Total enrollment
3,127
-5 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Madison County
Iowa · Public K-12
Public K-12 enrollment in Madison County totals about 3,355 students across 10 schools, an average of 336 per school. Winterset Comm School District is the largest district. That works out to 3 elementary, 4 middle, and 3 high schools.
4-year change in Madison County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
9
-1 (-10%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Madison County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Iowa | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 77.6% | #21 of 89 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 3,355 | #31 of 90 | #1,725 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 10 | #46 of 90 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 14.3:1 | #70 of 90 | #1,510 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 25.4% | #87 of 90 | #2,460 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 12.5% | #86 of 89 | #2,442 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.
Madison County school rankings
Residents
16,926
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
10
3 districts
Enrollment
3,355
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$90,855
Above Iowa avg
Free/reduced lunch
25.4%
Below Iowa avg
Elementary
3
1,274 students
Middle
4
977 students
High
3
1,104 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Winterset Comm School District
1,625 students · 3 districts in Madison County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Madison 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+
27.1%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
3.3%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.5%
civilian labor
Median age
41
25.2% under 18
Test scores in Madison County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 9 schools ranked. Iowa state average: 73.7%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Interstate 35 High School· 87.8%
- Earlham Elementary School· 83.8%
- Earlham Senior High School· 82.6%
- Interstate 35 Elementary School· 82.3%
- Earlham Middle School· 81.0%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Winterset Elementary School· 66.7%
- Winterset Junior High School· 75.1%
- Winterset Senior High School· 77.0%
- Winterset Middle School· 80.0%
- Earlham Middle School· 81.0%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winterset Senior High School | Winterset | High | 09-12 | 530 | · |
| Winterset Elementary School | Winterset | Elementary | PK-03 | 488 | · |
| Interstate 35 Elementary School | Truro | Elementary | PK-06 | 458 | · |
| Interstate 35 High School | Truro | High | 07-12 | 385 | · |
| Winterset Middle School | Winterset | Middle | 04-06 | 351 | · |
| Earlham Elementary School | Earlham | Elementary | PK-05 | 328 | · |
| Winterset Junior High School | Winterset | Middle | 07-08 | 256 | · |
| Interstate 35 Middle School | Truro | Middle | 05-08 | 228 | · |
| Earlham Senior High School | Earlham | High | 09-12 | 189 | · |
| Earlham Middle School | Earlham | Middle | 06-08 | 142 | · |
Cities in Madison County
About Madison County
Madison County is a thinly populated county of about 16,926 residents in Iowa. Its public-school system enrolls approximately 3,355 students across 10 schools.
Looking at the wider area, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $90,855, 27% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate is around 3%. That income level is 27% higher than the Iowa median.
Looking at the level breakdown, Madison County spans 3 elementary schools (1,274 students), 4 middle schools (977), and 3 high schools (1,104).
Winterset Comm School District is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 1,625 students across Madison County.
Looking at the last 4 years. Total public-school enrollment in Madison County has stayed largely flat since SY 2020-21, moving from about 3,132 students to 3,127. Madison County now counts 9 public schools, down from 10 in SY 2020-21.
On this page, the community for Madison County discusses sports rivalries, cross-district programs, and shared facilities. 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