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Lucas County

Iowa · Public K-12

Within Lucas County, Iowa, families have 4 public-school options to consider, collectively serving 1,249 K-12 students. Chariton Comm School District is the heaviest district by enrollment. The level mix is 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.

7-year change in Lucas County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
1,249
+53 (+4%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
4
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
89%
was 96%
% Hispanic
9%
was 2%
% Black
0%
was 0%
% Asian
0%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
4
1 districts
Enrollment
1,249
NCES CCD
Median income
$61,793
Below Iowa avg
Free/reduced lunch
58.5%
Above Iowa avg
Elementary
2
593 students
Middle
1
284 students
High
1
372 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Chariton Comm School District
1,249 students · 1 district in Lucas County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Lucas 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
94%
Hispanic
3%
Black
0%
Asian
1%
Two or more
3%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
89%
Hispanic
8%
Black
0%
Asian
0%
Two or more
1%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
15.8%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
12.1%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
5.2%
civilian labor
Median age
42
23.5% under 18

Test scores in Lucas County

Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 3 schools ranked. Iowa state average: 73.7%.

See all 3 schools in Lucas County ranked by score →

All schools (4)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Chariton High SchoolCharitonHigh09-12372·
Columbus Elementary SchoolCharitonElementaryKG-02301·
Van Allen Elementary SchoolCharitonElementary03-05292·
Chariton Middle SchoolCharitonMiddle06-08284·

Cities in Lucas County

Chariton4 schools

About Lucas County

Lucas County is a small county of about 8,716 residents in Iowa. Its public-school system educates approximately 1,249 students across 4 schools.

Stepping back, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $61,793, 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and roughly 12% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 14% lower than the Iowa median.

On the level-by-level breakdown, Lucas County covers 2 elementary schools (593 students), 1 middle school (284), and 1 high school (372).

Chariton Comm School District is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 1,249 students across Lucas County.

Over the past 7-year window. Combined enrollment now sits at 1,249 students, rose 4% from the 1,196 reported in SY 2017-18. The White share of public-school enrollment contracted from 96% to 89%.

Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Lucas County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.

Frequently asked questions

How many public schools are in Lucas County?
Lucas County, Iowa has 4 public K-12 schools serving approximately 1,249 students.
How many high schools are in Lucas County?
Lucas County, Iowa has 1 public high school, serving approximately 372 students.
How many middle schools are in Lucas County?
Lucas County, Iowa has 1 public middle school, serving approximately 284 students.
How many elementary schools are in Lucas County?
Lucas County, Iowa has 2 public elementary schools, serving approximately 593 students.
What is the largest school district in Lucas County?
Chariton Comm School District is the largest school district in Lucas County, serving approximately 1,249 students. The county contains 1 school district overall.
How many people live in Lucas County?
Lucas County has roughly 8,716 residents according to the latest Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What is the median household income in Lucas County?
Median household income in Lucas County is $61,793, below the Iowa average of $71,592. About 12.1% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Lucas County?
Approximately 15.8% of adults 25 and older in Lucas County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Lucas County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 58.5% of students in Lucas County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is higher than the Iowa county average of 41.8%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Lucas County schools?
Across Lucas County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 14.3 to 1.
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data