Taylor County Schools & Education
Taylor County, Iowa
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
62/100
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
$7,416
National avg $13,239
State avg $7,591
School Score
62/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 61/100
State Score Position
#59
of 99 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Taylor County
Measured School Summary
Taylor County performs at an average level with a school score of 62/100 and a solid graduation rate of 92.8%.
Funding Context
At $7,416 per pupil, Taylor County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 1% above the Iowa average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 0.5 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 2% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Taylor 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
4 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
62/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #59 of 99 Iowa counties with school score data.
Completion
92.8%
0.5 pts above the state average
Funding context
$7,416
$175 below the state average
School coverage
4
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
Taylor County has 4 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 Taylor 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
Taylor 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
#59
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.
Bedford Comm School District
Elementary and high visible
535 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
Lenox Comm School District
Elementary and high visible
520 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Bedford Comm School District is the largest listed district slice, with 2 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 Taylor County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Taylor County district systems?
Where do students transition after the visible grade band, and is that next school inside the same district path?
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 Taylor 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 Lean and Focused Rural System
Taylor County maintains a very concentrated school system with only four public schools across two districts. These schools serve 1,055 students through two elementary schools and two high schools. It is one of the smallest school infrastructures in the state of Iowa.
Bedford and Lenox Districts Drive Success
Education is split almost evenly between the Bedford Community School District (535 students) and the Lenox Community School District (520 students). These two districts manage all public education for the county. No charter schools exist, focusing all resources on these two community pillars.
Intimate Classrooms in a Rural Setting
All four schools in Taylor County are classified as rural, reflecting the county's agricultural character. The average school size is 264 students, with Lenox Elementary being the largest at 303 students. This small scale ensures that no student is lost in the crowd, providing a very personal educational experience.
School Overview
Total Schools
4
in Taylor County
Reported Enrollment
1,055
4 schools reporting
School Districts
2
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
2 School Districts in Taylor County
Bedford Comm School District
Lenox Comm School District
4 Public Schools in Taylor 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 4 of 4 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lenox Elementary School | Record | Lenox Comm School District | Lenox, 50851Rural: Remote | PK–6 | Primary | 303 |
| Bedford Elementary School | Record | Bedford Comm School District | Bedford, 50833Rural: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 292 |
| Bedford High School | Record | Bedford Comm School District | Bedford, 50833Rural: Remote | 6–12 | High | 243 |
| Lenox High School | Record | Lenox Comm School District | Lenox, 50851Rural: Remote | 7–12 | High | 217 |
Lenox Elementary School
Lenox Comm School District
Lenox, 50851 / Rural: Remote
Bedford Elementary School
Bedford Comm School District
Bedford, 50833 / Rural: Remote
Bedford High School
Bedford Comm School District
Bedford, 50833 / Rural: Remote
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$7,416
State avg $7,591
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Taylor 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 Taylor County?
What is the graduation rate in Taylor County?
How much does Taylor County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Taylor County, Iowa — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Taylor County, Iowa?
Taylor County maintains a very concentrated school system with only four public schools across two districts. These schools serve 1,055 students through two elementary schools and two high schools. It is one of the smallest school infrastructures in the state of Iowa.
What are the major school districts in Taylor County, Iowa?
Education is split almost evenly between the Bedford Community School District (535 students) and the Lenox Community School District (520 students). These two districts manage all public education for the county. No charter schools exist, focusing all resources on these two community pillars.
What is the school experience like in Taylor County?
All four schools in Taylor County are classified as rural, reflecting the county's agricultural character. The average school size is 264 students, with Lenox Elementary being the largest at 303 students. This small scale ensures that no student is lost in the crowd, providing a very personal educational experience.
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.