Total enrollment
1,672
-83 (-5%) vs SY 2017-18
Clarke County
Iowa · Public K-12
Across Clarke County, 5 public K-12 schools educate around 1,672 students, roughly 1 in 6 residents. The level mix runs 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high.
7-year change in Clarke County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
5
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
59%
was 71%
% Hispanic
37%
was 26%
% Black
1%
was 1%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
5
2 districts
Enrollment
1,672
NCES CCD
Median income
$71,641
Above Iowa avg
Free/reduced lunch
54.8%
Above Iowa avg
Elementary
2
817 students
Middle
1
289 students
High
2
566 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Clarke Comm School District
1,362 students · 2 districts in Clarke County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Clarke 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+
16.0%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
3.9%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.2%
civilian labor
Median age
38
25.6% under 18
Test scores in Clarke County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 5 schools ranked. Iowa state average: 73.7%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Clarke Community High School· 69.8%
- Murray Jr/Sr High· 68.0%
- Murray Elementary School· 67.2%
- Clarke Community Middle School· 64.0%
- Clarke Community Elementary School· 54.9%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clarke Community Elementary School | Osceola | Elementary | PK-05 | 652 | · |
| Clarke Community High School | Osceola | High | 09-12 | 421 | · |
| Clarke Community Middle School | Osceola | Middle | 06-08 | 289 | · |
| Murray Elementary School | Murray | Elementary | PK-05 | 165 | · |
| Murray Jr/Sr High | Murray | High | 06-12 | 145 | · |
Cities in Clarke County
About Clarke County
Across the small Iowa county of Clarke County of about 9,662 residents, the public-school footprint covers 5 schools and about 1,672 students.
Looking at the broader picture, census numbers show the median household earns about $71,641 a year, about 16% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the poverty rate is around 4%.
In terms of grade levels, Clarke County spans 2 elementary schools (817 students), 1 middle school (289), and 2 high schools (566).
The largest single district in Clarke County is Clarke Comm School District, which alone enrolls about 1,362 students.
Five-year track record. Total public-school enrollment in Clarke County has shrank 5% since SY 2017-18, moving from about 1,755 students to 1,672. The White share of public-school enrollment declined from 71% to 59%.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Clarke County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data