Total enrollment
1,297
-125 (-9%) vs SY 2020-21
Emmet County
Iowa · Public K-12
Across all districts in Emmet County, public schools number 4 and enroll approximately 1,297 K-12 students (1 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high).
4-year change in Emmet County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
4
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Emmet County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Iowa | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 65.1% | #75 of 89 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 1,297 | #81 of 90 | #2,582 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 4 | #88 of 90 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 11.7:1 | #3 of 90 | #442 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 51.9% | #14 of 90 | #1,519 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 46.7% | #18 of 89 | #1,238 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.
Residents
9,262
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
4
2 districts
Enrollment
1,297
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$63,730
Below Iowa avg
Free/reduced lunch
51.9%
Above Iowa avg
Elementary
1
460 students
Middle
1
308 students
High
2
529 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Estherville Lincoln Central Comm School District
1,127 students · 2 districts in Emmet County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Emmet 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+
17.1%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
7.1%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
1.7%
civilian labor
Median age
43
19.1% under 18
Test scores in Emmet County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 4 schools ranked. Iowa state average: 73.7%.
Top 4 schools (ELA)
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demoney Elementary | Estherville | Elementary | PK-04 | 460 | · |
| Estherville Lincoln Central High School | Estherville | High | 09-12 | 359 | · |
| Estherville Lincoln Central Middle School | Estherville | Middle | 05-08 | 308 | · |
| North Union High School | Armstrong | High | 09-12 | 170 | · |
Cities in Emmet County
About Emmet County
Emmet County is a sparse Iowa county of about 9,262 residents, home to 4 public schools and roughly 1,297 students.
Stepping back, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $63,730, roughly 17% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 7% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 11% noticeably below the Iowa median.
For a sense of the school types, Emmet County is built around 1 elementary school (460 students), 1 middle school (308), and 2 high schools (529).
Estherville Lincoln Central Comm School District is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 1,127 students across Emmet County.
Over the past 4-year window. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment declined 9%: 1,422 students in SY 2020-21 versus 1,297 in SY 2024-25.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Emmet County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data