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Dubuque County

Iowa · Public K-12

Inside Dubuque County, Iowa, public K-12 schools number 26 and serve about 13,164 students out of a population of 99,030. By grade band, the county runs 17 elementary, 4 middle, and 5 high schools.

7-year change in Dubuque County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
13,164
-559 (-4%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
26
+1 (+4%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
78%
was 80%
% Hispanic
5%
was 5%
% Black
8%
was 8%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
26
2 districts
Enrollment
13,164
NCES CCD
Median income
$77,630
Above Iowa avg
Free/reduced lunch
39.5%
Below Iowa avg
Elementary
17
5,901 students
Middle
4
2,706 students
High
5
4,557 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Dubuque Comm School District
9,843 students · 2 districts in Dubuque County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Dubuque 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
89%
Hispanic
3%
Black
3%
Asian
1%
Two or more
5%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
1%
School enrollment
White
78%
Hispanic
5%
Black
8%
Asian
1%
Two or more
6%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
3%
Bachelor's+
33.4%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
5.8%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.7%
civilian labor
Median age
39
22.5% under 18

Test scores in Dubuque County

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

See all 25 schools in Dubuque County ranked by score →

All schools (26)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Hempstead High SchoolDubuqueHigh09-121,499·
Dubuque Senior High SchoolDubuqueHigh09-121,490·
Eleanor Roosevelt Middle SchoolDubuqueMiddle06-081,081·
Western Dubuque High SchoolEpworthHigh09-12927·
Drexler Middle SchoolFarleyMiddle06-08639·
George Washington Middle SchoolDubuqueMiddle06-08584·
Eisenhower Elementary SchoolDubuqueElementaryPK-05568·
Carver Elementary SchoolDubuqueElementaryPK-05499·
John Kennedy Elementary SchoolDubuqueElementaryPK-05493·
Peosta Elementary SchoolPeostaElementaryPK-05425·
Table Mound Elementary SchoolDubuqueElementaryPK-05425·
Irving Elementary SchoolDubuqueElementaryPK-05409·
Thomas Jefferson Middle SchoolDubuqueMiddle06-08402·
Cascade Junior-Senior High SchoolCascadeHigh06-12392·
Epworth Elementary SchoolEpworthElementaryPK-05360·
Prescott Elementary SchoolDubuqueElementaryPK-05352·
Marshall Elementary SchoolDubuqueElementaryPK-05323·
Cascade Elementary SchoolCascadeElementaryPK-05305·
Sageville Elementary SchoolDubuqueElementaryPK-05304·
Bryant Elementary SchoolDubuqueElementaryPK-05299·
Hoover Elementary SchoolDubuqueElementaryPK-05292·
Farley Elementary SchoolFarleyElementaryPK-05273·
Lincoln Elementary SchoolDubuqueElementaryPK-05257·
Dubuque Online SchoolDubuqueHigh06-12249·
Audubon Elementary SchoolDubuqueElementaryPK-05247·
Seedlings Preschool CenterDubuqueElementaryPK-PK70·

Cities in Dubuque County

Dubuque19 schoolsCascade2 schoolsEpworth2 schoolsFarley2 schoolsPeosta1 school

About Dubuque County

Dubuque County is a medium-population Iowa county of about 99,030 residents, home to 26 public schools and roughly 13,164 students.

Looking at the wider area, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $77,630, 33% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate is around 6%. That income level is 8% higher than the Iowa median.

On the school-mix side, Dubuque County consists of 17 elementary schools (5,901 students), 4 middle schools (2,706), and 5 high schools (4,557).

Dubuque Comm School District is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 9,843 students across Dubuque County.

Looking at the last 7 years. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment fell 4%: 13,723 students in SY 2017-18 versus 13,164 in SY 2024-25. Dubuque County now counts 26 public schools, up from 25 in SY 2017-18.

On this page, the community for Dubuque 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 Dubuque County?
There are 26 public K-12 schools in Dubuque County, Iowa, with a combined enrollment of about 13,164.
How many high schools are in Dubuque County?
Dubuque County, Iowa has 5 public high schools, serving approximately 4,557 students.
How many middle schools are in Dubuque County?
Dubuque County, Iowa has 4 public middle schools, serving approximately 2,706 students.
How many elementary schools are in Dubuque County?
Dubuque County, Iowa has 17 public elementary schools, serving approximately 5,901 students.
What is the largest school district in Dubuque County?
Dubuque Comm School District is the largest school district in Dubuque County, serving approximately 9,843 students. The county contains 2 school districts overall.
What is the population of Dubuque County?
Dubuque County, Iowa has a population of approximately 99,030, with a median age of 39. About 22.5% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Dubuque County?
Median household income in Dubuque County is $77,630, above the Iowa average of $71,592. About 5.8% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Dubuque County?
Approximately 33.4% of adults 25 and older in Dubuque County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Dubuque County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 39.5% of students in Dubuque 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 Dubuque County schools?
Across Dubuque County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 13.3 to 1.

Dubuque County school rankings

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