Colo-Nesco Elementary School

Colo-Nesco Elementary School is an elementary campus of small scale in Zearing, Iowa, one of the schools within Colo-NESCO Comm School District, instructing 169 students in grades pre-K through 4. That puts it 48% below the typical public school in Iowa, which averages around 325 students.

Across the 2 schools in Colo-NESCO Comm School District (385 students total), Colo-Nesco Elementary School accounts for its share of the district's footprint.

On the student-mix side, Colo-Nesco Elementary School shows that nearly all students (85%) are White; the rest is composed of 8% multiracial, 7% Hispanic. That composition is broadly in line with Story County as a whole.

In terms of school funding signals, Colo-Nesco Elementary School lists 15 full-time-equivalent teachers, putting the student-to-teacher ratio at about 11.6:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 13.7:1, putting Colo-Nesco Elementary School tighter than the state norm the norm. Around 51% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, which schools and policymakers use as a rough income-mix signal. That share is noticeably above Story County's rate of about 28%.

With demographic context factored in, Colo-Nesco Elementary School sits in the middle band of the BeatsExpectations distribution. Schools with this campus's student mix typically land near 66.5%; this one delivers 70.5%.

In the area at large, ACS estimates for Story County put the typical household earns roughly $69,685 per year, 55% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and roughly 6% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Across Story County's 26 public schools (combined enrollment of about 11,665 students), Colo-Nesco Elementary School is one campus in the mix.

Nearest neighbor: South Hardin Middle School, around 9.6 miles off. Ranking that nearby cluster on reported proficiency puts Colo-Nesco Elementary School at 7th of 9; the average score across the group is 77.4%.

The school occupies a countryside site.

Five-year trend. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at Colo-Nesco Elementary School has remained close to its prior level, going from 168 students in 2018 to 169 in 2025. White enrollment moved from 95% to 85% across the same window. The student-to-teacher ratio narrowed from 15.3:1 in 2018 to 11.6:1 today.

In the discussion threads here, the page collects discussion, questions, and updates around open house dates, ride-share offers, and field-trip permission slips. Posting is open to anyone connected to the school.