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

No. Use the Wapello 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 Wapello 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 Wapello County?

Start with the 17 listed public schools and 3 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Wapello County Schools & Education

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

Wapello County, Iowa

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

School Score

45/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

91.5%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

91.5%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 92.3%

Per-Pupil Spending

$6,577

National avg $13,239

State avg $7,591

School Score

45/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 61/100

State Score Position

#92

of 99 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Wapello County

Measured School Summary

Wapello County performs at an average level with a school score of 45/100 and a solid graduation rate of 91.5%.

Funding Context

At $6,577 per pupil, Wapello County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 27% below the Iowa average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 0.8 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 13% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Wapello 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

17 public schools and 3 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

45/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #92 of 99 Iowa counties with school score data.

Completion

91.5%

0.8 pts below the state average

Funding context

$6,577

$1,014 below the state average

School coverage

3 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

Wapello County has 17 public schools across 3 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 Wapello 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.

Dominant-district county

Ottumwa Comm School District carries most of the listed public-school system, with 11 of 17 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.

State position

#92

of 99 Iowa counties with school score data. The county score is 16 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.

Ottumwa Comm School District

Elementary to high school visible

4,959 students

Elementary 7Middle 1High 2Other 1

11 listed schools in this county slice.

Cardinal Comm School District

Elementary to high school visible

1,074 students

Elementary 1Middle 1High 1Other 0

3 listed schools in this county slice.

Eddyville-Blakesburg- Fremont CSD

Elementary and high visible

838 students

Elementary 2Middle 0High 1Other 0

3 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Ottumwa Comm School District is the largest listed district slice, with 11 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 Wapello County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Wapello County district systems?

What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?

Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?

Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?

Education Overview

About Schools in Wapello 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 Schooling Across Three Districts

Wapello County supports 6,871 students across 17 public schools, including ten elementary schools and four high schools. Three distinct districts manage this infrastructure, providing a mix of town and rural campuses.

Strong Graduation Rates on Lean Budgets

The county achieves a 91.5% graduation rate, significantly outperforming the national average of 87%. This success comes despite a lean per-pupil expenditure of $6,577, which is lower than both the Iowa state average and the national benchmark.

Ottumwa Leads the Regional District Mix

The Ottumwa Community School District is the largest provider, serving 4,959 students across 11 schools. Cardinal and Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont districts also serve the county, though no charter schools are available in the area.

A Blend of Town and Country Schools

With ten schools in town settings and seven in rural areas, the average school size is 404 students. Ottumwa High School stands out as the largest with 1,317 students, offering a large-campus experience compared to smaller local elementary schools.

School Overview

Total Schools

in Wapello County

Reported Enrollment

6,871

17 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary10

Middle2

High4

Other1

3 School Districts in Wapello County

Ottumwa Comm School District

Cardinal Comm School District

3 schools

1,074 students

Eddyville-Blakesburg- Fremont CSD

4 schools

964 students

17 Public Schools in Wapello 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 data

Search schools

Level

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Showing 17 of 17 matching schools

Public schools in Wapello County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
Ottumwa High School	Profile	Ottumwa Comm School District	Ottumwa, 52501Town: Remote	9–12	High	1,317
Evans Middle School	Profile	Ottumwa Comm School District	Ottumwa, 52501Town: Remote	6–8	Middle	1,047
Pickwick Early Childhood Center	Record	Ottumwa Comm School District	Ottumwa, 52501Town: Remote	PK–KG	Primary	569
Cardinal Elementary	Record	Cardinal Comm School District	Eldon, 52554Rural: Distant	PK–4	Primary	514
Liberty Elementary School	Record	Ottumwa Comm School District	Ottumwa, 52501Rural: Fringe	3–5	Primary	430
Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont Jr/Sr High	Record	Eddyville-Blakesburg- Fremont CSD	Eddyville, 52553Rural: Distant	7–12	High	423
Wilson Elementary School	Record	Ottumwa Comm School District	Ottumwa, 52501Town: Remote	KG–5	Primary	345
Douma Elementary School	Record	Ottumwa Comm School District	Ottumwa, 52501Town: Remote	1–2	Primary	330
Eddyville Elementary	Record	Eddyville-Blakesburg- Fremont CSD	Eddyville, 52553Rural: Distant	PK–6	Primary	296
Cardinal Junior High	Record	Cardinal Comm School District	Eldon, 52554Rural: Distant	5–8	Middle	284
Cardinal High School	Record	Cardinal Comm School District	Eldon, 52554Rural: Distant	9–12	High	276
Horace Mann Elementary School	Record	Ottumwa Comm School District	Ottumwa, 52501Town: Remote	KG–5	Primary	240
Eisenhower Elementary School	Record	Ottumwa Comm School District	Ottumwa, 52501Town: Remote	KG–5	Primary	238
James Elementary School	Record	Ottumwa Comm School District	Ottumwa, 52501Town: Remote	KG–5	Primary	229
The Gateway Center	Record	Ottumwa Comm School District	Ottumwa, 52501Town: Remote	9–12	High	187
Blakesburg Elementary	Record	Eddyville-Blakesburg- Fremont CSD	Blakesburg, 52536Rural: Distant	PK–6	Primary	119
Ottumwa Virtual Learning	Record	Ottumwa Comm School District	Ottumwa, 52501Town: Remote	PK–12	Virtual	27

Ottumwa High School

Ottumwa Comm School District

Ottumwa, 52501 / Town: Remote

Profile9–12High1,317 students

Evans Middle School

Ottumwa Comm School District

Ottumwa, 52501 / Town: Remote

Profile6–8Middle1,047 students

Pickwick Early Childhood Center

Ottumwa Comm School District

Ottumwa, 52501 / Town: Remote

RecordPK–KGPrimary569 students

Cardinal Elementary

Cardinal Comm School District

Eldon, 52554 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–4Primary514 students

Liberty Elementary School

Ottumwa Comm School District

Ottumwa, 52501 / Rural: Fringe

Record3–5Primary430 students

Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont Jr/Sr High

Eddyville-Blakesburg- Fremont CSD

Eddyville, 52553 / Rural: Distant

Record7–12High423 students

Wilson Elementary School

Ottumwa Comm School District

Ottumwa, 52501 / Town: Remote

RecordKG–5Primary345 students

Douma Elementary School

Ottumwa Comm School District

Ottumwa, 52501 / Town: Remote

Record1–2Primary330 students

Eddyville Elementary

Eddyville-Blakesburg- Fremont CSD

Eddyville, 52553 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–6Primary296 students

Cardinal Junior High

Cardinal Comm School District

Eldon, 52554 / Rural: Distant

Record5–8Middle284 students

Cardinal High School

Cardinal Comm School District

Eldon, 52554 / Rural: Distant

Record9–12High276 students

Horace Mann Elementary School

Ottumwa Comm School District

Ottumwa, 52501 / Town: Remote

RecordKG–5Primary240 students

Eisenhower Elementary School

Ottumwa Comm School District

Ottumwa, 52501 / Town: Remote

RecordKG–5Primary238 students

James Elementary School

Ottumwa Comm School District

Ottumwa, 52501 / Town: Remote

RecordKG–5Primary229 students

The Gateway Center

Ottumwa Comm School District

Ottumwa, 52501 / Town: Remote

Record9–12High187 students

Blakesburg Elementary

Eddyville-Blakesburg- Fremont CSD

Blakesburg, 52536 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–6Primary119 students

Ottumwa Virtual Learning

Ottumwa Comm School District

Ottumwa, 52501 / Town: Remote

RecordPK–12Virtual27 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$6,577

State avg $7,591

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Wapello 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 Wapello County?

Wapello County has a school score of 45/100, 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 Wapello County?

The high school graduation rate in Wapello County is 91.5%, 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 Wapello County spend per student?

Wapello County spends $6,577 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 Wapello County, Iowa — FAQ

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

How do schools in Wapello County perform academically?

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

What is the school experience like in Wapello County?

Counties with Similar School Profile

Clayton County

Iowa

-1 pts

44/100

School score

Mills County

Iowa

+1 pts

46/100

School score

Adams County

Iowa

+2 pts

46/100

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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