education

Name: Pottawattamie County, Iowa Education Data
Creator: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

Pottawattamie County, Iowa

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

School Score

57/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

90.5%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

90.5%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 92.3%

Per-Pupil Spending

$7,834

National avg $13,239

State avg $7,591

School Score

57/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 61/100

State Score Position

#69

of 99 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Pottawattamie County

Measured School Summary

Pottawattamie County performs at an average level with a school score of 57/100 and a solid graduation rate of 90.5%.

Funding Context

At $7,834 per pupil, Pottawattamie 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 trails the state average by 1.8 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 3% higher than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Pottawattamie 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

34 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

57/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #69 of 99 Iowa counties with school score data.

Completion

90.5%

1.8 pts below the state average

Funding context

$7,834

$243 above the state average

School coverage

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

Pottawattamie County has 34 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.

View Public Schools Compare Counties

Parent decision brief

What Pottawattamie 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

Pottawattamie 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

#69

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.

Council Bluffs Comm School District

Elementary to high school visible

8,733 students

Elementary 11Middle 2High 2Other 0

15 listed schools in this county slice.

Lewis Central Comm School District

Elementary to high school visible

3,022 students

Elementary 2Middle 1High 1Other 0

4 listed schools in this county slice.

Underwood Comm School District

Elementary to high school visible

833 students

Elementary 1Middle 1High 1Other 0

3 listed schools in this county slice.

Treynor Comm School District

Elementary to high school visible

795 students

Elementary 1Middle 1High 1Other 0

3 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Council Bluffs Comm School District is the largest listed district slice, with 15 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 Pottawattamie County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Pottawattamie 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 Pottawattamie 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 Infrastructure in Western Iowa

Pottawattamie County oversees 34 public schools and 7 districts for a total student population of 15,576. This infrastructure is well-balanced with 19 elementary, 7 middle, and 8 high schools.

Council Bluffs Leads the District Pack

Council Bluffs Community School District leads the region, educating 8,733 students across 15 schools. No charter schools operate in the county, maintaining a traditional public school focus across all seven districts.

A Blend of City and Country Schools

The county features a split personality with 17 rural schools and 16 city schools. Abraham Lincoln High School is the largest campus with nearly 1,400 students, while the average school size county-wide is 458.

School Overview

Total Schools

in Pottawattamie County

Reported Enrollment

15,576

34 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary19

Middle7

High8

Other0

7 School Districts in Pottawattamie County

Council Bluffs Comm School District

Lewis Central Comm School District

4 schools

3,022 students

Underwood Comm School District

3 schools

833 students

Treynor Comm School District

3 schools

795 students

AHSTW Comm School District

3 schools

776 students

Tri-Center Comm School District

3 schools

724 students

Riverside Comm School District

3 schools

693 students

34 Public Schools in Pottawattamie County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 3 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Search schools

Level

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Showing 20 of 34 matching schools

Public schools in Pottawattamie County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
Abraham Lincoln High School	Profile	Council Bluffs Comm School District	Council Bluffs, 51503City: Small	9–12	High	1,399
Thomas Jefferson High School	Profile	Council Bluffs Comm School District	Council Bluffs, 51501City: Small	9–12	High	1,243
Gerald W Kirn Middle School	Profile	Council Bluffs Comm School District	Council Bluffs, 51503City: Small	6–8	Middle	956
Lewis Central Senior High School	Record	Lewis Central Comm School District	Council Bluffs, 51503City: Small	9–12	High	927
Woodrow Wilson Middle School	Record	Council Bluffs Comm School District	Council Bluffs, 51501City: Small	6–8	Middle	900
Titan Hill Intermediate School	Record	Lewis Central Comm School District	Council Bluffs, 51503City: Small	2–5	Primary	863
Lewis Central Middle School	Record	Lewis Central Comm School District	Council Bluffs, 51503City: Small	6–8	Middle	742
Franklin Elementary School	Record	Council Bluffs Comm School District	Council Bluffs, 51501City: Small	PK–5	Primary	497
E A Kreft Primary School	Record	Lewis Central Comm School District	Council Bluffs, 51501City: Small	PK–1	Primary	490
Longfellow Elementary School	Record	Council Bluffs Comm School District	Council Bluffs, 51501City: Small	PK–5	Primary	481
Roosevelt Elementary School	Record	Council Bluffs Comm School District	Council Bluffs, 51501City: Small	PK–5	Primary	462
College View Elementary	Record	Council Bluffs Comm School District	Council Bluffs, 51503Rural: Fringe	PK–5	Primary	449
Edison Elementary School	Record	Council Bluffs Comm School District	Council Bluffs, 51501City: Small	PK–5	Primary	432
Hoover Elementary School	Record	Council Bluffs Comm School District	Council Bluffs, 51503City: Small	PK–5	Primary	429
Bloomer Elementary School	Record	Council Bluffs Comm School District	Council Bluffs, 51501City: Small	PK–5	Primary	422
Underwood Elementary School	Record	Underwood Comm School District	Underwood, 51576Rural: Distant	PK–5	Primary	396
Rue Elementary School	Record	Council Bluffs Comm School District	Council Bluffs, 51501City: Small	PK–5	Primary	372
Carter Lake Elementary School	Record	Council Bluffs Comm School District	Carter Lake, 51510Suburb: Large	PK–5	Primary	361
Riverside Community High School	Record	Riverside Comm School District	Oakland, 51560Rural: Distant	6–12	High	359
Tri-Center Elementary School	Record	Tri-Center Comm School District	Neola, 51559Rural: Distant	PK–5	Primary	352

Abraham Lincoln High School

Council Bluffs Comm School District

Council Bluffs, 51503 / City: Small

Profile9–12High1,399 students

Thomas Jefferson High School

Council Bluffs Comm School District

Council Bluffs, 51501 / City: Small

Profile9–12High1,243 students

Gerald W Kirn Middle School

Council Bluffs Comm School District

Council Bluffs, 51503 / City: Small

Profile6–8Middle956 students

Lewis Central Senior High School

Lewis Central Comm School District

Council Bluffs, 51503 / City: Small

Record9–12High927 students

Woodrow Wilson Middle School

Council Bluffs Comm School District

Council Bluffs, 51501 / City: Small

Record6–8Middle900 students

Titan Hill Intermediate School

Lewis Central Comm School District

Council Bluffs, 51503 / City: Small

Record2–5Primary863 students

Lewis Central Middle School

Lewis Central Comm School District

Council Bluffs, 51503 / City: Small

Record6–8Middle742 students

Franklin Elementary School

Council Bluffs Comm School District

Council Bluffs, 51501 / City: Small

RecordPK–5Primary497 students

E A Kreft Primary School

Lewis Central Comm School District

Council Bluffs, 51501 / City: Small

RecordPK–1Primary490 students

Longfellow Elementary School

Council Bluffs Comm School District

Council Bluffs, 51501 / City: Small

RecordPK–5Primary481 students

Roosevelt Elementary School

Council Bluffs Comm School District

Council Bluffs, 51501 / City: Small

RecordPK–5Primary462 students

College View Elementary

Council Bluffs Comm School District

Council Bluffs, 51503 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–5Primary449 students

Edison Elementary School

Council Bluffs Comm School District

Council Bluffs, 51501 / City: Small

RecordPK–5Primary432 students

Hoover Elementary School

Council Bluffs Comm School District

Council Bluffs, 51503 / City: Small

RecordPK–5Primary429 students

Bloomer Elementary School

Council Bluffs Comm School District

Council Bluffs, 51501 / City: Small

RecordPK–5Primary422 students

Underwood Elementary School

Underwood Comm School District

Underwood, 51576 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary396 students

Rue Elementary School

Council Bluffs Comm School District

Council Bluffs, 51501 / City: Small

RecordPK–5Primary372 students

Carter Lake Elementary School

Council Bluffs Comm School District

Carter Lake, 51510 / Suburb: Large

RecordPK–5Primary361 students

Riverside Community High School

Riverside Comm School District

Oakland, 51560 / Rural: Distant

Record6–12High359 students

Tri-Center Elementary School

Tri-Center Comm School District

Neola, 51559 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary352 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$7,834

State avg $7,591

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Pottawattamie County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

View Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Iowa counties have the highest graduation rates?

Dallas County (97.3%), Clay County (97.0%), and Davis County (97.0%) currently lead Iowa among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.

What is per-pupil spending like in Iowa?

Across Iowa counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $7,591. The highest current county values are Kossuth County ($8,712), Cerro Gordo County ($8,682), and Franklin County ($8,627). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.

How should I read the school score in Pottawattamie County?

Pottawattamie County has a school score of 57/100, which is a midrange measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.

What is the graduation rate in Pottawattamie County?

The high school graduation rate in Pottawattamie County is 90.5%, which is above the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.

How much does Pottawattamie County spend per student?

Pottawattamie County spends $7,834 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Pottawattamie County, Iowa — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Pottawattamie County, Iowa?

Pottawattamie County oversees 34 public schools and 7 districts for a total student population of 15,576. This infrastructure is well-balanced with 19 elementary, 7 middle, and 8 high schools.

What are the major school districts in Pottawattamie County, Iowa?

What is the school experience like in Pottawattamie County?

Counties with Similar School Profile

Black Hawk County

Iowa

0 pts

57/100

School score

Mahaska County

Iowa

0 pts

57/100

School score

Adair County

Iowa

+1 pts

58/100

School score

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated May 13, 2026Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

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.

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