Total enrollment
4,883
+170 (+4%) vs SY 2020-21
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).
4-year change in Bremer County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
18
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Bremer County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Iowa | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 82.1% | #5 of 89 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 5,346 | #20 of 90 | #1,263 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 20 | #11 of 90 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 14.5:1 | #72 of 90 | #1,567 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 20.9% | #90 of 90 | #2,496 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 15.3% | #77 of 89 | #2,329 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Bremer County school rankings
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
School enrollment
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%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Tripoli Elementary School· 67.1%
- Durant Elementary School· 68.6%
- Sumner-Fredericksburg High School· 71.2%
- Wapsie Valley High School· 72.4%
- Janesville Elementary School· 78.3%
Cities in Bremer County
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 4-year window, public-school enrollment rose 4%: 4,713 students in SY 2020-21 versus 4,883 in SY 2024-25.
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
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data