Total enrollment
4,691
+41 (+1%) vs SY 2020-21
Buena Vista County
Iowa · Public K-12
Buena Vista County, Iowa's 15 public schools span elementary through high school (7 elementary, 3 middle, and 5 high). Total enrollment is roughly 4,691 students.
4-year change in Buena Vista County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
15
+1 (+7%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Buena Vista County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Iowa | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 56.6% | #88 of 89 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 4,691 | #23 of 90 | #1,397 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 15 | #21 of 90 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 14.6:1 | #75 of 90 | #1,598 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 60.1% | #3 of 90 | #1,118 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 68.1% | #1 of 89 | #179 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.
Buena Vista County school rankings
Residents
20,753
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
15
5 districts
Enrollment
4,691
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$71,719
Above Iowa avg
Free/reduced lunch
60.0%
Above Iowa avg
Elementary
7
2,246 students
Middle
3
930 students
High
5
1,515 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Storm Lake Comm School District
2,933 students · 5 districts in Buena Vista County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Buena Vista 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+
22.2%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
4.8%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
5.5%
civilian labor
Median age
36
26.6% under 18
Test scores in Buena Vista County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 12 schools ranked. Iowa state average: 73.7%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Albert City-Truesdale Elementary School· 86.2%
- Alta Elementary School· 84.3%
- Sioux Central High School· 79.5%
- Sioux Central Middle School· 78.9%
- Newell-Fonda Middle School· 78.5%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Storm Lake Elementary· 43.2%
- Storm Lake High School· 46.1%
- Storm Lake Middle School· 50.5%
- Newell-Fonda Elementary· 63.3%
- Newell-Fonda High School· 66.3%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Storm Lake High School | Storm Lake | High | 09-12 | 851 | · |
| Storm Lake Elementary | Storm Lake | Elementary | 02-05 | 822 | · |
| Storm Lake Middle School | Storm Lake | Middle | 06-08 | 651 | · |
| Storm Lake Early Elementary School | Storm Lake | Elementary | KG-01 | 437 | · |
| Newell-Fonda Elementary | Newell | Elementary | PK-05 | 280 | · |
| Alta Elementary School | Alta | Elementary | PK-04 | 256 | · |
| Sioux Central High School | Sioux Rapids | High | 09-12 | 255 | · |
| Sioux Central Elementary School | Sioux Rapids | Elementary | PK-05 | 229 | · |
| Alta-Aurelia High School | Alta | High | 09-12 | 221 | · |
| Sioux Central Middle School | Sioux Rapids | Middle | 06-08 | 155 | · |
| Newell-Fonda High School | Newell | High | 09-12 | 138 | · |
| Newell-Fonda Middle School | Newell | Middle | 06-08 | 124 | · |
| East Early Childhood Ctr | Storm Lake | Elementary | PK-PK | 122 | · |
| Albert City-Truesdale Elementary School | Albert City | Elementary | PK-06 | 100 | · |
| St Lake/IA Cntrl/Buena Vista Early College HS | Storm Lake | High | 12-12 | 50 | · |
Cities in Buena Vista County
About Buena Vista County
Buena Vista County is a small county of about 20,753 residents in Iowa. Its public-school system instructs approximately 4,691 students across 15 schools.
For perspective, census numbers show median household income runs near $71,719, 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and roughly 5% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
On the school-mix side, Buena Vista County is made up of 7 elementary schools (2,246 students), 3 middle schools (930), and 5 high schools (1,515).
The largest single district in Buena Vista County is Storm Lake Comm School District, which alone enrolls about 2,933 students.
Looking at the last 4 years. Total public-school enrollment in Buena Vista County has remained close to its prior level since SY 2020-21, moving from about 4,650 students to 4,691. The school count climbed from 14 to 15 across the same 4-year window.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Buena Vista County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Discussions cut across districts, schools, and grade levels.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data