Total enrollment
6,781
-226 (-3%) vs SY 2017-18
DeKalb County
Indiana · Public K-12
DeKalb County, Indiana's 14 public schools span elementary through high school (8 elementary, 2 middle, and 4 high). Total enrollment is roughly 6,781 students.
7-year change in DeKalb County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
14
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
91%
was 92%
% Hispanic
5%
was 3%
% Black
1%
was 1%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
14
4 districts
Enrollment
6,781
NCES CCD
Median income
$74,331
Above Indiana avg
Free/reduced lunch
48.8%
Above Indiana avg
Elementary
8
3,333 students
Middle
2
1,146 students
High
4
2,302 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
DeKalb Co Ctl United Sch Dist
3,537 students · 4 districts in DeKalb County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of DeKalb County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
20.2%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
6.8%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.5%
civilian labor
Median age
38
24.1% under 18
Test scores in DeKalb County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 12 schools ranked. Indiana state average: 39.2%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Butler Elementary School· 18.6%
- Waterloo Elementary School· 20.2%
- J E Ober Elementary School· 25.6%
- Garrett Middle School· 26.1%
- Country Meadow Elementary School· 27.8%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeKalb High School | Waterloo | High | 09-12 | 1,007 | · |
| DeKalb Middle School | Waterloo | Middle | 06-08 | 759 | · |
| J E Ober Elementary School | Garrett | Elementary | KG-05 | 704 | · |
| McKenney-Harrison Elementary Sch | Auburn | Elementary | PK-05 | 620 | · |
| James R Watson Elementary School | Auburn | Elementary | PK-05 | 590 | · |
| Eastside Junior-Senior High School | Butler | High | 07-12 | 559 | · |
| Garrett High School | Garrett | High | 09-12 | 553 | · |
| Garrett Middle School | Garrett | Middle | 06-08 | 387 | · |
| Butler Elementary School | Butler | Elementary | KG-06 | 366 | · |
| Country Meadow Elementary School | Ashley | Elementary | PK-05 | 314 | · |
| Riverdale Elementary School | Saint Joe | Elementary | KG-06 | 300 | · |
| Waterloo Elementary School | Waterloo | Elementary | PK-05 | 247 | · |
| Hamilton Community Elementary Sch | Hamilton | Elementary | KG-05 | 192 | · |
| Hamilton Community High School | Hamilton | High | 06-12 | 183 | · |
Cities in DeKalb County
About DeKalb County
Across the small Indiana county of DeKalb County of about 43,807 residents, the public-school footprint covers 14 schools and about 6,781 students.
In context, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $74,331, about 20% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the federal-poverty share is near 7%. That income level is 6% above the Indiana median.
On the level-by-level breakdown, DeKalb County is built around 8 elementary schools (3,333 students), 2 middle schools (1,146), and 4 high schools (2,302).
The largest single district in DeKalb County is DeKalb Co Ctl United Sch Dist, which alone enrolls about 3,537 students.
Over the past 7-year window. Combined enrollment now sits at 6,781 students, declined 3% from the 7,007 reported in SY 2017-18.
In the discussion threads here, the community for DeKalb County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.
Frequently asked questions
DeKalb County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data