Story County Schools & Education
Story County, Iowa
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
70/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
95.2%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
95.2%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 92.3%
Per-Pupil Spending
$7,393
National avg $13,239
State avg $7,591
School Score
70/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 61/100
State Score Position
#23
of 99 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Story County
Measured School Summary
Story County performs at an average level with a school score of 70/100 and a solid graduation rate of 95.2%.
Funding Context
At $7,393 per pupil, Story County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 14% above the Iowa average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 2.9 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 3% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Story 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
26 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
70/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #23 of 99 Iowa counties with school score data.
Completion
95.2%
2.9 pts above the state average
Funding context
$7,393
$198 below the state average
School coverage
26
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
Story County has 26 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.
What Story 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
Story 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
#23
of 99 Iowa counties with school score data. The county score is 9 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.
Ames Comm School District
Elementary to high school visible
4,645 students
8 listed schools in this county slice.
Ballard Comm School District
Elementary to high school visible
1,871 students
4 listed schools in this county slice.
Gilbert Comm School District
Elementary to high school visible
1,697 students
4 listed schools in this county slice.
Nevada Comm School District
Elementary to high school visible
1,542 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Ames Comm School District is the largest listed district slice, with 8 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 Story County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Story 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 Story 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.
Diverse Education in a College County
Story County hosts 26 public schools across seven districts, serving a large student body of 11,679. The infrastructure is anchored by 14 elementary schools and 7 high schools. This extensive system reflects the county's role as a major educational hub in Iowa.
Ames Leads a Seven-District System
The Ames Community School District is the largest, managing 4,645 students across eight schools. Other major players include the Ballard and Gilbert districts, which serve nearly 3,500 students combined. No charter schools currently operate in the county, with all public students attending traditional district schools.
A True Mix of City and Rural Life
Story County offers a unique locale diversity with 10 rural schools, 8 city schools, and 6 town-based schools. While the average school size is 449, Ames High School is the largest with 1,403 students. This variety allows families to choose between large-scale urban high schools and smaller rural elementary programs.
School Overview
Total Schools
26
in Story County
Reported Enrollment
11,679
26 schools reporting
School Districts
7
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
7 School Districts in Story County
Ames Comm School District
GuideBallard Comm School District
Gilbert Comm School District
Nevada Comm School District
Roland-Story Comm School District
Collins-Maxwell Comm School District
Colo-NESCO Comm School District
26 Public Schools in Story County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 2 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 20 of 26 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ames High School | Profile | Ames Comm School District | Ames, 50010City: Small | 9–12 | High | 1,403 |
| Ames Middle School | Profile | Ames Comm School District | Ames, 50014City: Small | 6–8 | Middle | 1,002 |
| Central Elementary School | Record | Nevada Comm School District | Nevada, 50201Town: Fringe | PK–4 | Primary | 608 |
| Ballard High School | Record | Ballard Comm School District | Huxley, 50124Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 545 |
| Gilbert High School | Record | Gilbert Comm School District | Gilbert, 50105Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 537 |
| Fellows Elementary School | Record | Ames Comm School District | Ames, 50010City: Small | KG–5 | Primary | 528 |
| Nevada High School | Record | Nevada Comm School District | Nevada, 50201Town: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 491 |
| Ballard West Elementary | Record | Ballard Comm School District | Slater, 50244Rural: Distant | PK–2 | Primary | 472 |
| Roland-Story Elementary School | Record | Roland-Story Comm School District | Story City, 50248Town: Fringe | PK–4 | Primary | 463 |
| Edwards Elementary School | Record | Ames Comm School District | Ames, 50014City: Small | KG–5 | Primary | 450 |
| Nevada Middle School | Record | Nevada Comm School District | Nevada, 50201Town: Fringe | 5–8 | Middle | 443 |
| Ballard Middle School | Record | Ballard Comm School District | Huxley, 50124Town: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 432 |
| Ballard East Elementary | Record | Ballard Comm School District | Cambridge, 50046Rural: Fringe | 3–5 | Primary | 422 |
| Gilbert Elementary School | Record | Gilbert Comm School District | Gilbert, 50105Suburb: Small | PK–2 | Primary | 410 |
| Gilbert Middle School | Record | Gilbert Comm School District | Gilbert, 50105Rural: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 409 |
| Sawyer Elementary School | Record | Ames Comm School District | Ames, 50010City: Small | KG–5 | Primary | 367 |
| Meeker Elementary School | Record | Ames Comm School District | Ames, 50010City: Small | KG–5 | Primary | 351 |
| Roland-Story High School | Record | Roland-Story Comm School District | Story City, 50248Town: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 345 |
| Gilbert Intermediate School | Record | Gilbert Comm School District | Gilbert, 50105Suburb: Small | 3–5 | Primary | 341 |
| Roland-Story Middle School | Record | Roland-Story Comm School District | Roland, 50236Rural: Distant | 5–8 | Middle | 317 |
Ames High School
Ames Comm School District
Ames, 50010 / City: Small
Ames Middle School
Ames Comm School District
Ames, 50014 / City: Small
Central Elementary School
Nevada Comm School District
Nevada, 50201 / Town: Fringe
Ballard High School
Ballard Comm School District
Huxley, 50124 / Rural: Fringe
Gilbert High School
Gilbert Comm School District
Gilbert, 50105 / Rural: Fringe
Fellows Elementary School
Ames Comm School District
Ames, 50010 / City: Small
Ballard West Elementary
Ballard Comm School District
Slater, 50244 / Rural: Distant
Roland-Story Elementary School
Roland-Story Comm School District
Story City, 50248 / Town: Fringe
Edwards Elementary School
Ames Comm School District
Ames, 50014 / City: Small
Nevada Middle School
Nevada Comm School District
Nevada, 50201 / Town: Fringe
Ballard Middle School
Ballard Comm School District
Huxley, 50124 / Town: Fringe
Ballard East Elementary
Ballard Comm School District
Cambridge, 50046 / Rural: Fringe
Gilbert Elementary School
Gilbert Comm School District
Gilbert, 50105 / Suburb: Small
Gilbert Middle School
Gilbert Comm School District
Gilbert, 50105 / Rural: Fringe
Sawyer Elementary School
Ames Comm School District
Ames, 50010 / City: Small
Meeker Elementary School
Ames Comm School District
Ames, 50010 / City: Small
Roland-Story High School
Roland-Story Comm School District
Story City, 50248 / Town: Fringe
Gilbert Intermediate School
Gilbert Comm School District
Gilbert, 50105 / Suburb: Small
Roland-Story Middle School
Roland-Story Comm School District
Roland, 50236 / Rural: Distant
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$7,393
State avg $7,591
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Story 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 Story County?
What is the graduation rate in Story County?
How much does Story County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Story County, Iowa — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Story County, Iowa?
Story County hosts 26 public schools across seven districts, serving a large student body of 11,679. The infrastructure is anchored by 14 elementary schools and 7 high schools. This extensive system reflects the county's role as a major educational hub in Iowa.
What are the major school districts in Story County, Iowa?
The Ames Community School District is the largest, managing 4,645 students across eight schools. Other major players include the Ballard and Gilbert districts, which serve nearly 3,500 students combined. No charter schools currently operate in the county, with all public students attending traditional district schools.
What is the school experience like in Story County?
Story County offers a unique locale diversity with 10 rural schools, 8 city schools, and 6 town-based schools. While the average school size is 449, Ames High School is the largest with 1,403 students. This variety allows families to choose between large-scale urban high schools and smaller rural elementary programs.
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.