Union County Schools & Education
Union County, Iowa
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
80/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Higher Signal
Graduation Rate
96.5%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
96.5%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 92.3%
Per-Pupil Spending
$8,122
National avg $13,239
State avg $7,591
School Score
80/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 61/100
State Score Position
#2
of 99 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Union County
Measured School Summary
Union County has a higher measured school signal with a school score of 80/100 and a graduation rate of 96.5%, based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-score inputs.
Funding Context
Union County spends $8,122 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 31% above the Iowa average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 4.2 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 7% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Union 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
6 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
80/100
Higher measured signal. Ranks #2 of 99 Iowa counties with school score data.
Completion
96.5%
4.2 pts above the state average
Funding context
$8,122
$531 above the state average
School coverage
6
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
Union County has 6 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 Union 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
Union 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
#2
of 99 Iowa counties with school score data. The county score is 19 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.
Creston Comm School District
Elementary to high school visible
1,379 students
4 listed schools in this county slice.
East Union Comm School District
Elementary and high visible
489 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Creston 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 Union County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Union 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 Union 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.
High Investment in Local Education
Union County operates six public schools across two districts, serving a total of 1,868 students. The system includes three elementary schools, one middle school, and two high schools. This structure provides a complete K-12 experience within a small-town framework.
Creston Community is the Education Anchor
The Creston Community School District is the county's largest, serving 1,379 students across four schools. The East Union Community School District manages the remaining 489 students. Traditional districts are the only option here, as there are no charter schools currently in operation.
A Blend of Rural and Town Locales
The county features four rural schools and two schools located in town settings. Average school size is 311 students, with Creston High School being the largest at 532 pupils. This creates a balanced environment where students benefit from both town resources and rural community ties.
School Overview
Total Schools
6
in Union County
Reported Enrollment
1,868
6 schools reporting
School Districts
2
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
2 School Districts in Union County
Creston Comm School District
East Union Comm School District
6 Public Schools in Union 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 6 of 6 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Creston High School | Record | Creston Comm School District | Creston, 50801Town: Remote | 9–12 | High | 532 |
| Creston Elementary School | Record | Creston Comm School District | Creston, 50801Rural: Fringe | 1–5 | Primary | 410 |
| Creston Middle School | Record | Creston Comm School District | Creston, 50801Rural: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 291 |
| East Union Middle-High School | Record | East Union Comm School District | Afton, 50830Rural: Distant | 6–12 | High | 259 |
| East Union Elementary | Record | East Union Comm School District | Afton, 50830Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 230 |
| Creston Early Childhood Center | Record | Creston Comm School District | Creston, 50801Town: Remote | PK–KG | Primary | 146 |
Creston High School
Creston Comm School District
Creston, 50801 / Town: Remote
Creston Elementary School
Creston Comm School District
Creston, 50801 / Rural: Fringe
Creston Middle School
Creston Comm School District
Creston, 50801 / Rural: Fringe
East Union Middle-High School
East Union Comm School District
Afton, 50830 / Rural: Distant
East Union Elementary
East Union Comm School District
Afton, 50830 / Rural: Distant
Creston Early Childhood Center
Creston Comm School District
Creston, 50801 / Town: Remote
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$8,122
State avg $7,591
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Union 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 Union County?
What is the graduation rate in Union County?
How much does Union County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Union County, Iowa — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Union County, Iowa?
Union County operates six public schools across two districts, serving a total of 1,868 students. The system includes three elementary schools, one middle school, and two high schools. This structure provides a complete K-12 experience within a small-town framework.
What are the major school districts in Union County, Iowa?
The Creston Community School District is the county's largest, serving 1,379 students across four schools. The East Union Community School District manages the remaining 489 students. Traditional districts are the only option here, as there are no charter schools currently in operation.
What is the school experience like in Union County?
The county features four rural schools and two schools located in town settings. Average school size is 311 students, with Creston High School being the largest at 532 pupils. This creates a balanced environment where students benefit from both town resources and rural community ties.
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.