Total enrollment
2,157
+235 (+12%) vs SY 2020-21
Lyon County
Iowa · Public K-12
Lyon County's 9 public schools sit inside Iowa and collectively enroll about 2,157 K-12 students across 3 elementary, 2 middle, and 3 high.
4-year change in Lyon County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
8
-1 (-11%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Lyon County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Iowa | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 83.1% | #2 of 89 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 2,157 | #58 of 90 | #2,151 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 8 | #63 of 90 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 13.5:1 | #43 of 90 | #1,127 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 30.3% | #76 of 90 | #2,389 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 21.8% | #56 of 89 | #2,065 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.
Lyon County school rankings
Residents
12,162
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
9
3 districts
Enrollment
2,157
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$76,746
Above Iowa avg
Free/reduced lunch
30.3%
Below Iowa avg
Elementary
3
1,224 students
Middle
2
189 students
High
3
744 students
Combined / other
1
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
West Lyon Comm School District
973 students · 3 districts in Lyon County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Lyon 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+
20.4%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
3.8%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
2.3%
civilian labor
Median age
38
28.2% under 18
Test scores in Lyon County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 8 schools ranked. Iowa state average: 73.7%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Lyon Elementary School | Inwood | Elementary | PK-06 | 561 | · |
| Central Lyon Elementary School | Rock Rapids | Elementary | PK-06 | 431 | · |
| Central Lyon Secondary School | Rock Rapids | High | 07-12 | 358 | · |
| West Lyon High School | Inwood | High | 09-12 | 284 | · |
| George-Little Rock Elementary School | Little Rock | Elementary | PK-06 | 232 | · |
| West Lyon Junior High School | Inwood | Middle | 07-08 | 128 | · |
| George-Little Rock Senior High School | George | High | 09-12 | 102 | · |
| George-Little Rock Middle School | George | Middle | 07-08 | 61 | · |
| George Preschool | Little Rock | Combined | M-M | · | · |
Cities in Lyon County
About Lyon County
Lyon County is a sparse Iowa county of about 12,162 residents, home to 9 public schools and roughly 2,157 students.
Zooming out, census numbers show the median household earns about $76,746 a year, about 20% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and roughly 4% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 7% meaningfully above the Iowa median.
On the school-mix side, Lyon County spans 3 elementary schools (1,224 students), 2 middle schools (189), 3 high schools (744), and 1 combined or other schools.
The largest single district in Lyon County is West Lyon Comm School District, which alone enrolls about 973 students.
Trend over the past 4 years. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment grew 12%: 1,922 students in SY 2020-21 versus 2,157 in SY 2024-25. Lyon County now counts 8 public schools, down from 9 in SY 2020-21.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Lyon County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data