Tama County Schools & Education
Tama County, Iowa
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
61/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
92.8%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
92.8%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 92.3%
Per-Pupil Spending
$7,361
National avg $13,239
State avg $7,591
School Score
61/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 61/100
State Score Position
#60
of 99 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Tama County
Measured School Summary
Tama County performs at an average level with a school score of 61/100 and a solid graduation rate of 92.8%.
Funding Context
At $7,361 per pupil, Tama County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 0% above the Iowa average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 0.5 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 3% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Tama 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 4 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
61/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #60 of 99 Iowa counties with school score data.
Completion
92.8%
0.5 pts above the state average
Funding context
$7,361
$230 below the state average
School coverage
8
4 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
Tama County has 8 public schools across 4 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 Tama 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
Tama 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
#60
of 99 Iowa counties with school score data. The county score is roughly in line with 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.
South Tama County
Elementary to high school visible
1,488 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
North Tama County Comm School District
Elementary and high visible
476 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
Union Comm School District
Elementary and middle visible
419 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
GMG Comm School District
High school only in this slice
211 students
1 listed school in this county slice.
District reality check
Union 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 Tama County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Tama 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 Tama 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 Focused on Fundamentals
Tama County manages eight public schools across four districts, serving 2,594 students in total. The landscape includes three elementary schools, two middle schools, and three high schools. This decentralized system ensures that smaller communities maintain their own local educational identities.
South Tama and Union Districts Lead
The South Tama County district is the largest with 1,488 students, followed by the Union Community School District with 1,008 students. These districts provide the vast majority of the county's educational services. There are zero charter schools in the county, maintaining a purely traditional public school landscape.
Small-Scale Learning in Rural Areas
Seven of the eight schools in Tama County are in rural locales, with only one in a town setting. Average enrollment is 324 students per school, with South Tama County Elementary being the largest at 593 students. This creates a close-knit learning environment where teachers can focus on individual student needs.
School Overview
Total Schools
8
in Tama County
Reported Enrollment
2,594
8 schools reporting
School Districts
4
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
4 School Districts in Tama County
South Tama County
Union Comm School District
GMG Comm School District
North Tama County Comm School District
8 Public Schools in Tama 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Tama County Elementary School | Record | South Tama County | Tama, 52339Rural: Fringe | PK–4 | Primary | 593 |
| South Tama County High School | Record | South Tama County | Tama, 52339Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 472 |
| South Tama County Middle School | Record | South Tama County | Toledo, 52342Town: Distant | 5–8 | Middle | 423 |
| North Tama Elementary | Record | North Tama County Comm School District | Traer, 50675Rural: Distant | PK–6 | Primary | 282 |
| Dysart-Geneseo Elementary School | Record | Union Comm School District | Dysart, 52224Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 218 |
| GMG Secondary School | Record | GMG Comm School District | Garwin, 50632Rural: Distant | 7–12 | High | 211 |
| Union Middle School | Record | Union Comm School District | Dysart, 52224Rural: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 201 |
| North Tama High School | Record | North Tama County Comm School District | Traer, 50675Rural: Distant | 7–12 | High | 194 |
South Tama County Elementary School
South Tama County
Tama, 52339 / Rural: Fringe
South Tama County Middle School
South Tama County
Toledo, 52342 / Town: Distant
North Tama Elementary
North Tama County Comm School District
Traer, 50675 / Rural: Distant
Dysart-Geneseo Elementary School
Union Comm School District
Dysart, 52224 / Rural: Distant
GMG Secondary School
GMG Comm School District
Garwin, 50632 / Rural: Distant
Union Middle School
Union Comm School District
Dysart, 52224 / Rural: Distant
North Tama High School
North Tama County Comm School District
Traer, 50675 / Rural: Distant
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$7,361
State avg $7,591
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Tama 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 Tama County?
What is the graduation rate in Tama County?
How much does Tama County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Tama County, Iowa — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Tama County, Iowa?
Tama County manages eight public schools across four districts, serving 2,594 students in total. The landscape includes three elementary schools, two middle schools, and three high schools. This decentralized system ensures that smaller communities maintain their own local educational identities.
What are the major school districts in Tama County, Iowa?
The South Tama County district is the largest with 1,488 students, followed by the Union Community School District with 1,008 students. These districts provide the vast majority of the county's educational services. There are zero charter schools in the county, maintaining a purely traditional public school landscape.
What is the school experience like in Tama County?
Seven of the eight schools in Tama County are in rural locales, with only one in a town setting. Average enrollment is 324 students per school, with South Tama County Elementary being the largest at 593 students. This creates a close-knit learning environment where teachers can focus on individual student needs.
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.