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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.

7-year change in Cerro Gordo County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
5,248
-676 (-11%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
13
-3 (-19%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
75%
was 82%
% Hispanic
10%
was 8%
% Black
5%
was 6%
% Asian
1%
was 2%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
13
3 districts
Enrollment
5,248
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
White
90%
Hispanic
6%
Black
2%
Asian
1%
Two or more
5%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
1%
School enrollment
White
75%
Hispanic
10%
Black
5%
Asian
1%
Two or more
5%
Native American
1%
Pacific Islander
3%
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%.

See all 12 schools in Cerro Gordo County ranked by score →

All schools (13)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Mason City High SchoolMason CityHigh09-12891·
Clear Creek Elementary SchoolClear LakeElementaryPK-05685·
Lincoln IntermediateMason CityMiddle05-06485·
John Adams Middle SchoolMason CityMiddle07-08463·
Clear Lake High SchoolClear LakeHigh09-12461·
West Fork Elementary at RockwellRockwellElementaryPK-05388·
Harding Elementary SchoolMason CityElementaryPK-04387·
Hoover Elementary SchoolMason CityElementaryPK-04361·
Roosevelt Elementary SchoolMason CityElementaryPK-04348·
Clear Lake Middle SchoolClear LakeMiddle06-08308·
Jefferson Elementary SchoolMason CityElementaryPK-04292·
Alternative SchoolMason CityHigh09-1291·
Mason City Virtual AcademyMason CityHigh08-1288·

Cities in Cerro Gordo County

Mason City9 schoolsClear Lake3 schoolsRockwell1 school

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 11% from the 5,924 reported in SY 2017-18. Cerro Gordo County now counts 13 public schools, down from 16 in SY 2017-18. Demographically, the White share of enrollment fell from 82% to 75%.

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

How many K-12 schools serve Cerro Gordo County?
There are 13 public K-12 schools in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, with a combined enrollment of about 5,248.
How many high schools are in Cerro Gordo County?
Cerro Gordo County, Iowa has 4 public high schools, serving approximately 1,531 students.
How many middle schools are in Cerro Gordo County?
Cerro Gordo County, Iowa has 3 public middle schools, serving approximately 1,256 students.
How many elementary schools are in Cerro Gordo County?
Cerro Gordo County, Iowa has 6 public elementary schools, serving approximately 2,461 students.
What is the largest school district in Cerro Gordo County?
Mason City Comm School District is the largest school district in Cerro Gordo County, serving approximately 3,406 students. The county contains 3 school districts overall.
What is the population of Cerro Gordo County?
Cerro Gordo County, Iowa has a population of approximately 42,632, with a median age of 44. About 20.8% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Cerro Gordo County?
Median household income in Cerro Gordo County is $68,189, below the Iowa average of $71,592. About 5.9% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Cerro Gordo County?
Approximately 24.0% of adults 25 and older in Cerro Gordo County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Cerro Gordo County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 42.5% of students in Cerro Gordo County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is higher than the Iowa county average of 41.8%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Cerro Gordo County schools?
Across Cerro Gordo County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 14.9 to 1.

Cerro Gordo County school rankings

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