Total enrollment
744
-56 (-7%) vs SY 2017-18
Adair County
Iowa · Public K-12
Public K-12 enrollment in Adair County totals about 744 students across 5 schools, an average of 149 per campus. Nodaway Valley Comm School District is the largest district. By grade band, the county runs 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools.
7-year change in Adair County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
5
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
91%
was 92%
% Hispanic
5%
was 4%
% Black
1%
was 1%
% Asian
0%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
5
2 districts
Enrollment
744
NCES CCD
Median income
$68,092
Below Iowa avg
Free/reduced lunch
43.4%
Above Iowa avg
Elementary
2
370 students
Middle
1
144 students
High
2
230 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Nodaway Valley Comm School District
636 students · 2 districts in Adair County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Adair 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+
19.9%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
4.9%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.0%
civilian labor
Median age
42
22.9% under 18
Test scores in Adair County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 3 schools ranked. Iowa state average: 73.7%.
Top 3 schools (ELA)
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nodaway Valley Elementary School | Greenfield | Elementary | PK-05 | 312 | · |
| Nodaway Valley High School | Greenfield | High | 09-12 | 180 | · |
| Nodaway Valley Middle School | Fontanelle | Middle | 06-08 | 144 | · |
| Orient Elementary School | Orient | Elementary | PK-06 | 58 | · |
| Orient-Macksburg Senior High School | Orient | High | 07-12 | 50 | · |
Cities in Adair County
About Adair County
In Iowa, Adair County is a thinly populated county of about 7,460 residents. 5 public schools across the county instructs about 744 students between them.
For perspective, census numbers show median household income runs near $68,092, roughly 20% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the poverty rate is around 5%. That income level is 5% meaningfully below the Iowa median.
Looking at the level breakdown, Adair County is made up of 2 elementary schools (370 students), 1 middle school (144), and 2 high schools (230).
The largest single district in Adair County is Nodaway Valley Comm School District, which alone enrolls about 636 students.
Trend over the past 7 years. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment decreased 7%: 800 students in SY 2017-18 versus 744 in SY 2024-25.
On this page, the community for Adair County discusses sports rivalries, cross-district programs, and shared facilities. Discussions cut across districts, schools, and grade levels.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data