Total enrollment
5,248
-204 (-4%) vs SY 2020-21
Cerro Gordo County
Iowa · Public K-12
Iowa's Cerro Gordo County runs 13 public K-12 schools between its districts, the largest being Mason City Comm School District at 3,406 students. That works out to 6 elementary, 3 middle, and 4 high schools.
4-year change in Cerro Gordo 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 Cerro Gordo County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Iowa | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 69.8% | #57 of 89 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 5,248 | #22 of 90 | #1,286 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 13 | #28 of 90 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 14.2:1 | #66 of 90 | #1,445 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 42.5% | #36 of 90 | #1,979 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 42.1% | #24 of 89 | #1,403 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.
Cerro Gordo County school rankings
Residents
42,632
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
13
3 districts
Enrollment
5,248
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$68,189
Below Iowa avg
Free/reduced lunch
42.5%
Above Iowa avg
Elementary
6
2,461 students
Middle
3
1,256 students
High
4
1,531 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Mason City Comm School District
3,406 students · 3 districts in Cerro Gordo County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Cerro Gordo 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+
24.0%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
5.9%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
2.6%
civilian labor
Median age
44
20.8% under 18
Test scores in Cerro Gordo County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 12 schools ranked. Iowa state average: 73.7%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Clear Creek Elementary School· 84.7%
- Clear Lake High School· 82.7%
- Clear Lake Middle School· 81.5%
- Jefferson Elementary School· 78.2%
- West Fork Elementary at Rockwell· 75.2%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Mason City Virtual Academy· 51.5%
- Hoover Elementary School· 59.0%
- Roosevelt Elementary School· 64.1%
- Lincoln Intermediate· 67.6%
- John Adams Middle School· 67.7%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mason City High School | Mason City | High | 09-12 | 891 | · |
| Clear Creek Elementary School | Clear Lake | Elementary | PK-05 | 685 | · |
| Lincoln Intermediate | Mason City | Middle | 05-06 | 485 | · |
| John Adams Middle School | Mason City | Middle | 07-08 | 463 | · |
| Clear Lake High School | Clear Lake | High | 09-12 | 461 | · |
| West Fork Elementary at Rockwell | Rockwell | Elementary | PK-05 | 388 | · |
| Harding Elementary School | Mason City | Elementary | PK-04 | 387 | · |
| Hoover Elementary School | Mason City | Elementary | PK-04 | 361 | · |
| Roosevelt Elementary School | Mason City | Elementary | PK-04 | 348 | · |
| Clear Lake Middle School | Clear Lake | Middle | 06-08 | 308 | · |
| Jefferson Elementary School | Mason City | Elementary | PK-04 | 292 | · |
| Alternative School | Mason City | High | 09-12 | 91 | · |
| Mason City Virtual Academy | Mason City | High | 08-12 | 88 | · |
Cities in Cerro Gordo County
About Cerro Gordo County
In Iowa, Cerro Gordo County is a low-population county of about 42,632 residents. 13 public schools across the county enrolls about 5,248 students between them.
Zooming out, census numbers show median household income runs near $68,189, 24% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and roughly 6% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 5% noticeably below the Iowa median.
On the school-mix side, Cerro Gordo County spans 6 elementary schools (2,461 students), 3 middle schools (1,256), and 4 high schools (1,531).
Mason City Comm School District is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 3,406 students across Cerro Gordo County.
Five-year track record. Combined enrollment now sits at 5,248 students, declined 4% from the 5,452 reported in SY 2020-21. Cerro Gordo County now counts 13 public schools, up from 12 in SY 2020-21.
Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Cerro Gordo County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data