Total enrollment
3,231
-208 (-6%) vs SY 2017-18
Buchanan County
Iowa · Public K-12
Buchanan County runs 18 public K-12 schools per the latest NCES counts, with an average school size of about 180 students. By grade band, the county runs 12 elementary, 2 middle, and 3 high schools.
7-year change in Buchanan County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
17
-1 (-6%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
94%
was 95%
% Hispanic
3%
was 2%
% Black
1%
was 0%
% Asian
0%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
18
4 districts
Enrollment
3,231
NCES CCD
Median income
$78,236
Above Iowa avg
Free/reduced lunch
28.8%
Below Iowa avg
Elementary
12
1,737 students
Middle
2
324 students
High
3
1,170 students
Combined / other
1
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Independence Comm School District
1,383 students · 4 districts in Buchanan County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Buchanan 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+
22.4%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
6.3%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
2.8%
civilian labor
Median age
40
25.4% under 18
Test scores in Buchanan County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 8 schools ranked. Iowa state average: 73.7%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Jesup Elementary School· 86.3%
- Jesup Middle School· 81.2%
- Jesup High School· 81.1%
- East Buchanan Elementary School· 77.4%
- East Buchanan Middle School· 77.3%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independence Junior Senior High School | Independence | High | 07-12 | 712 | · |
| Jesup Elementary School | Jesup | Elementary | PK-04 | 412 | · |
| West Elementary School | Independence | Elementary | 03-06 | 360 | · |
| East Buchanan Elementary School | Winthrop | Elementary | PK-06 | 303 | · |
| Jesup High School | Jesup | High | 09-12 | 269 | · |
| East Elementary School | Independence | Elementary | KG-02 | 265 | · |
| Jesup Middle School | Jesup | Middle | 05-08 | 249 | · |
| East Buchanan High School | Winthrop | High | 09-12 | 189 | · |
| Fairbank Elementary School | Fairbank | Elementary | PK-06 | 187 | · |
| East Buchanan Middle School | Winthrop | Middle | 07-08 | 75 | · |
| Early Childhood Center | Independence | Elementary | PK-PK | 46 | · |
| Triumph Elementary School | Fairbank | Elementary | KG-08 | 42 | · |
| Perry #1 Elementary School | Independence | Elementary | KG-08 | 29 | · |
| Rural Elementary School #1 | Fairbank | Elementary | KG-08 | 29 | · |
| Rural Elementary School #2 | Fairbank | Elementary | KG-08 | 24 | · |
| Prairie Grove Elementary School | Hazelton | Elementary | KG-08 | 23 | · |
| Rural Elementary School #4 | Fairbank | Elementary | KG-08 | 17 | · |
| Rural Elementary School #3 | Hazleton | Combined | M-M | · | · |
Cities in Buchanan County
About Buchanan County
In Iowa, Buchanan County is a small county of about 20,694 residents. 18 public schools across the county serves about 3,231 students between them.
Looking at the broader picture, census numbers show median household income runs near $78,236, about 22% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the poverty rate is around 6%. That income level is 9% meaningfully above the Iowa median.
Looking at the level breakdown, Buchanan County spans 12 elementary schools (1,737 students), 2 middle schools (324), 3 high schools (1,170), and 1 combined or other schools.
Independence Comm School District dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 1,383 students on its own.
Over the past 7-year window. Combined enrollment now sits at 3,231 students, declined 6% from the 3,439 reported in SY 2017-18. The school count fell from 18 to 17 across the same 7-year window.
Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Buchanan County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.
Frequently asked questions
Buchanan County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data