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Bremer County

Iowa · Public K-12

Public-school enrollment in Bremer County clocks in around 5,346 students across 20 schools (11 elementary, 2 middle, and 7 high).

7-year change in Bremer County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
4,883
+122 (+3%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
18
-1 (-5%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
92%
was 95%
% Hispanic
3%
was 2%
% Black
1%
was 1%
% Asian
0%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Residents
25,204
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
20
6 districts
Enrollment
5,346
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$86,784
Above Iowa avg
Free/reduced lunch
20.9%
Below Iowa avg
Elementary
11
2,438 students
Middle
2
919 students
High
7
1,989 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Waverly-Shell Rock Comm School District
2,606 students · 6 districts in Bremer County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Bremer 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
White
93%
Hispanic
2%
Black
1%
Asian
1%
Two or more
4%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
92%
Hispanic
3%
Black
1%
Asian
0%
Two or more
4%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
36.2%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
3.9%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.3%
civilian labor
Median age
39
22.4% under 18

Test scores in Bremer County

Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 13 schools ranked. Iowa state average: 73.7%.

See all 13 schools in Bremer County ranked by score →

All schools (20)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Waverly-Shell Rock Senior High SchoolWaverlyHigh09-12737·
Waverly-Shell Rock Middle SchoolWaverlyMiddle05-08681·
Denver Elementary School - Lincoln Street BuildingDenverElementaryKG-05431·
North Ridge ElementaryWaverlyElementaryKG-04397·
Denver Senior High SchoolDenverHigh09-12278·
Wapsie Valley High SchoolFairbankHigh07-12273·
Janesville Elementary SchoolJanesvilleElementaryPK-05269·
Prairie West ElementaryWaverlyElementaryKG-04252·
Janesville Junior-Senior High SchoolJanesvilleHigh06-12243·
Sumner-Fredericksburg High SchoolSumnerHigh09-12243·
Denver Middle SchoolDenverMiddle06-08238·
Margaretta Carey Elementary SchoolWaverlyElementaryKG-04238·
West Cedar Elementary SchoolWaverlyElementaryKG-04225·
Tripoli Elementary SchoolTripoliElementaryPK-05219·
Durant Elementary SchoolSumnerElementaryPK-04209·
Tripoli Middle/Sr High SchoolTripoliHigh06-12170·
Readlyn Elementary SchoolReadlynElementaryPK-06107·
Denver Early Elementary SchoolDenverElementaryPK-PK60·
Greenview Alternative SchoolWaverlyHigh09-1245·
Southeast Elementary SchoolWaverlyElementaryPK-PK31·

Cities in Bremer County

Waverly8 schoolsDenver4 schoolsJanesville2 schoolsSumner2 schoolsTripoli2 schoolsFairbank1 schoolReadlyn1 school

About Bremer County

Bremer County is a thinly populated county of about 25,204 residents in Iowa. Its public-school system educates approximately 5,346 students across 20 schools.

In context, census numbers show median household income runs near $86,784, roughly 36% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the federal-poverty share is near 4%. That income level is 21% higher than the Iowa median.

Looking at the level breakdown, Bremer County covers 11 elementary schools (2,438 students), 2 middle schools (919), and 7 high schools (1,989).

The largest single district in Bremer County is Waverly-Shell Rock Comm School District, which alone enrolls about 2,606 students.

Five-year track record. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment rose 3%: 4,761 students in SY 2017-18 versus 4,883 in SY 2024-25. The school count fell from 19 to 18 across the same 7-year window.

On this page, the community for Bremer County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.

Frequently asked questions

How many K-12 schools serve Bremer County?
There are 20 public K-12 schools in Bremer County, Iowa, with a combined enrollment of about 5,346.
How many high schools are in Bremer County?
Bremer County, Iowa has 7 public high schools, serving approximately 1,989 students.
How many middle schools are in Bremer County?
Bremer County, Iowa has 2 public middle schools, serving approximately 919 students.
How many elementary schools are in Bremer County?
Bremer County, Iowa has 11 public elementary schools, serving approximately 2,438 students.
What is the largest school district in Bremer County?
Waverly-Shell Rock Comm School District is the largest school district in Bremer County, serving approximately 2,606 students. The county contains 6 school districts overall.
How many people live in Bremer County?
Bremer County has roughly 25,204 residents according to the latest Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What is the median household income in Bremer County?
Median household income in Bremer County is $86,784, above the Iowa average of $71,592. About 3.9% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Bremer County?
Approximately 36.2% of adults 25 and older in Bremer County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Bremer County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 20.9% of students in Bremer County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is lower than the Iowa county average of 41.8%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Bremer County schools?
Across Bremer County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 14.9 to 1.

Bremer County school rankings

Largest schoolsAll rankings →
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data