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Cedar County

Iowa · Public K-12

Public-school enrollment in Cedar County clocks in around 3,030 students across 13 schools (7 elementary, 2 middle, and 4 high).

7-year change in Cedar County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
3,030
-289 (-9%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
13
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
91%
was 93%
% Hispanic
5%
was 4%
% Black
1%
was 1%
% Asian
0%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
13
5 districts
Enrollment
3,030
NCES CCD
Median income
$80,602
Above Iowa avg
Free/reduced lunch
27.9%
Below Iowa avg
Elementary
7
1,377 students
Middle
2
495 students
High
4
1,158 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
West Branch Comm School District
880 students · 5 districts in Cedar County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Cedar 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
94%
Hispanic
3%
Black
0%
Asian
1%
Two or more
5%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
91%
Hispanic
5%
Black
1%
Asian
0%
Two or more
2%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
23.7%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
4.8%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
2.3%
civilian labor
Median age
44
21.1% under 18

Test scores in Cedar County

Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 11 schools ranked. Iowa state average: 73.7%.

See all 11 schools in Cedar County ranked by score →

All schools (13)

NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Hoover Elementary SchoolWest BranchElementaryPK-04353·
Durant Elementary SchoolDurantElementaryPK-06342·
Durant Junior/Senior High SchoolDurantHigh07-12340·
Tipton High SchoolTiptonHigh09-12302·
Tipton Elementary SchoolTiptonElementaryPK-04284·
West Branch High SchoolWest BranchHigh09-12273·
Tipton Middle SchoolTiptonMiddle05-08256·
North Cedar Jr/Sr High SchoolClarenceHigh07-12243·
West Branch Middle SchoolWest BranchMiddle05-08239·
North Cedar Lowden Elementary CenterLowdenElementaryPK-06168·
North Cedar Mechanicsville Elementary CenterMechanicsvilleElementaryPK-06139·
Bennett Elementary SchoolBennettElementaryPK-0676·
West Branch Community Early Learning CenterWest BranchElementaryPK-PK15·

Cities in Cedar County

West Branch4 schoolsTipton3 schoolsDurant2 schoolsBennett1 schoolClarence1 schoolLowden1 schoolMechanicsville1 school

About Cedar County

In Iowa, Cedar County is a thinly populated county of about 18,349 residents. 13 public schools across the county teaches about 3,030 students between them.

For perspective, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $80,602, roughly 24% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the poverty rate is around 5%. That income level is 13% above the Iowa median.

In terms of grade levels, Cedar County comprises 7 elementary schools (1,377 students), 2 middle schools (495), and 4 high schools (1,158).

The largest single district in Cedar County is West Branch Comm School District, which alone enrolls about 880 students.

Trend over the past 7 years. Total public-school enrollment in Cedar County has contracted 9% since SY 2017-18, moving from about 3,319 students to 3,030.

On this page, the community for Cedar County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.

Frequently asked questions

How many public schools are in Cedar County?
Cedar County, Iowa has 13 public K-12 schools serving approximately 3,030 students.
How many high schools are in Cedar County?
Cedar County, Iowa has 4 public high schools, serving approximately 1,158 students.
How many middle schools are in Cedar County?
Cedar County, Iowa has 2 public middle schools, serving approximately 495 students.
How many elementary schools are in Cedar County?
Cedar County, Iowa has 7 public elementary schools, serving approximately 1,377 students.
What is the largest school district in Cedar County?
West Branch Comm School District is the largest school district in Cedar County, serving approximately 880 students. The county contains 5 school districts overall.
What is the population of Cedar County?
Cedar County, Iowa has a population of approximately 18,349, with a median age of 44. About 21.1% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Cedar County?
Median household income in Cedar County is $80,602, above the Iowa average of $71,592. About 4.8% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Cedar County?
Approximately 23.7% of adults 25 and older in Cedar County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Cedar County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 27.9% of students in Cedar 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 Cedar County schools?
Across Cedar County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 13.2 to 1.

Cedar County school rankings

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