Total enrollment
1,297
-217 (-14%) vs SY 2017-18
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).
7-year change in Emmet County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
4
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
67%
was 75%
% Hispanic
29%
was 21%
% Black
1%
was 1%
% Asian
0%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
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 7-year window. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment declined 14%: 1,514 students in SY 2017-18 versus 1,297 in SY 2024-25. On the demographic side, Hispanic enrollment moved from 21% to 29% over the same window.
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