Total enrollment
3,030
-117 (-4%) vs SY 2020-21
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).
4-year change in Cedar County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
13
+1 (+8%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Cedar County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Iowa | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 69.7% | #59 of 89 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 3,030 | #36 of 90 | #1,833 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 13 | #27 of 90 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 12.9:1 | #18 of 90 | #854 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 27.9% | #83 of 90 | #2,434 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 17.0% | #75 of 89 | #2,265 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.
Cedar County school rankings
Residents
18,349
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
13
5 districts
Enrollment
3,030
students · 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
School enrollment
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%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Hoover Elementary School· 62.4%
- North Cedar Jr/Sr High School· 64.2%
- Durant Junior/Senior High School· 66.4%
- Tipton Elementary School· 69.9%
- Durant Elementary School· 71.5%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hoover Elementary School | West Branch | Elementary | PK-04 | 353 | · |
| Durant Elementary School | Durant | Elementary | PK-06 | 342 | · |
| Durant Junior/Senior High School | Durant | High | 07-12 | 340 | · |
| Tipton High School | Tipton | High | 09-12 | 302 | · |
| Tipton Elementary School | Tipton | Elementary | PK-04 | 284 | · |
| West Branch High School | West Branch | High | 09-12 | 273 | · |
| Tipton Middle School | Tipton | Middle | 05-08 | 256 | · |
| North Cedar Jr/Sr High School | Clarence | High | 07-12 | 243 | · |
| West Branch Middle School | West Branch | Middle | 05-08 | 239 | · |
| North Cedar Lowden Elementary Center | Lowden | Elementary | PK-06 | 168 | · |
| North Cedar Mechanicsville Elementary Center | Mechanicsville | Elementary | PK-06 | 139 | · |
| Bennett Elementary School | Bennett | Elementary | PK-06 | 76 | · |
| West Branch Community Early Learning Center | West Branch | Elementary | PK-PK | 15 | · |
Cities in Cedar County
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 4 years. Total public-school enrollment in Cedar County has contracted 4% since SY 2020-21, moving from about 3,147 students to 3,030. The school count climbed from 12 to 13 across the same 4-year window.
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
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data