The bulletin board for America's public schools. Parents, teachers, students, and staff. One community per school.

Cherokee County

Iowa · Public K-12

Cherokee County's public schools total 8 across the county, with enrollment of about 2,048 and Cherokee Comm School District the largest single district. The level mix is 4 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high schools.

7-year change in Cherokee County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
2,048
+81 (+4%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
8
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
85%
was 87%
% Hispanic
10%
was 7%
% Black
1%
was 1%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
8
4 districts
Enrollment
2,048
NCES CCD
Median income
$71,269
Below Iowa avg
Free/reduced lunch
40.8%
Below Iowa avg
Elementary
4
912 students
Middle
2
557 students
High
2
579 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Cherokee Comm School District
1,163 students · 4 districts in Cherokee County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Cherokee 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
5%
Black
2%
Asian
0%
Two or more
7%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
85%
Hispanic
10%
Black
1%
Asian
1%
Two or more
3%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
1%
Bachelor's+
23.4%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
6.4%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
2.5%
civilian labor
Median age
44
22.2% under 18

Test scores in Cherokee County

Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 5 schools ranked. Iowa state average: 73.7%.

See all 5 schools in Cherokee County ranked by score →

All schools (8)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Cherokee Elementary SchoolCherokeeElementaryPK-04468·
Washington High SchoolCherokeeHigh09-12366·
Cherokee Middle SchoolCherokeeMiddle05-08329·
Alta-Aurelia Middle SchoolAureliaMiddle05-08228·
MMCRU High SchoolMarcusHigh09-12213·
MMCRU Marcus ElementaryMarcusElementaryPK-04166·
River Valley ElementaryWashtaElementaryPK-05154·
Aurelia Elementary SchoolAureliaElementaryPK-04124·

Cities in Cherokee County

Cherokee3 schoolsAurelia2 schoolsMarcus2 schoolsWashta1 school

About Cherokee County

Cherokee County is a small Iowa county of about 11,600 residents, home to 8 public schools and roughly 2,048 students.

Stepping back, census numbers show the median household earns about $71,269 a year, roughly 23% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 6% of residents live below the federal poverty line.

Looking at the level breakdown, Cherokee County comprises 4 elementary schools (912 students), 2 middle schools (557), and 2 high schools (579).

Cherokee Comm School District is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 1,163 students across Cherokee County.

Five-year track record. Combined enrollment now sits at 2,048 students, climbed 4% from the 1,967 reported in SY 2017-18. Demographically, the Hispanic share of enrollment climbed from 7% to 10%.

Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Cherokee County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.

Frequently asked questions

How many public schools are in Cherokee County?
Cherokee County, Iowa has 8 public K-12 schools serving approximately 2,048 students.
How many high schools are in Cherokee County?
Cherokee County, Iowa has 2 public high schools, serving approximately 579 students.
How many middle schools are in Cherokee County?
Cherokee County, Iowa has 2 public middle schools, serving approximately 557 students.
How many elementary schools are in Cherokee County?
Cherokee County, Iowa has 4 public elementary schools, serving approximately 912 students.
What is the largest school district in Cherokee County?
Cherokee Comm School District is the largest school district in Cherokee County, serving approximately 1,163 students. The county contains 4 school districts overall.
What is the population of Cherokee County?
Cherokee County, Iowa has a population of approximately 11,600, with a median age of 44. About 22.2% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Cherokee County?
Median household income in Cherokee County is $71,269, below the Iowa average of $71,592. About 6.4% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Cherokee County?
Approximately 23.4% of adults 25 and older in Cherokee County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Cherokee County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 40.8% of students in Cherokee 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 Cherokee County schools?
Across Cherokee County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 13.2 to 1.

Cherokee County school rankings

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